By Alao Abiodun
Sadly, there is an eclipse in God’s vineyard. A shadow has been cast on the Christian community as former President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and emeritus Prelate of the Methodist Church Nigeria, Sunday Mbang, has bowed to the cold hands of death.
Mbang reportedly died in his sleep at the ripe age of 86 after running an impactful earthly ministry for 44 years. He was the longest-serving Head of the Methodist Church, in Nigeria, until his death.
Mbang’s demise was announced in a statement by Babatunde Taiwo, a Bishop and Secretary of the Conference of the Methodist Church Nigeria. “He will be sorely missed by his beloved Church, Methodist Church, to which he gave his spiritual, intellectual and servant-leadership for more than two decades and the entire Body of Christ in Nigeria and Diaspora, Taiwo said.
Since his demise, prominent personalities within and outside the Christian community, at home and abroad, have paid glowing tribute to the cleric, whose death has been variously described as a great loss to the country.
There is no gainsaying Mbang’s death pierced the heart of the Christain community. But while it is difficult for many to come to terms with the reality of his death, what is, however, soothing is that Mbang passed away at a ripe age, after earning the love of those whose lives he touched directly or indirectly while he was alive.
Mbang’s trajectory from birth to his demise shows that he didn’t stumble on acclaim, but intricately sketched his way to the top. Mbang was born in Idua Eket, Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom on August 26, 1936.
He studied at the Effoi Group School, Salvation Army School, Akai-Ubium, Government School, Eket, Methodist Boys’ High School, Oron, Teacher’s College, Uzuakoli, Trinity Theological College, Umuahia, University of Ibadan, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel and Harvard University, United States of America (USA).
Mbang was eventually ordained as a minister in 1961 after he underwent theological training in Nigeria and overseas. Throughout his life as a religious leader, he made inestimable contributions to the betterment of the country, of which many clearly stood out as testimonies of his divine calling.
Guided by his effective evangelism, the Christian community has experienced monumental growth’ Mbang’s ministry transcended spirituality and fostered unrestrained service to mankind.
He became a Pastor and Minister of Religion in 1962 at the Methodist Church, where he rose through the ranks to attain the Episcopal title: Bishop of Tinubu, Lagos State, in 1979. Subsequently, he was elevated to the position of the Patriarch/Prelate, the administrative and pastoral head and leader of the entire Methodist Church family in Nigeria in 1984, a position he held for 22 years.
During his active service as a teacher, evangelist and pastor, he held a number of positions outside that of the Methodist Church Nigeria, namely: the National President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, the co-chairman of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council, and the Vice and Chairperson of the World Methodist Council.
Alive, Mbang’s sincerity of purpose, passion for holiness, integrity and commitment to excellence clearly distinguished him among his peers. In death, the late cleric remains a role model to many.
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