* Preaches
Motivating Sermon, “where was God when it happened?”
* Sets
up an NGO
Story By Paul Ukpabio
How do you comfort a man of God who lost his wife,
lovely children and niece in a ghastly motor accident? Life indeed has dealt
Obidiozor a cruel blow. Those were the only immediate family he had. The wife
and children had just returned from a vacation in America. And on return,
decided to visit their extended family in the village in the eastern part of
Nigeria. But as it would happen, the vehicle they were in, had a head on
collision with a trailer. And when the dust of the accident has settled, Reverend
Obidiozor had lost his family! He was at home in Lagos, when he got a call,
that his wife, two children and niece were dead!
According to Reverend Obidiozor, three months ago marked the third year of the incident. Obidiozor said, afterwards, he defied all odds to stay alive.
He had to force himself to retain his mind because he was almost losing his mind too. In a brief sermon he preached to commemorate the day, he read from the Book of Job Chapter 14 verse 14, John 10 verse 10 and Romans 8 verse 25-39. His sermon was titled: ‘Where was God when it happened?’
As he spoke, it was obvious that he struggled with deep
emotions but held on as he told a story of a man who lived in California with
his family. “This man’s name was Eddy,” said Rev. Obidiozor. “One day, he took
his family out on vacation and their vehicle had an accident and somersaulted
over and over again. He was dragged out of the squeezed vehicle but his wife
and two children were not so lucky. Eddy watched as the wrecked vehicle
exploded in fire and all the family he had were roasted to death.
"Eddy lost his mind;
he became mad and was taken to a psychiatrist hospital where he was treated for
years. When he was healed, he declared that there’s no God and that if there
was God, where was He when the accident happened.”
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| Wife, children and niece |
According to Rev. Obidiozor, this was one of the stories
that kept him going. Though he himself asked questions when his wife and children died in the accident, but the questions only
led him to more questions for instance, where was God when His son Jesus was
crucified to the cross? When the Apostles were killed one after the other,
where was God? Then Rev. Obidiozor answered the questions, he said, “God will
always be God! You cannot query God.”
So, he said he held unto God, struggled to keep his
mind alive by always being in the church and around people! But he partly gave
up on life. “I was a big time distributor of Don Simon wine in Nigeria and
indeed a successful businessman. I lost interest in the business since I
realized I didn’t need the money any longer. To me, I had lost those I was working
hard and making the money for. The little I have is enough for me!” He said and
asked, “Who would have thought that I would be a full time minister of God,” he
shook his head. “Let God have his way,” he concluded.
However, few weeks ago, Rev. Obidiozor continued, "I saw my late wife. She appeared to me, she was in a flowing white gown, she appeared in
beautiful, sparkling light, clothe in magnificent white. I was like in a
trance. She asked me why I am still mourning. She told me that they are fine
where they are, that I should not bother about them, but that I should
concentrate on saving souls.”
So Rev. Obidiozor weighty in carriage, burdened in
soul, has put together a team called ‘Save Life Foundation’ in honour of the
lost Obidiozors. He has decided to do anything humanly possible to reduce and
possibly eliminate road accidents in the country.
 |
| Mrs. Hope Ejindu-Egwu |
The coordinator of the NGO, Mrs. Hope Ejindu-Egwu threw more light on the NGO and what it
stands for. “Safe Life Foundation is established in loving memory of Mrs.
Ogochukwu Obidiozor, Miss. Chidera and Ebele Odidiozor and Miss. Uju Nnoba
being the wife, children and niece of Pastor Ebelechukwu Ogochukwu Obidiozor
who lost their lives in a ghastly auto crash involving a transport Company bus and a truck belonging to a corporate organization on the 26th August 2015 along
Ore Expressway, three years ago when the devastating news reached us,
we all cried, we wailed and grieved. It was unbelievable! So with this NGO, we
plan to engage in Awareness Campaigns against bad roads, reckless driving,
poorly maintained vehicles and sub-standard spare parts.
A Road safety Marshal was there to lend a support to
the cause. He spoke grievously on the negligence and human flaws that has led to
many untimely death through accident on Nigerian roads.
Pastor Obidiozor spoke
more on his relationship with his wife, “we were close, she was full of life,
she was an erstwhile banker, but I told her to resign because of the stress but
my wife though she resigned, she was still active (he smiled and laughed as the
memories rushed to his mind). She was always doing something. My wife set up a
travel agency despite the fact the fact that she was helping me in my business.
She was an accountant and a thorough going business woman.” I’ve abandoned business;
There is nothing for me there again. There is no need for me to work that hard.
I don’t have anyone to spend the money with.”
Pressed further on if he would be living continuously in
loneliness all the rest of his life without re-marriage, the pastor looked
suddenly confused and in a childlike voice, he replied, “I don’t know, because
the loneliness is tough on me, even as a man of God in my ministry, I need a
partner to assist me, but I don’t know, I have to leave that for God to decide
for me.”
Does he still travel on vacation like he used to do
with his family? His reply, “No, I don’t do that anymore. I have long decided
to face God’s work.”
And what will be his role in the NGO, “I will give them
the spiritual support they need by giving counseling to accident victims along
with other necessary support that may be required from me.”
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