Odisha Christians take a pledge to help nation building

OST Bureau

 Bhubaneswar, Oct 10 :

The three day Odisha Christian Leadership Conference concluded today at Rabindra Mandap, Bhubaneswar with a valedictory session marked by a pledge for nation-building undertaken by one thousand Christian leaders drawn from across the 30 districts of Odisha.

Rev. Larry Walker, Ambassador at Large of the First Baptist Church, Texas, United States while inaugurating the valedictory session spoke about the need for imbibing the values of  love, peace, joy, patience, goodness, kindness, gentleness and self-control.

Rev. Michael Fore from the First Baptist Church, Texas ended the Valediction programme with a word of thanks and closing prayer by calling blessings for each one of the delegates and for the state of Odisha and India.

Dr.Swarupananda Patra, president, Odisha Minority Forum presided over the day’s proceedings.

Dr.Satyananda Patra, president, Utkal Christian Church Central Council in his keynote address earlier in the morning spoke about the need for connecting the Church and Church leaders with the society at large by mainstreaming the community youth. Exhorting the Christian youth, Dr.Satyananda Patra said, “The nation and especially Odisha needs the Christian youth to be the epitome of love, forgiveness and sacrifice as enshrined in the life of Lord Jesus Christ and be ambassadors of peace for the entire society and help in the nation-building process.”

Rev. Phil Roberts, Rev. Ide Trotter, Rev. Dan Farell among others were present in the meeting.

A Sunday School children’s programme of the conference was also held at YMCA, Bhubaneswar over the past two days, hosted by six American international children’s speakers and headed by Brother Darren Wickham. This was coordinated by Jeremiah Patnaik, Mrs. Ipsita Patra and Mrs.Sweta M. Paul.

About fifty orphan children participated in this children’s programme on 9 and 10 October.

The three day all Odisha Christian conference which commenced with the inaugural focus on connecting Christian community and society in a meaningful manner; finally culminated with the Christian leaders vowing to strengthen the secular fabric of the nation and especially the state of Odisha and contribute to sustaining an environment of love and peace in the state.