Following up on previous visits to United Evangelical Church, Ituk Mbang, and Urua Nka, Eket and Tang Sio 101.1fm Uyo, the gospel against Gender Based Violence (GBV) team of the Family Empowerment and Youth Reorientation Path-Initiative (FEYReP) today 17th August 2025, embarked on a fourth missionary journey, which saw the team visit The Mount Zion Christ Church, Ikot Obio Offong District, Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area to continue the sensitization campaign aimed at churches and market squares. Recall this campaign is in partnership with the Nigeria Women Trust Fund (NWTF) and is themed “SPEAK OUT”.
Addressing the congregation, Pastor Idorenyin Attih a senior GBV response officer with FEYReP expressed gratitude to leadership of the church, the officiating ministers of the day and the congregation for the warm reception accorded the team. He proceeded to speak on the purpose of the visit to the church, he explained the dangers of silence in the face increase in GBV crimes, noting that such silence either due to a laissez-fare attitude by witnesses of GBV crimes or fear of stigma by victims and affected persons only feeds the monster allowing it to grow unchecked. He opined that there is a great and expedient need for people to SPEAK UP, to report, to condemn and resist vehemently such vices so the menace can be arrested and brought to an end in our communities.
Pastor Attih urged all congregants to take the sensitization campaign as a call to arms to become active participants and combatants in the war against GBV. He noted particularly the reluctance to report GBV incidences due to factors such as lack of confidence in the justice system, fear of retaliation by perpetrators as well as fear of stigma and further went on to explain the provisions of the law as enshrined in the Akwa Ibom State Violence Against Persons (VAPP) Law 2020 (as amended) assuring the congregants that FEYReP working together with law enforcement agencies is committed to ensuring that GBV cases are given prompt and proper attention with utmost confidentiality and diligence, as well as providing support to victims until justice is served. Pastor Attih also encouraged members to share the knowledge gained with their communities to broaden the impact of the sensitization efforts.
Preaching on the topic: “Lord Speak, Your Servant is Listening”, the District Supervisor of the Church, Reverend Gideon Udoh, who drew his sermon from the scriptures as recorded in 1st Samuel 3: 1 – 9. Re-emphasized the call to arms by Pastor Attih, telling the congregants to take the message received as a call from God to fight and root out evil in the land, just like Samuel received the call from God to preach righteousness in order to lead the people back to God. Rev Udoh also expressed appreciation to FEYReP for spearheading the initiative while praying for the success of the campaign. He also pledged the commitment of the church in being partners in the war against all forms of GBV by using the pulpit more to preach against the social vice.
