By Lucky Isibor
A clergy and ferry preacher of the Assemblies of God Church, Rev. Alex Edomonyi has counseled Christians not to fear death, but should rather fear the judgement of God, noting that death has no sting for those who know Jesus Christ during their life time and served Him in truth and spirit.
Rev. Edomwonyi gave the counsel while delivering a sermon titled “A Glorious Death, Death Honoured by God” at the service of songs and burial of Mrs Roseline Ehimamiegho Orhue, nee Ekhaguere, the mother in-law of Prof. Matthew Izibili at Eyaen, Benin City on Friday, 5 August.
The clergy man who took his Bible text from Hebrew 9, 27- 28 and 2nd Carinthians 5; 10, admonished Christians to know God, know Jesus Christ now that they’re alive so as not to know Him in sorrow, adding that will be during judgement, which he said will be too late for redemption.
“Only Jesus can give life and life forever. I use this occasion of the service of songs for Mama to appeal to those of you who have not known Jesus to know Him now and I pray they don’t know God in sorrow on the day of judgement. Don’t fear death, but fear judgement.”
While eulogising a life of dedication to the service of God Mama Roseline Ehimamiegho Orhue lived, Rev. Edomwonyi pointed out that, “She was easy going and had no issues with anyone, will participate deligently in the service from the beginning to the when the grace is shared. She followed God to the end. She died a beautiful death.”
He urged Christians to ensure they participate in church service till the end when the “Grace” is shared, pointing out that leaving the church before then is likened to absence at the church service.
The right of passage for Mrs Roseline Ehimamiegho Orhue, nee Ekhaguere Also Known As Iye-Queen, continued on Saturday, 6 September with a social outing and entertainment of guests at the Edo Broadcasting Service (EBS) at Aduwawa.
The guests at the event did not fail to taste of the hospitality of Prof. Matthew Izibili and his wife, Mrs. Eunice Izibili and her sibling, Mrs. Queen Enihe and husband, Dr. Rapheal Enihe as they were lavishly refreshed with mouth watering dishes and assorted drinks, while they danced to scintillating gospel music supplied by a live band.
The burial activities were rounded off on Sunday, 7 September with a thanksgiving service at the Assemblies of God Church, Eyaen 1 Branch, Edo – East District, Benin City.
Speaking with Newscurve24 on the life and times of Mrs. Roseline Ehimamiegho Orhue, the son in-law, Prof. Matthew Izibili who is the husband of her first daughter, Mrs, Eunice Izibili; the erudite scholar described his mother in-law as a mother who displayed all the attributes of a loving mother, adding that himself and his wife cared for her to the best of their ability, a gesture he said she appreciated most profoundly.
“My mother in-law was indeed a great in-law, she was not just a mother in-law, she was indeed a mother to the core in every aspect of motherhood. She was a blessing to us, she lived with us for so many years and died in our house. To the best of our ability, my wife and I cared for her and she appreciated us and reported me positively to her family. During the burial rights yesterday the family made reference to this. They said I buried her while she was alive and also buried her in death.
Also speaking with Newscurve24, another son in-law, Dr Rapheal Enihe who is the husband of the second daughter, Mrs. Queen Enihe described his mother in-law as a mother to everyone who came across her, adding that’s why he fondly referred to her as “Mother-General.”
“Mrs Roseline Orhue, my mother in law, was a kind hearted woman, a peaceful woman, a generous woman and a mother of all. I call her Mother-General and that is why you are seeing that this celebration today is filled with multitude of persons from different works of life who came to join us to celebrate her. We thank God for the life she lived, we give God all the glory.”
Mrs. Roseline Ehimamiegho Orhue was born 80 years ago to Pa. Ekhaguere of Uzan in Uhunmwode Local Government Area of Edo State and got married to late Sergeant Aganmwon-uyi Orhue of Obazagbon, also in Uhunmwode Local Government Area.
She became a devout Christian after giving her life to Christ in 1999 and worshiped with the Assemblies of God Church, first at Oregbeni Branch and later at Eyaen Branch 1, which is close to her new home where she lived and her remains were interred.
Mrs. Roseline Ehimamiegho Orhue is survived by her two lovely daughters, Mrs. Eunice Osademwen Izibili and Mrs. Queen Inuaghata Enihe; two sons in-law, Prof. Matthew Izibili and Dr. Rapheal Enihe, six grand children, Osemhonahu Matthew-Izibili, Ebosetale Matthew-Izibili, Osemuyimen Matthew-Izibili, Oseleonomhen Matthew-Izibili, Etinosa Enihe and Eseosa Enihe.