ELEBELE COMMUNITY HOLDS SECOND QUARTER THANKSGIVING, REAFFIRMS COVENANT WITH GOD

Elebele, Bayelsa State — Sons and daughters of Elebele Community in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State on Sunday gathered in large numbers for their second quarter thanksgiving service, expressing gratitude to God for His protection, provision, mercy, and faithfulness upon the land and its people.

The thanksgiving service, held at the Elebele Community Town Hall Playground, attracted indigenes and non-indigenes alike from within and outside the community, including men, women, youths, and children who came together in an atmosphere of worship, praise, and thanksgiving.

The quarterly thanksgiving is a longstanding spiritual tradition of the Elebele people and forms part of activities leading to the community's annual Okpori-ruru Festival held every December. The festival commemorates the historic rejection and eradication of idol worship from the community on December 14, 1970.

Delivering the sermon, guest preacher Bishop PraiseGod Obele spoke on the theme, “It Was Like a Dream,” drawn from Psalms 126:1–3. He reflected on the remarkable transformation of Elebele Community over the years, noting that the land, once neglected and looked down upon by neighbouring communities, has become a place of growth, development, and recognition.

According to the cleric, the progress and blessings enjoyed by the community are undeniable evidence of God's hand upon the land. He urged the people to remain steadfast in their covenant with God and not depart from the spiritual foundation laid by their forefathers who renounced all forms of idol worship.

“God has placed the people of Elebele above every idol. Therefore, it would be unwise to bow before what God has already given them authority over,” he stated.

Speaking on behalf of the Paramount Ruler of Elebele Community, His Royal Highness, King David Osene Osene (Ogbolo XI), the Second Deputy Paramount Ruler, High Chief Fortune Livingstone, expressed appreciation to all who attended the thanksgiving service.

He reaffirmed the community's commitment to serving God, describing Elebele as “God's own land,” and declared that the people would continue to honour and worship Him while rejecting every form of idol worship.

“We give all glory to God for preserving our people, blessing our land, and sustaining us through the years,” he said.

Other highlights of the event included special prayers for the peace, progress, and prosperity of Elebele Community and its inhabitants, as well as sessions of praise and worship led by the Elebele Mass Choir under the leadership of Rev. Kelvin Loveday Egbo.