The house Dan Agbese built for God, by Dan Agbese

Can a man build a house for God? That was the question Israel’s most revered monarch, King David, was confronted with when he decided to build a temple for the worship of Yahweh in Jerusalem.

“That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains.”

So, moved by a sense of obligation, King David decided to build a house of worship and for the ark of covenant to be kept.

The story is not different from what motivated Chief Dan Ochima Agbese, the Awan’otun of Agila to build a church and donate it to his community.

The zeal by the Catholic community in Apa, Agila, to continue in worship of the Most High was such that made them convert every available space they see to a place of worship thereby putting into faith the assurance in Mathew 18:20 that says, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”

Their relentless bid to find a place to worship and conduct other church activities, took them to several places including the palace of the Otse Agila, Chief Philip Agbese Onazi, where they continued in fellowship.

As fate would have it, that was where as the saying goes, opportunity met preparation.

One day as Chief Agbese arrived the palace, he saw ‘some people’ gathered at the Itakpa, the throne hall where his late father and later his elder brother, Chief Michael Onazi Agbese, used to sit and minister to the people.

Curious, he asked what they were doing there and they told him they were praying adding that that is where they normally have their prayer meetings.

He asked for the name of the church they belong to, and to his surprise, they said they’re from the St. Daniel Catholic church in Apa, Agila.

St. Daniel? What a coincidence! Was that not a deliberate ploy to get him emotionally knowing that his first name is Daniel? He decided to peek further.

Months gone by and on a different day, he came to the village and again, saw the same set of people gathered at the same spot. He concluded they were indeed desirous of a place to worship God and decided he would help them.

That led to the commencement of the process that culminated in the building of the catholic church in the part of Apa, Agila, known as New Jerusalem.

It however wasn’t a case of waving a magic wand as there were challenges encountered along the way. Soon enough, a hall was constructed to serve the purpose.

But it was like the counsel of Jesus Christ in Mathew 7: 24-29 was not followed because, shortly after that, a windstorm came and destroyed it.

Not discouraged, Chief Agbese decided to support the church still and the structure was rebuilt. Again, it was as if the spirits were protesting his interest in that regard and the building in no time came down.

It was then he decided to follow Jesus’ teachings about building on a foundation that neither streams of water nor windstorm or anything for that matter, could destroy and decided to build a temple using the finest of materials, that would stand the test of time, though unlike King Solomon, the cedar woods were not imported from Lebanon!

Chief Agbese then devoted his time and resources to the building of a brand new church and gradually, the foundation was laid, concrete spread and blocks mounted.

On completion, the church turned out to be a commodious building with an expansive hall; office of the priest; rest rooms; with walls and roof painted in glistering colours that proclaim its readiness to welcome all into the congregation.

Chief Agbese asked the church for one favour though.

For all his adult life, he had known someone whose zeal and determination to serve God has remained unquenched and whom he thought, would be further inspired if she has a church named after her in her village.

He was right. Anyone that knows Mrs. Rose Agbese, can attest to the fact that her passion for serving God comes with an unmatched zeal and unparalleled devotion.

The Diocese obliged him and the parish was rechristened, St. Rose Catholic Church, (New Jerusalem) Apa, Agila.

The building was completed early this year but had to wait till April and a week after the Easter to be inaugurated.

The Holy Mass celebration had His Lordship, Bishop Ekwoyi Michael Apochi of the Otukpo Diocese dedicating the church after Chief Agbese flanked by his wife and other well wishers, gave the testimony.

As the Catholics would say, Deus benedicat tibi, Chief Dan Agbese.