Please there are two articles and are quite long.Just read the bolded parts. All Saints Church In Houston
Written by Loya Eziokwu
Tuesday, 04 August 2009
Our second leg of our Houston visit took us to worship at the All Saints Anglican Church on Synott Rd, off Bissonett. The Church, built by Umu Igbo is completely awesome. Occupying a 4 acre tract, the edifice will clearly take your breathe away. Unlike what Nigerians would build, the parking lot is so spacious, there is no need to acquire additional land. The sanctuary, still absorbing finishing touches, comes with all the amenities modern technology can give. There are lots of offices for everybody. The kitchen really will make any Igbo woman so happy she will forgo the next abada. Now comes the biggest winner, the giant hall that can comfortably sit 1,000 people. I look at the monthly statement of the church and I can see why that hall has the potential of paying a lot of bills for the church. Thanks to Dr. Ken Okorie for taking me around. Now I see why he has not been active on the cyber and those other extra stuff. He, Chris Ulasi and others have their hands full. I am told that they are even taking the concept to Los Angeles and Little Rock. Folks, that is what is called growing the ministry.
By the time we got to the 11:00 a.m. service at 12:00 noon, the parking lot was quite a sight. It was typical Igbo people at their best. You know, back home we are taught to go to Church in your best clothes and best everything. That is the case here. One of my daughters, on pulling up to a parking spot said, "Nigerians love SUVs." There were more SUVs than other luxury cars. My wife told her the reason, "Nigerians especially NdiIgbo have lots of children and cannot all fit in a car." "And besides, this is Texas where big things are appreciated" , I chipped in. The service was conducted in the hall since the sanctuary wasn't quite ready. It felt like St Andrews Anglican Church, Amichi. The choir and band were terrific and they kept the service alive. Rev, Ogbunugwu, a senior pastor elevated the ante with a powerful and provocative sermon that I will discuss later. He impressed me a lot especially his command of English and Igbo. He touched everybody's softest spots. He nearly embarrassed my family when he recognized and announced us as first time guests. This interrupted the service for good 20 minutes as members took turns welcoming us by shake of hands and hugs. Until then I did not know there were many old friends in the audience. It was like home coming, having attended school and lived in Houston for 8 years. My first two kids were born in Houston.
My people, if you are interested in building a community center, because that is what this place is, pay a visit to All Saints Anglican Church, Houston. With that monument, who wants another Igbo Center. Peoples Club International, Galveston Branch held its event there recently. The drive for a lot of people is about 45-60 minutes, but who cares.
We should be proud of what our brothers and sisters have done in Houston. While we may have our issues, this one is one to celebrate and debunk the notion that we can never work together. It does not take a whole village, only a handful of dedicated souls. NdiIgbo in Houston found them and the rest is history. Dallas/Ft Worth, Atlanta, Chicago are you in the house?
Should you want to contact the All Saints Church in Houston, the main number is 281 776 9984.
Have a good and productive week.
Loya Eziokwu
http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/articles/guest-articles/all-saints-church-in-houston.html REJOINDERRe: All Saints Church In Houston
Written by Patrick Nwadike
Tuesday, 04 August 2009
If it is building churches and the bigger the better, no other race will surpass 'Black/African' folks whether in Africa or USA.
Congratulations, to all the hands and heads that saw the coming of All Saints Anglican Church, Houston, a mostly Nigerian/Igbo church. A visit there on Sunday, is not really about doing the worship in a manger style, but showing off SUVs, the most colorful of attires, and making sure one is seen better than being viewed. The Nigerian-Houstonians have just joined their cousins - African-Americans in doing what Blacks are known to do: BUILD BIGGER CHURCHES, in mostly depressed and deprived neighborhood all in the name of God. Who says blood does lie?
Despite many years of separation from the continent, the way Blacks and Africans do things are alarmingly similar. They will build a bigger church but when it comes to doing something to help advance their community, they will have their hands out to others. No black church or her African counterpart has embarked on an aggressive research to find a cure for sickle cell; a disease that is known to afflict mostly black people. In the Nigerian community in US, a recent survey indicates that about 15% of kids born to Nigerian families in US, have the disease and yet, no church big or small, has taken up this issue to address.
The biggest church in the world outside the Basilica, is in Cote D'Ivore, west Africa. In DFW between Potters House - TD Jakes, Friendship West - Fredrick Haynes, Inspiring Body of Christ - Ricky Rush, and Oak Cliff Bible Church - Tony Evans, all churches in zip codes with unemployment higher than the local average, but an expenditure of more than $300m on church edifices: Zero tax base for the community.
In Nigerian communities what stand as a testament to community collaboration is always a religious facility. Even in my tiny village Ihe - Enugu State, the people rallied and built a cathedral. However, they are not able to agree on having a community bank, scholarship fund, renovate the schools, improve the village market or create jobs for local high school graduates who are defaulting into other activities that cause concern on the well being of the people. Because black people/Africans are suspicious of seeing anyone improve on economic and business endeavors, they rather give to a church.
There is something ingrained in black/Africans people about church and its place in advancing the course and cause of man. The Americans, Europeans and now Asians that Africans run to for 'money in a beggar style', have lowered their desire for religious/church leanings. Without the vast number of Africans and their south Americans counterparts, the Catholic/Anglican churches would be challenged. In a recent survey by EU, many Europeans concluded that it is no longer necessary to believe in God and as a result, many churches are being converted to other uses as memberships have significantly dropped.
Blacks/Africans will not collaborate to advance their colleges, hospital, real estate/businesses that help in creating jobs and adding value to their tax base. Bishop College now Paul Quinn College, Dallas, that many Nigerians/Africans attended, is at the verge of being shot down because of finances. The vast Nigerians/Africans/Blacks that obtained their degrees/diplomas from this institution, have not rallied to give generously to the college. Were the move/need is to build a church on the college ground, I am sure the response would be awesome. Nigerians have no bank or credit union to help them access credit for businesses and economic development. However, they will in a flash rally for a church building. The average black in America whether Africans or Americans will give generously to a church but will not invest in a program to advance their community. While church is a good example of coming together, it is not a good example of investment that helps advance a community in dire need. Of all the acclaimed presence of black churches in DFW, that in a given year deposit about $2 billion in area banks, there is no African-American owned bank in the area. No where in US have Africans come together to develop a credit union or have a community bank that cater to the financial needs of their respective communities.
Every ethnic group in US has one except Africans. So the Japanese comment that Africans are strong on their individual strides, is right but on collective basis, they are doormats for other races. Churches do not add to the collateral content of any community in terms of job creation or adding taxable base for revenue to the state or local community. Build them as bigger and best, they are just an edifice. As Blacks/Africans glorify God in magnificent places, how come the lives of Blacks/Africans are yet to be magnificent in the eye of the Lord? Blacks/Africans still suffer some of the most unimaginable afflictions at the hands of others. Does it mean their prayers are not heard or that they pray the wrong prays in the wrong place they think is right? Your guess is good!
God can be worshipped in small places and still hear the prayers. It is not so much where one worships God that matters, it is what one does after worshipping. I will not celebrate building of a church as a coming together of a people in need and search of economic presence. Anything done in the name of God is what it is. I will bet that with all the 'highs and cheers' that come from building All Saints Anglican Church, Houston, if a church member is in need of an organ donation, chances are no church member will step forward to assist or even be screened for a match. Blacks and Africans dance and sing to different music and songs, and it is no wonder their standing among other races is where it is.
Since some see religion as the OPIUM for the poor, they may have observed blacks and their African cousins for this saying. Go to Nigeria, the only industry growing in leaps and bounds are churches and they are mega in their physical presence but shady in their conducts. At All Saints Church, Onitsha, a priest in the 1990s was indicted for poisoning a church member on behalf of a rivalry using communion. It led to church goers for a while refusing to be given 'holy communion' by priest. It led to communion being put in the palm.
With all the shout of thy name, black folks and Africans appear to remain far from the intention of God because they are still ones that 'beg' for their existence. After the worship on Sundays, where do folks go for employment? Mainly establishments owned and controlled by others. Monday through Friday, black folks and Africans are subjected to untold employment, business and economic torture. On Saturday, they may barbeque and on Sunday get out in their best attire to ask, sing and dance in the church, seeking temporary reprieve from the torture they endured the week before and about to embark again. There you have it, in the name of the Lord.
ejike e okpa ii
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