Church head urges clergy to prioritize health after pastor dies during service
The head of the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria has urged pastors to prioritize their health by scheduling regular medical checkups.
In a statement, the Rev. Daniel Mbaya, who is president of the 1.5 million-member Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa A Nigeria (EYN), said he was concerned about the frequency of sudden death incidences in the church, the latest being the demise of the Rev. Vincent Alaku on Oct. 6.
Alaku, who was a minister with an EYN church in Maiduguru city in the Northeast region of Nigeria, slumped and died as he was ministering during a worship service.
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Sandra Alaku Stephen, a family member of the deceased pastor, told Christian Daily International that the pastor died while dedicating a child as part of the church ordinances. “Doctors told us that Rev. Alaku died of cardiac arrest. God gives, and He takes,” Stephen said.
The church’s worship service ended abruptly as members were thrown into disarray following the collapse and untimely death of their pastor. Malikson Papaman, a member of the church, said in a tribute to Alaku: “My heart bleeds as I struggle to come to terms with the loss of our beloved pastor.”
“His powerful message still resonates in my mind, as he emphasized the importance of family unity in worship. Little did I know it would be his final sermon. … I'm honored to have been under your guidance. Your legacy will live on in our hearts,” continued Papaman.
Mbaya said the assembly was shocked and grieving the sudden death of Alaku.
“The EYN family mourns the loss of Rev. Alaku, a dedicated servant of God. May his memory inspire us to live with integrity and compassion,” said Mbaya who emphasized that pastors and church staff need to take care of their health as part of living a purposeful life.
“We don’t have control of time; many factors can take us away. If we live in sin there might be no time to correct that. Let’s cherish every moment we have and strive for positive impact,” Mbaya admonished his church members.
Originally published at Christian Daily International
Christian Daily International provides biblical, factual and personal news, stories and perspectives from every region, focusing on religious freedom, holistic mission and other issues relevant for the global Church today.
