Emmanuel Awari-Jalingo
Thousands of members of the United Methodist Church in Nigeria (UMCN) held a peaceful roadwalk in Jalingo, to further restate the presence of the church in Nigeria.
The roadwalk is a preamble to the Church’s Annual Conference which brings together the four Annual Conferences of the Church.
The peaceful roadwalk in the company of security operatives took off at the NNPC mega fuel station in Jalingo, had UMCN clergy and members in their numbers, chanting songs of praise through Mayo-Gwoi, to Donga Roads, and Dinyavoh by-pass, terminating at the UMCN Negatavah Charge Premises: the Venue of the Annual Conference.
The roadwalk also targets to enlighten the public on the many misinformation against the church, especially the allegation of LGBTQ acceptance by the United Methodist Church in Nigeria (UMCN).
Members who took part in the roadwalk also emphasized their willingness to always tow the path of peace despite provocations and attacks, the killing of it’s members in Munga-Dosso, the forceful seizure of their properties despite the State Government’s directive to close them in the interest of peace, and the crafty, mischievous and illegal change of church documents by the latest breakaway faction of the church.
Speaking to journalists after the roadwalk, the Secretary of the Annual Conference’s publicity committee Rev. Eunice Iliya said ” the significance of the roadwalk is to tell the world, that the United Methodist Church in Nigeria is still standing, and the turnout of members for this roadwalk is a testament to this”.
Rev. Eunice appreciated the Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas for providing the enabling environment for church to hold it’s Annual conference. she also commended the security operatives, pressmen, and all members of the church for making the roadwalk a success.
The publicity Secretary tasked the conference attendees on conducting themselves peacefully, in line with the teachings of Christ, during and beyond the Annual conference.
The UMCN joint Annual conference consists of representatives from the Southern Nigeria Annual Conference holding it’s 43rd session, the Northern Nigeria Annual Conference holding it’s 20th session,Central Nigeria Annual Conference on it’s 19th session, and the 8th session for the Northeast Nigeria Annual Conference.
The conference will also host representatives from it’s Mission Districts of Cameroon and Senegal, and also Sierra Leone.
The Annual Conference which began on Monday the 17th of March 2025, took off with arrival and registration of delegates at the premises of the Negatavah Charge of the Church in Jalingo.