Ministers of the Gospel and followers of Jesus Christ in Bayelsa State have been called upon to see the Bible Society of Nigeria as a ready-made organ to support evangelism.

They have also been called to accept the Society as a vital and integral part of the Body of Jesus Christ to enhance God’s work on Earth.

These calls were made by the Chairman of Rivers/Bayelsa Area of the Bible Society of Nigeria, Elder Omoni Ayo-Tamuno, while recently addressing the clergy and members of the St Paul’s Anglican (Izon) Church, Amarata, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, in continuation of the 2022 Bible Week Celebration.

Elder Ayo-Tamuno disclosed that since the creation of the Area craved out of the Cross River Area more than 20 years ago, the work had been 99.9 percent in Rivers State and less than one percent in Bayelsa State.

“We have been to Bayelsa State and in spite of several calls, visitations and even Town Hall meetings it is still not yielding the expected results,” he said.

The Chairman, therefore, appealed to the Church to change the narratives by supporting the Society and take active involvement.

Elder Ayo-Tamuno, who expressed happiness with the presence of the Bishop of the Diocese of Northern Izon Anglican Communion, Rt Revd Funkuro G. V. Amgbara, was optimistic after the visit the Church would be the spring board the Society would spread to other churches in Bayelsa State.

He noted the cooperation of the Church and the Diocese and the First Baptist Church Igbogene that have hosted the Society in the past and stressed the need for other churches to do same.

The Chairman stated that the Society had approved the full translation of the Izon Language Bible and called on all well-meaning sons and daughters of Izon to support the project.

Elder Ayo-Tamuno further stated that the completion of the Ogbia and Epie Language Bibles was at advance stage and recalled that both language New Testament Bibles were launched in 2020.

While receiving various publications of the Society including Membership Form and Free New Testament Bibles, the Vicar in charge of Church, Venerable Godspower Jordan Angalapu, assured that the Church would support the Society.

Highlight of the programme was the presentation of the Membership Form to the Bishop of the Northern Izon Diocese, the Rt. Revd Funkuro G. V. Amgbara who promptly filled the Form and submitted to the Area.

•PHOTO: The Bishop of the Diocese of Northern Izon Anglican Communion, the Rt Revd Funkuro G. V. Amgbara, and the Vicar of St Paul’s Anglican (Izon) Church, Venerable Godspower Jordan Angalapu, with copies of Bible and other publications at the Service.

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