The ECWA Goodnews Church in Adamawa State has called on the government to implement policies that promote economic growth, job creation, and poverty reduction. The church emphasizes the importance of supporting local businesses and attracting foreign investment to stimulate development.
During his New Year speech to the congregation, the resident pastor, Reverend Maxwell I. Kuri, congratulated the church community for enduring the hardships of 2024 and expressed confidence that 2025 will hold brighter prospects.
The pastor recounted the economic and security challenges faced by Nigerians in 2024, highlighting the loss of jobs and lives, along with other misfortunes that tested their faith in God.
He encouraged Christians to prioritize safety and security, advocate for religious freedom, and engage in peacebuilding initiatives for the overall welfare of Nigeria.
Reverend Kuri urged both federal and state governments to invest in education and healthcare, recognizing that these sectors are essential for the development and well-being of citizens.
Additionally, the clergy commended Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State for his significant strides in infrastructural development, education, healthcare, agriculture, and security. He particularly praised the governor’s efforts in reducing the menace of Shila Boys and kidnappers, as well as the prompt payment of salaries, provision of free education, and scholarships for indigent students.
Below is the full text:
NEW YEAR SPEECH FOR THE YEAR 2025 PRESENTED IN ECWA GOODNEWS UPPER LUGGERE JIMETA-YOLA ON THE 5TH OF JANUARY 2025 BY THE RESIDENT PASTOR
REV. MAXWELL I. KURI
Protocol:
The Associate Pastor:
The Wives of The Pastors (ESMIM)
The Elders: Past and Present
The Fellowship Groups leaders
The Pillar Groups leaders
Gentlemen of the Press
Ladies and Gentlemen
Preamble:
Grace and peace to you all in the name of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. I am delighted to welcome you to this New Year 2025. I thank God for preserving our lives from last year until now. He has faithfully protected, provided for, and prospered us. God keeps giving us rest and peace in crises and uncertainties in the country.
As you know our safety is not in the hands of those charged with keeping Nigeria safe but in the hands of the creator of the universe. I also, thank Him for bringing us all to another New Year. I am grateful to Him for His loving care and guidance in all our spiritual and secular activities.
As we stand at the threshold of a new year, I want to ask you: What will you write in the pages of this new chapter? Will you write a story of hope and resilience? Of courage and determination? Of growth and transformation? Or will you let fear and doubt hold you back? The choice is yours. The pen is in your hand.
My fellows, Brethren, As we step into a new year, let us remember that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). His faithfulness and love remain unwavering. In the book of Isaiah, we read:
Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. (Isaiah 43:18-19)
In the spirit of appreciation, I wish to thank all of you for working hard to provide a good working atmosphere for His Grace to become manifest in our lives and the Church, especially the elders, former elders, fellowship groups leaders, and pillar groups leaders who have sacrificed their time and energy to always contribute to the growth and development of this Local Church. Thank you for serving the Lord faithfully and making us the beneficiaries of your love for God.
We appreciate the staff of the Church serving in various capacities in the various Prayer Houses (Kofare, Gurin, Nambare, Madageh, Bajabure Federal Housing, Kwana waya, and Bagale) including those at ECWA Goodnews Model Academy Kofare. May the Lord reward and bless you all.
I am also thankful to God and you all for your faith and your endurance during these perilous times in Nigeria in which so much uncertainty, fear, poverty, sickness, death, and despair surround us. We say thank you to all of you for the demonstration of your love, courage, maturity, commitment, Sacrifice, giving, advice, understanding, and unity over the years. Thank you and God bless you all.
Let us seize this opportunity:
1. To thank the Executive Governor of Adamawa State His Excellency Rt. Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri for his giant strides in infrastructural development, Education, Health, Agriculture, and Security among others. The reduction in the menace of Shila Boys, kidnappers and the prompt payment of salaries, free education, payment of scholarships to indigent students, has brought succor to the people in the state
I also, thank him for the creation of additional 83 Districts and 7 new Chiefdoms and Emirates in Adamawa State. By creating these new chiefdoms and emirates, the state government would deepen communal harmony, address local governance gaps, and strengthen mechanisms for grassroots security.
2. To thank our Security and Law Enforcement Agents who genuinely and tirelessly work to keep law-abiding citizens safe. We appreciate you for the work you do and the supreme sacrifices you make for our nation. We are praying for you that God will protect and prosper all of you and your families. Amen.
We pray to God to comfort, protect, and prosper the bereaved families, the Church, and the country at large.
THE YEAR 2024
Resting With The Lord:
Last year 2024 we started the year with some of our beloved ones, who have gone to rest in the bosom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Painful as it is, we know that Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints (Psalm 115:15). Our hearts go out to all the members of their families and their loved ones. As a church we lost Mrs. Pwavi Favor Muazu and Captain Babale Kume who were called to glory, they left behind their husband/wife, children, and loved ones. Our hearts go to all the members of their families and their loved ones. We pray to God to give them peace that passes all understanding. May the Lord keep on comforting us and their families.
2024 Blessings:
As a church, we Appreciate God for 2024 that despite the difficulties encountered God saw us through and brought us to 2025 Alive God through his grace and mercies granted us his Protection, Provision, Wisdom Deliverance and Guidance throughout the year Some of us were blessed with employment, cars, Houses, Marriages, Children, etc. To God be the glory.
2024 Challenges:
The year 2024 has come and gone and it has become a history in our lives, all of us have experienced one or two things in the year under review. For example, some of us have lost our dear ones, jobs, businesses, opportunities, health, properties, admission, and other misfortunes. There was also a serious shortage of foodstuff and other essential commodities due to the poor harvest and scarcity of funds. This year (i.e. 2025) is another opportunity God has given us to go for our essential needs and never our luxury wants. As we embark on this new journey, let us hold onto hope, faith, and resilience. Let us support and encourage each other, and celebrate each other’s successes.
And when the road gets tough, and it will get tough, let us remember that we are not alone. We have each other, and God almighty; so let us rise to the challenge of this New Year. Let us seize the opportunities that come our way.
The year 2025
National Issues and Caution:
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent speech addressed the current state of the country, acknowledging the economic challenges Nigerians face. He emphasized the need for patience, assuring citizens that better days are ahead.
Brethren, Nigeria is indeed facing numerous challenges, and the Christian community is particularly vulnerable. Given the alarming rate of violence, kidnappings, and persecution, Christians in Nigeria need to remain vigilant and proactive.
The church is to do the following:
1. Prioritizing Safety and Security: In light of the escalating violence, Christians should take necessary precautions to ensure their safety and security. This includes being aware of their surroundings, avoiding traveling alone, and staying informed about local situations.
2. Advocating for Religious Freedom: Christians in Nigeria must continue advocating for their right to religious freedom. This includes supporting organizations that promote religious tolerance and advocating for policies that protect Christians and other minority groups.
3. Supporting Persecuted Christians: The Christian community in Nigeria should also prioritize supporting persecuted Christians. This can be done through prayer, financial support, and raising awareness about the plight of persecuted Christians.
4. Engaging in Peacebuilding Initiatives: Finally, Christians in Nigeria should engage in peacebuilding initiatives that promote interfaith dialogue and understanding. By working together with Muslims and other faith groups, Christians can help build bridges and promote peace in their communities.
5. Christians and indeed our members must as of necessity become and remain politically aware. We must partake in all political activities that will promote and protect our faith, lives, and livelihood.
2025 Theme:
The theme for 2025 is taken from Jeremiah 29:13, captioned, You will seek me and find me. It is a promise from God to His people, that when they seek Him with all their heart they will find him. This year’s Theme emphasizes the importance of seeking God with genuine and wholehearted commitment. My fellow brethren, no doubt, this promise has been a source of comfort, hope, and guidance for many believers throughout history. May it inspire and encourage us to seek God with all our hearts this year! Amen.
Project 2025:
Dear Beloved Members, as we step into the New Year, our church is poised to embark on exciting projects (such as: Solar plant, construction of Chapel at Kofare, getting a plots of land for Kwana waya and Bajabure Federal Housing, buying a Digital Camera, etc) that will further Gods mission and transform our place of worship. However, we cannot achieve these goals without your active support and participation.
How Can You Get Involved?
A. By Prayer and Fasting: Join us in prayer and fasting as we seek Gods guidance and blessings for our projects.
B. Volunteer Opportunities: Look out for volunteer opportunities to contribute your time, talents, and resources to our projects.
C. Financial Support: Consider supporting our projects financially, as we work together to achieve our goals.
Let us work together to make a difference in our church and beyond. May God bless and guide us as we embark on these exciting projects.
Clarion Call
We seize this opportunity:
1. To call on our members to put their trust in Gods sovereignty: recognize that God is in control, even when things seem chaotic or uncertain.
2. That all Christians are to seek Gods presence: they are to make time to pray, worship and seek Gods guidance in whatever they will do.
3. To call on religious leaders to preach and promote peace and unity. We need to know that, religions that do not promote peace are not of God.
4. To demand the Federal, State, and Local Governments to protect and defend their citizens.
5. To call on the government to implement policies that promote economic growth, job creation, and poverty reduction, support local businesses, and attract foreign investment to stimulate development.
6. To invest in education and healthcare, recognizing that these sectors are critical to the development and well-being of our citizens.
7. To call on all the pillars group leaders to be meeting in their zones the pillars group should not be an avenue of collecting money only.
New Year Resolutions
I know you came into the New Year with great expectations; you have also made some resolutions. As a Church, our resolution is:
1. This year 2025 is a year of Experiencing Gods Unfailing Presence.
2. That this year our hearts will be committed to God. We will be committed to making the House of God to become the House of Prayer.
3. Be committed to winning more souls to Christ. We will be taking personal Evangelism very seriously.
4. May we also plead that every one of us should join one fellowship group or the other. More especially married men are requested to join men’s Fellowship, and married women to join women’s Fellowship. Likewise, youth are to join the youth Fellowship. We can all join the Mission and Evangelical Team, Choir, B.B., and the Proclaimer Band.
5. I charge all of us to make this year, a year that we can show practically the love we have for God by the way we embrace and have concern for one another in any given event for that will show clearly that we are one big family.
Conclusion
Before I conclude brethren, Brethren, as we begin this New Year, let us:
Forget the former things: Release the burdens and regrets of the past year.
Consider the new thing: Embrace the fresh start and new opportunities that God has in store for you.
Trust in God’s faithfulness: Have confidence that God will guide and provide for you in the coming year.
As we reflect on the past year, we may remember triumphs and setbacks, joys and sorrows. But today, we have a chance to start anew.
A chance to rediscover our passions and pursue our dreams.
A chance to learn from our mistakes and grow wiser.
A chance to forgive ourselves and others, and start with a clean slate.
So let us embrace this New Year with hope and optimism.
Let us be brave and take the first step towards our goals.
Remember, every great achievement starts with a single step. Every journey begins with a single decision. So what will you decide today?
Will you decide to chase your dreams, no matter how impossible they may seem?
Will you decide to take care of your physical and mental health, and prioritize your well-being?
Will you decide to nurture your relationships, and invest in the people who matter most?
The possibilities are endless. The choices are yours.
Brethren, I pray that all of us will make it to 2026. Dont forget, this Year 2025 is a year of Experiencing Gods Unfailing Presence.
Thank you for listening. May you enter this New Year with faith, hope, and joy. May God bless you and keep you, and may His face shine upon you.
I declare all Church activities open from this day January 5, 2025, in the name of God the Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.