No fear of death if upright, says cleric
A cleric, Rev. Unah Umoh of the United Evangelical Church, says human beings have no reason to fear death if they lived uprightly, knowing that appointment with death is inevitable.
Umoh said this at the funeral service for the late veteran journalist, Prince Effiong Asian held in in Mbiokporo Nsit 1, Nsit Ibom Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom.
In a sermon entitled: "Inescapable appointment'', the priest said that the appointment called death was designed by God for every human being and all living things.
Unah, who quoted from the Book of Hebrew 9:27 said "it is appointed unto men once to die and after that, judgement'', added that the deceased, aged 72, would have wished to live longer but could not live beyond 72 years.
He said: "prepare your mind for a time like this; everyman will die, old or young. Abraham lived for 175 years, after that he died. So make a choice because you have an opportunity to be among the living'
" We should be prepared knowing that one day we will leave this world. Generations have all and next generations will take over; that is the beauty of life, something must kill a man.
"Moses said in the Bible: `Oh Lord teach me to number my days'; you don't know your day, your time. You will be judged by the kind of life you lived not by the life you did not live.
"Your creator may call you any day while young, in old age, everyone is returning to his Maker. You came from God to live on earth and you will return to God, so work for the Lord.
` Get ready to leave better than you came; offer your services wholeheartedly. God gives to any man according to his good works.''
The deceased first son, Godwin Asian, said his father was a mass communicator, journalist of high repute who served in the State Ministry of Information until his retirement in 2010 as a Director.
According to the son, the father's interests were "further galvanized in music when he established `Hotline Ensemble International Band' in 1989 which is still running".
Also, Mr Onofiok Luke, Member representing Etinan/Nsit Ibom/Nsit Ubium Federal Constituency, said that the deceased was a mentor and his late father's friend, adding that it was necessary for him to condole with the family.
The Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom, Mr Moses Ekpo, in his tribute, said the deceased was a "multi-dimensional personality, who held his own as a civil servant and offered meritorious service as Information Officer in the former Cross River and Akwa Ibom States''.
