From Julius B. Kezi, Kaduna
A genuine encounter with Christ Jesus produces positive transformation of an individual for his wellbeing, family, community and the service of God and humanity in general.
Rev. Jeremiah Bupwatda’a of the E.C.W.A District Church Council (DCC) Zonkwa Kataf Local Government stated this at ECWA church Katsit Bajju in a sermon during the funeral service of Engr. Bala Charles Baduku at the weekend.
The clergyman posited that “those who have had true encounter with Christ Jesus or the prophets, had left their evil ways of life, changed their characters and became useful to God and the society”.
Reading from the Holy Bible, John 9:1-25, Which gave an account of blind Bartholomew, who was healed on the Jewish Sabbath day of worship against the wish of Pharisees, the clergyman who titled the sermon “Before I was blind, but now I can see” said the Pharisees of that time were suffering from spiritual blindness, who preferred the healed Bartholomew to remain physically blind to keep the Sabbath, even haven made Christ, the healer.
He enjoined people to examine their ways of life, when he asked, “in what ways are you bent on looking for other people’s faults and ignoring the will, graces and purpose of God for mankind?”
Rev. Bupwatda’a said Late Bala Charles Baduku “though dead, but now resting in the lord, because his early encounter with Christ made him lived a just life and left behind godly virtues as legacies for posterity to emulate, to the glory of God.
Listing some persons in the Holy Bible who had an encounter with prophets of God and Jesus Christ had change of character and served God and humanity diligently, Rev. Bupwatda”a included King David, Mary Magdalene, Zacheus and Thomas, amongst many others.
He admonished members of the public to stop all evil acts that will destroy them, their families, and communities and end up in hell fire, in the hereafter ; stressing that “to those who believe in Christ Jesus are given the power to become children of God(John 3:12)”.
Late Engineer Bala Charles Baduku was born in Katsit Bajju Kafanchan in 1951, attended SIM Secondary School Ungwar Rimi-Bajju and Government Craft School Kano, 1963 and 1965, after which went to Electricity Corporation of Nigeria (ECN) Technical College Oshodi Lagos and qualified as an Electrical craftman 1968.
In 1970-1975, he obtained a federal scholarship and studied Electrical Engineering at Leningrad in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR) now Russia, and obtained Bsc. Technical Degree.
Back to Nigeria in 1975, Late Bala Baduku worked as electrical engineer at ECN Lagos, Jos, Nguru and Kaduna, before joining the service of the Kaduna state Government at Technical School Soba Zaria, Government Technical College and Government College Kaduna as a teacher.
He joined the federal Government service in 1980 and served the Nigeria Mining Corporation Jos, retired in 1997 and took a contract appointment with the University Of Jos 1998 to 2005.
On return to his community, he has been in the service of God in the church and his community.
Late Baduku was described by relatives, friends and the church as a rare gem, humble, dependable, truthful mentor, Educationist and believer in Christ, who shunned laziness. He is survived by his wife, Mrs Mary M. Baduku, five children, twelve grandchildren, brothers, sisters, relatives and adopted children.
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