The National Executive Committee (NEC) of Christian
Association of Nigeria (CAN), on Monday 29th
September, 2014, passed a resolution that
Christians in Nigeria should observe 3 days of
fasting and prayer for the church and for the nation
from Friday 17th – Sunday 19th October.
Earlier, the South West Zone of CAN had chosen
26th October as the day of the National Repentance.
However, with the directive from NEC, both
positions have been harmonized and the day of
repentance and national re-dedication shall take
place nationwide from 17th – 19th October.
The President of CAN, his eminence, Pastor Ayo
Oritsejafor called on all Christians to unite at this
critical period in the life of the Nigerian church and
the nation and corporately seek the face of God for
forgiveness and divine intervention.
In his opening remarks at the meeting, the President
of CAN remarked that “as we labor for the Lord and
make our way into the kingdom of God, we must
constantly bear in mind that the enemy of our souls
is perpetually at work seeking to ‘steal, kill and
destroy’. The most common tactic of the enemy is
to ‘smite the shepherd’ and scatter the sheep.
Whenever the enemy launches this attack on any
shepherd, experience has shown that the main
targets are the sheep.”
On the day of National Repentance, Christian
assemblies are expected to focus on prayers of
confession for the sins of the nation as well as
transgressions that are in the church. Paramount
among the short comings of the church is the
challenge posed by disunity and the attitude of
ministry competition. A message of repentance
based on 2 Chro. 7: 14 should be preached in all the
churches on the Sunday of the National Repentance
and National Re-dedication. Subsequently, prayers
should be offered to God for mercy and forgiveness
for the church and the nation.
Other areas of prayer focus include the persecution
of Christians in the North, insurgency in the nation,
the threat posed by Jihadists to the church and the
nation, the forth coming general elections, good
governance in the land and so on.
Christians are called upon to prayerfully establish in
Nigeria, the four pillars of the throne of God. These
are: righteousness, justice, mercy, and truth.
All the 5 blocs of CAN are expected to participate in
the prayer and fasting program. No Christian
assembly is exempted.
During the NEC meeting, the leaders of the church
reinstated their support and solidarity for the
President of CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, as well as
their commitment to a united and cohesive national
church.
All enquiries should be directed to the General
Secretary, CAN, at cangensec@yahoo.com