Dear Brethren:

Glory, praises, and thanks be to God Almighty, Whose holy name is JEHOVAH, the Giver of all good and perfect things, who dwells in Zion for ever.  Amen

The installation of the President of God’s Kingdom Society, Brother Oseghale Emmanuel Aighalua and other Principal Officers of the GKS Executive Board took place successfully and grandly on Saturday September 1, 2001 by God’s grace.  Members traveled from far and near to witness the event.  They met Salem City wearing a new look as all the buildings within the vicinity of the football field had been repainted in bright cream and pink colours.  Paradise House, the residence of the President, was bathed in shades of green and looked palatial, especially at night when all the lights along the porch had been lit. Several banners heralding the installation were also put up in various parts of Warri and in Salem City.

Though repairs on the Service Hall was still in progress, many portions of it were ready for use while other areas were smoothened up while the lighting was improved upon.  Sisters washed the Hall and the chairs, festooned the hall with colourful buntings and balloons and provided new cloth for the altar.   Sarah group Sisters painted the bell tower in ash colours and fringes of white.

Most delegates arrived on Friday the 31st of August; but some, determined not to miss out on anything,  came on Thursday.  A chartered bus, which conveyed Journalists from Lagos arrived on Friday.  The media represented included NAN, Thisday, The Guardian, Post Express, Punch, Vanguard, Comet, The News etc.  A crew from Rivers State TV came from Port Harcourt while another team from Delta Television came from Asaba. For the first time in the history of the Church four Newspapers carried
supplements of the installation  They were The Guardian on Saturday; ThisDay on Saturday; Punch, and Vanguard.   Among those who advertised were the GKS Laity, GKS Women Fellowship, branches, groups and individual members. Some members paid for adverts in yet other newspapers.

Before the installation proper, there was on Friday evening a festival of songs and dances by choral  and cultural groups, musical soloists as well as the GKS Choir Warri.  The performances which started at about 4.30 p.m. ended at 8.30 p.m.  The songs were generally melodious and spiritually meaningful and the dances graceful and colourful to the glory of God.  The zest and gladness with which the over 20 groups performed were good indicators of what to expect the next day which was the installation day.

On Saturday September 1, 2001, musical groups started entertaining the audience at 8.30 a.m.  By then the Service Hall, venue of the ceremony which was billed for 10.00 a.m., was almost full.  At 9.45 a.,m.  the Ministers filed into the hall in an orderly manner in ascending order of seniority, Junior, Intermediate,  Senior ministers,  new Executive Board members and members of the Old Executive Board with the Chairman Brother M. O. Iwoh, coming last.  The big bell tolled as they processed into the Hall.  Sisters wore their Krohwa wrapper. The special Installation Service which started at 10.00 a.m. was moderated by Ministers Tariola Michael Ekiseowei and Benedict Tamunotonyesia Hart.

After a short opening speech, the officiating Minister, Brother M. O. Iwoh, invited Minister Edward Oki to exhort the Church on  “The Blessing in Waiting on the Lord”. Thereafter Brother Eric Iloba Okoh was called to read the address of the outgoing Executive Board.  After an interlude by the Choir,  Brother Benedict Hart moved to the lectern to read citations of the Principal Officers, -  Brother John Eferoghene Ikoba (Trustee, member of Executive Board), Brother Godwin Ifeacho (Trustee, member of Executive Board) Brother David Ekle Alli (Treasurer), Brother Gamaliel Eghagha (General Secretary); Brother Samuel Chidinma Nwaeke (Vice -President) and Brother Oseghale Emmanuel Aighalua (President). The reading of the citations, especially that of the President were interspersed with cheers and tumultuous applause.  Next was the charge and prayers by the Chairman of the former Executive Board, Brother Iwoh who thereafter raised the hand of Brother Aighalua, proclaiming him as the President of the Church amidst thunderous ovation. As the President and otherPrincipal Officers were being congratulated by the out going Chairman, Brother M. O. Iwoh, and by Brothers G. O. Ugoji and J. O. Solupeju, who supported the Chair, the old officiating chairs were removed and new ones brought in for the President, Vice President, and General Secretary. It was truly an historic event.

After the rendition of TSP 192, there followed the address of the Lord’s Ministry read by Brother F. E. Adedokun (supported by Brothers Patrick Ekireghwo and Femi Akinwale).  There were also addresses by the Laity Officers, read by Brother Felix M. O. Osifo, flanked by Laity National Officers, and the GKS Women Fellowship read on their behalf by Ministers Timothy Esimagbele.  The addresses were full of thanks to God Almighty through His Son Jesus Christ for His goodness in providing the Church
with competent Principal Officers to run her affairs;   for preserving the Church  in spite of Devil’s persecutions all through the years as well as exhortations and prayers for the President and other members of the Executive Board.  Also, the addresses contained affirmations of faith in God Almighty  and  His Son Jesus Christ and in the God’s Kingdom Society as Jehovah’s established Kingdom as promised in Isaiah 2:2 and Daniel 2:44.

Thereafter, the President on behalf of himself and other members of the Executive Board responded to the addresses.  He praised the old Executive Board for their labours and sacrifices in the Lord and solicited for prayers from one and all to make their mission a success. The expressed the determination of the new Executive Board to continue “with greater vigour” the work of evangelism as expressed in the commission given to St. Urhobo by Jesus Christ in February 1933. The President quoted the words of King Solomon in His prayer to God on being made leader over the people of God to wit: “And now O LORD my God, Thou hast made Thy servant King instead of David my father.  I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or how to come in.  And thy servant is in the midst of Thy people which Thou hast chosen, a great people… Give therefore Thy servant an understanding heart to judge Thy people that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this Thy so great a people? (1 Kings 3:7-9)  The President urged Nigerians to give heed to the truth preached by the GKS so that the nation may be great.

 The Choir then led the congregation in rendering offertory songs and offerings followed.  The service ended at about 12.30 p.m.  The President proceeded to shake hands with some of the dignitaries who attended the installation, including the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly,  Honorable Basil Ganagana, the representatives of the Orodje of Okpe, Orhorho 1, JP; His Lordship Justice Ajuyah (Rtd), Professor Frank Ukoli, former VC, Delta State University Abraka and nephew of St. G. M. Urhobo, representatives of His Royal Highness the Ovie of Agbarha Kingdom, among others.

As members moved over to the Reception ground at the Grandstand, it became quite evident that the crowd could only be compared to that of the Feast of Tabernacles. Salem City was flooded with people, six canopies were erected on both sides of the hall, many more were put up at the football field, and yet many could not find seats.  The highlight of the Reception, chaired by Brother F. M. O. Osifo, Chairman GKS Laity, in which branches and groups gave other addresses, was the presentation of Toyota Carina cars to the Vice President and the General Secretary to ease their work.   Various gifts were also presented to the President and other officers by groups and individual members.

On Sunday, September 2, 2001, there was a Special Thanksgiving Service presided over by the President, Brother O. E. Aighalua, in which the Laity National Officers, Youth Fellowship and GKS Women Fellowship, groups  families and members generally participated.  It was a joyous occasion.  The dances and singing of songs by groups to the residences of the President, and other Principal Officers continued until later in the afternoon when members converged again for the drama entitled: “GKS - The Founding” staged by GKS youths in Warri and Effurun Branches.  The drama attempted to capture the persecutions and tribulations of St. Gideon Urhobo right from when he resigned from the government service in 1933, to his departure for Zion in 1952.  The drama enlightened the young ones about the past and reminded the elders of what they had seen and heard. Written by Brother Teegy Erewharighe, Chairman GKS Youth Fellowship, Warri, the drama had no dull moment, as it was full of actions, which were life-like; and the dialogues were concise and meaningful.  The drama which started at 4.30 p.m. ended  at about 6.35 p.m.

The Lord’s Ministry thanks God Almighty and His Son Jesus Christ immensely for seeing us through this delicate but glorious period in the history of the Church.  We pray Him to continue to prosper the Church in fulfillment of Isaiah 9:6-7.  Let us always bear in mind the exhortation of St. Paul in 2 Timothy 2:19 to wit: “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”

By God’s grace, a special Installation Souvenir magazine will be published by the Lord’s Ministry soon. We earnestly thank members who had been waiting patiently for this occasion and who willingly and cheerfully supported all activities connected with the installation through prayers, as well as morally and financially.  We enjoin members to be steadfast in the Lord.  (1 Corinthians 15;’58).

May God bless you all abundantly.  Amen.