By Felix Ekwu
The first Pentecostal Bishop in Delta State, Archbishop Christian Aggrey Apena, has died at the age of 91.
NewsNet Nigeria learnt that Archbishop Apena, who hails from Irri community in Isoko South Local Government Area of the state passed on in the early hours of today Monday.
He was the founder of Bethesda Church International Inc. and the first Archbishop who was renowned for consecrating many bishops and archbishops in Delta State.
The late Apena was introduced into the Anglican family by his late father who was the first pastor in Isoko having been ordained on December 31, 1931.
Speaking on the life and times of Archbishop Apena, the Archbishop and Head of Mission of the Gospel Church of Christ, Worldwide, Archbishop Eric Emiaso said, “Archbishop Apena touched many lives with the gospel over a period of six decades he was in the ministry and a matter of fact he was one the persons who very instrumental to my being a Christian. So, I regard him as my first pastor who converted me and raised me up in the 70s when we gave our lives to Christ.
“He was a very large-hearted man. He fears God and that was his main concern was not material possession. He stayed in the village all through his life. He was more concerned about the gospel, how the gospel can reach the unreached and disciples people who God has given to him to be properly established. There are so many pastors over the place who went through who were either his converts, his followers, his ministers and so on. Today, they are bishops having their own ministries.
“He has a forgiving heart, many people who actually offended him at one time or the other, he does not hold grudges in his heart. He love and followed God with passion.
“I want to thank God for his life that he fulfilled his ministry. To work for six decades is not child’s play. He remained in Christ and died in Christ.”
