On 28 December 2014, my wife, three
children and I returned from the dead (virtually speaking) following an
accident in which the Nissan Xterra jeep I was personally driving with my whole
family got involved in an accident, somersaulted for about ten times – with
some of its parts falling off as it went, and landed upside down on a rock in a
nearby bush with five of us inside its belly. The vehicle was written off
instantly (see photo inset). But with none of us sustaining as much as a
dislocation, we knew it was only the MERCY of God that made that possible. The
long stitch scar I bear today on my left wrist is the only remembrance of the
day of His Mercy. Our trust for that journey was in the Lord. For “Blessed
is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is…. (Jer
17:7-8); And whatsoever he doeth shall prosper (Ps 1:3b).”
As officials of the Federal Road Safety
Commission and others who saw this accident and vehicle observed, there was no
scientific explanation why we all came out alive but the vehicle carrying us
did not survive. While the jeep ended its life journey on that spot, God
granted us the mercy and grace to continue our life journey with neither
morbidity nor mortality from the accident. None of us spent a night in any
hospital as a result, and all post-accident x-rays showed no internal injury in
any of us. We returned to our home the same day (thanks to our brethren in the
Knights of St. John and Parishioners/CMO who drove to Kogi to ferry us back to
Abuja from the accident scene same day).
While recuperating in the days following
the accident, we had told ourselves that God was not finished with us yet, that
there must be a reason why He stopped death from taking any of us, and why He
allowed the devil and its agents to go with the vehicle. HIS MERCY OVERSHADOWED
US! We continue to pray and hope to fulfill ALL the very reasons why God saved
us on 28th December 2014, for “it was only by the mercy of God that
all of us survived that accident”.
So, in May 2015 when I was approached
by the leadership of Divine Mercy in Abuja Province to serve as the Chairman of
the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) and Conference Coordinator for this
Conference, the Holy Spirit made me understand that this is one of the many
reasons why God spared us. As a professional conference consultant, I felt it
was an opportunity to voice a little ‘thank You’ to the God of infinite Mercy
who rescued us. I deployed to this assignment, every passion, resource, commitment
and technical competence I have (for all were given to me by God). I took it as
a job, and gave it my best, in a way that only God can pay me enough. Thank you
God, for the opportunity to serve You in this capacity.
We put our trust in the Lord for the
success of this conference, and He prospered it. Our LOC was inaugurated in
June 2015, and together with all the members and supporters, we ran our race in
this assignment. The National and Abuja Provincial leadership of the Divine
Mercy Devotion have been very wonderful in their guide, cooperation and
participation in the LOC’s tasks.
Our gratitude goes our Lord Jesus
Christ who has given us the grace to serve, and to our Holy Father Pope Francis who has given us the Year of Mercy. We
thank you our papa His Eminence John
Cardinal Onaiyekan, our national promoter Most Rev. Martin Uzoukwu and our Auxiliary Bishop Most Rev. Anselm Umoren for your
approvals, support, patience and guidance. Thank you Rev. Fr. Boniface Opaluwa our Provincial Chaplain. The Abuja
Provincial Leader Philo Ndive, her Deputy
Offor Chidozie, Secretary Aniekwe Francis and
the Provincial Exco released some of their powers for our temporary use for
which I’m grateful. Many thanks to Rev.
Fr. Vincent May Ogunsoro, Rev. Fr. Nwosu
Anthony (MDM), Rev. Sr. Mary Tuku, Rev. Sr. Cecilia
Azuh and all the clergy that actively
participated in our meetings at the LOC, thus bringing your guide and knowledge
to make us work better. The heads of our various subcommittees in the LOC have
dedicated their vast time, treasure and talent to this work for which only God
will bless them enough. All the members of the LOC are equally appreciated.
Many thanks to the national leadership
of DMD especially Mr. Chris Nedum
the National Secretary who always kept touch to know how the LOC’s work was
progressing, and supported with available information whenever requested.
Special thanks to Okwute M.
Gabriel, Sir Michael I. Egye, Francis Mary Sumaila,
Ujah Timothy, Izuchukwu Bede, Peter Ugwuagba, Veronica Igwe Ebi, Orimi
Jamespaul A, John Ude, Akapa
A.S., Manu Mellitus, Ekigwe
P. Vivian, and all the members of the LOC and
Steering Committee for your tireless work which contributed to our success.
Like me, only God can pay you enough for your contributions. In a very special
way, my heart remains with the Holy Trinity’s best gift to me, my best friend,
best half and best critique Lady Edith
Uzoadirieje in whom I remain eternally well-pleased, and to our children
whose time I spent and whose sleep I truncated on all those long nights I
stayed awake attending to issues relating to this conference. Like me, only God
can pay you enough for your sacrifice and support. To all those who placed
messages in the brochure, made donations in cash and or kind and or registered
for this conference and everyone who supported us; we thank you and pray God to
meet your needs in His Glory.
As I say “Go ye up, and prosper”! (2
Chron. 18:14), I pray that the Mercy of God shall abide with you always and
everywhere…and as for me and my family, we will continue to serve the Lord God
of Mercy in al our generations through Christ our Lord, Amen.
Jesus - I trust in YOU!
Dr.
(Sir) Uzodinma Adirieje
LOC Chairman & Conference
Coordinator
