Interview with Rev Omison Lazarus
Interview with Rev Omison Lazarus
As
a follow up to the election in three dioceses the Lutheran seek to find out how
some pastors feel about the 5 year tenure and the procedures of the elections.
In an exclusive interview our correspondence met with one of the nominees at
the Yola Diocese election Rev Omison Lazarus.
Excerpt
LT
–
Sir it’s my pleasure to have you for this interview, tell us your view on the
recently concluded election.
Rev
Lazarus - thank
you very much for this avenue given to me to air my view, but first of all I
want to commend you for the good job you are doing to bringing the church to
limelight. May God continue to give you more wisdom and ability to carry out
this task successfully. Meanwhile I want to continue to thank God for what
transpired during the election in Yola Diocese. It is now in record that Yola
Diocese is a matured Metropolitan Diocese that knows what is right. We also
thank God for the maturity and faith that God has given to pastors and
delegates in Yola Diocese. It is because of that we have recorded such great
success. I am also happy with the outcome of the election because it has given
chance for the spirit of continuity.
LT
– What can you say about the re-election of the Bishop?
Rev
Lazarus –Yes I will like to say that the first
tenure was an eye opener, the second tenure is given to him as an opportunity
for him to work properly. Because people voted for him based on his
personality, interaction, simplicity and his spiritual life. I also thank God
for the way the pastors and delegates decided to retain him. So that God will
continue to use him.
LT
– Sir Can you tell us how you felt when you saw your name on the board among
the nomination?
Rev
Lazarus – I like this question, and I will like
to respond by saying that in elections it is normal to have more than one in
the race but only one must emerge victorious not that the rest are losers or
are not capable and the one chosen is the best but because God has chosen
him/her at that time. So I am calling on those with whom we were nominated
along the Bishop to show the spirit of sportsmanship and not to consider
themselves as losers but rather as people that are identified but reserved
for another time. And in that same
spirit to rally round the winner for a successful tenure and for the
development of the diocese and the church at large. For me, I consider my
nomination as a divine introduction to the Bishopric, it is an indication that
one day and if that comes I will scale through nomination. Because the office
of the Bishop is an honored office which one should desire, it is Biblical. So
I don’t consider myself as a loser but rather a prospective Bishop therefore my
call to the nominees is to support the re-elected Bishop so that he can do
better.
LT
–
Sir any word of advice to the re-elected Bishop?
Rev
Lazarus – I will advise him to be careful with
loyalty that has so much fidelity in it because it is loyalty that changes to
deception. And I will like to use this medium to say a word to the newly
elected Bishops of Gongola and Bonotem Diocese to be humble and be ready to
work together with the ones they are taking over from it will help them to know
the place of development and where they should take off. And I pray that God
will guide them in their new offices at
their various dioceses, they should understand also that nobody is
indispensable in the work of God for this they should allow the spirit of God
to use them.
