Iba Pope Awada Stands Still as Faithspiration Initiative Ends Year-End Prayer Meeting

By Polycarp Ifeanyi, Onitsha

SS John and Paul Catholic Church, Awada,popularly known as Iba Pope was spiritually electrified as the Faithspiration Initiative concluded its year-end prayer meeting for 2025 with an inspiring rally of prayers and praises.

The prayer gathering, described as highly successful, witnessed an outpouring of spiritual grace as members of the Faithspiration Initiative and other worshippers received anointing, healings, spiritual empowerment, and numerous blessings through intense prayers and praise sessions.

While admonishing the lay faithful and members of the Faithspiration Initiative, Rev. Fr. Jose Maria Onyechi expressed deep gratitude to the founder of the initiative, Very Rev. Fr. Dr. George Adimike, for the divine inspiration that led to the establishment of the Faithspiration organization.

He particularly commended the members of the Faithspiration Initiative,who are predominantly youths, adults, priests, and seminarians describing their zeal in worship as admirable, especially during the Advent season.

According to him, their commitment has helped awaken the spiritual consciousness of many Christians at a time that calls for deep spiritual exercises in preparation for the coming of Jesus Christ.

Rev. Fr. Onyechi also encouraged the youths who are members of the initiative not to allow themselves to be deceived into returning to idol worship, a practice he noted is increasingly tempting many young people.

In his words of inspiration, Rev. Fr. Jude Obidike described the Faithspiration Initiative as an effective and commendable approach to spreading the Gospel of God.

He explained that the end-of-year prayer meeting marked his first time attending a Faithspiration gathering.

Fr. Jude, who is the Parish Vicar of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, New Heaven, Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State, strongly emphasized the need for Christians to strive for spiritual holiness during the Advent season.

Titled “Update Your Spiritual Software,” his message stressed the importance of renewing one’s love for Jesus Christ throughout the Advent period.

“You need to go to Jesus Christ so that He will update your spiritual software. Every Christian is supposed to make a resolution during Advent, not in January. It is better to make a resolution in this Advent season and walk into the new year with it,” Fr. Jude said.

He urged members of the Faithspiration Initiative to continually seek the face of God, describing Advent as a unique opportunity to return fully to Jesus Christ.

“It is only when you are inspired yourself that you can inspire others. When you are Christified yourself, you can Christify others. When you are flourishing yourself, you can help others flourish. Whatever you do without the Spirit of God cannot be successful. Open your hearts for Jesus Christ to come into your lives. Whoever is not in Jesus Christ is not complete,” he added.

He concluded with prayers, saying, “My brothers and sisters, let us once again inspire ourselves, pray to be Christified and to flourish. As we enter the new year, God will take care of our needs. In God, everything is complete. I pray that the coming year will be beautiful for you, your family, your destiny, and everything concerning you, through Christ our Lord.”

Also speaking, Rev. Fr. Augustine Obi affirmed that the prayer meeting was a proper spiritual exercise befitting the Advent season and an essential preparation for the Christmas celebration.

“It is only when we prepare ourselves spiritually that we can invite Jesus Christ into our hearts. If you call yourself a true member of the Faithspiration Initiative and you call on Jesus Christ, He will come into your heart. However, Christ may come in different forms—through a little child, an elderly person, or even a poor person. What matters is that you constantly pray for the Spirit of God to guide you,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Rev. Fr. Joshua Obiekezie, during the prayer meeting, testified that Fr. George Adimike is one of the Catholic priests he deeply respects. He commended him for his perseverance and dedication to youth ministry, describing it as a challenging but noble task.

Fondly known as Obere Nwa Jesus, Fr. Joshua noted that the Faithspiration Initiative has inspired many people and has spread to all nooks and crannies, even beyond parish boundaries. He offered fervent prayers for the members of the initiative.

In his vote of thanks, the spiritual leader and founder of the Faithspiration Initiative, Very Rev. Fr. Dr. George Adimike, expressed profound gratitude to the priests and religious who honored the event with their presence.

He specifically prayed for God’s blessings upon all who supported the success of the program, including Igwe Jesu Amaka, Lady Harrietha Ozigbo, and numerous members of the Faithspiration Initiative.

Fr. George also used the opportunity to remind participants and members of the Faithspiration Initiative of the forthcoming event scheduled for January 2, 2026, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Awka-Etiti.