The President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention (NBC) Rev. Dr Israel Akanji, on Friday, arrived in Yenagoa to perform the induction service of the President of Bayelsa Baptist Conference, Rev. Dr Abili S. Abili, which is scheduled to hold on Saturday at the First Baptist Church, Ovom.

Akanji and members of his entourage, including the NBC’e Director of Ecumenism, Dr Testimony Onifade, were received at the Bayelsa International Airport by Abili and his wife; chairman of the Bayelsa conference, Rev. Anthony Dede; chairman of the Pastors Fellowship, Rev. Lucky Umoda and the President of All Africa Baptist Men’s Fellowship, Deacon Philip Slaboh, who is also the chairman of the central planning committee.

Members of the Men’s Missionary Union and the Women’s Missionary Society of the Baptist denomination in the state were also on ground to give the NBC president and his team a rousing welcome.

Upon his arrival, Akanji inspected a guard of honour mounted by members of the Royal Ambassadors.

In an interview with journalists, Akanji said the NBC is one family united in faith and also connected to the spiritual and physical growth of the country.

The NBC leader said the formal induction service of the Bayelsa conference president was important for the Baptist family because he is the representative of the president of the convention in the state.

He stated that Abili “has the responsibility of being the voice of the leadership of the entire denomination in this part of the country.”

Speaking on the significance of the formal induction service, he said: “This activity is significant for the Baptist Faith because we are having a kind of tie between the national headquarters of the NBC and all the states conferences.

“We are working together as one. Jesus has said that we should work as one. Our leaders in the states communicate with the leaders at the national headquarters. So there is a form of unity nationally. It is also a global unity for us because we all belong to the All Africa Baptist Fellowship and the Baptist World Alliance.

“There are times we all do things globally so we are all connected in every segment. Even in the state, the Conference President that is going to be inaugurated will be working with the various groups in the conference at all levels.

“We also have unity of faith because we have to pray for one another. Bayelsa Baptist members have to pray for us, we also have to pray for them. Together we must be praying for our nation. We are connected to the nation by the way we serve.”

Akanji thanked Bayelsa Baptist family for receiving him and his team warmly, saying that it signified the love, unity and kindness of the members in the state.

“We are coming to a united people and we want to encourage them to work as one. In unity we will conquer and in unity, God will be exalted”, he said.