Written by Divine Nwankwo.
It was Albert Pike that said that; “What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal”. The saying of this philosopher reminds those who do good and affect lives positively, that their good works towards others will not go unnoticed.
In The Apostolic Church Nigeria Igboland Territory, there is a servant of the Most High God, Apostle Henry Okechukwu Peter, who has been considered by his spiritual children worthy of life celebration due to his numerous contributions to their spiritual growth and usefulness in the society today.
In this wise, the spiritual children of Apostle Henry Okechukwu Peter, in collaboration with his biological children are organising a Life Celebration to honour him, having been a Pastor in The Apostolic Church Nigeria for decades and having affected their lives very positively. This celebration of life is taking place tomorrow, Saturday, June 6th, 2026, at the Bishop Nwedo Pastoral Centre Hall, Mater Dei Cathedral, Umuahia by 10.00am.
Born on the third day of July, 1959 to the family of late Peter Iheanacho Uzoanya of Ime Ahuwa, Ikwueke – Oboro of today’s Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State, Henry Okechukwu Peter attended Ahuwa Community School and obtained his First School Leaving Certificate in 1976, and later proceeded to Ikwuano Secondary School, Ariam, where he studied between 1976 and 1980 and obtained West African Senior School Certificate.
Upon receiving the divine call, Henry Okechukwu Peter, who was of the Assemblies of God Church then, was divinely directed to join The Apostolic Church ministry and serve the Lord there. Hence, Henry O. Peter proceeded to The Apostolic Church Theological Seminary, Amumara, Mbaise in 1987, and by 1990, he obtained a Diploma in Theology. He equally has in his Kitty, TC II and NCE certificates. He continued to study and in 2021, Pastor Peter obtained a Masters of Divinity degree at the Life Gate Theological Seminary.
This distinguished servant of God has pastored many local Assemblies and District headquarters. His missionary journeys, spanning over 38 years saw him posted from one local Assembly to another. He has served the Lord in the following churches of The Apostolic Church Nigeria (TACN); Obizi-Mbaise in Imo State from 1988 to 1991; Nchara-Otoro in Oloko, from 1991 to 1995, Iberenta-Ibere, from 1995 to 2000; Amawom-Oboro from 2000 to 2009; Ekebedi-Oboro from 2009 to 2012 (all in Ikwuano LGA of Abia State); Umuoparaozara-Olokoro in Umuahia South LGA from 2012 to 2017.
His ministerial calling took him from Umuahia to Ohafia where he pastored Okonu Aku District headquarters from 2017 to 2022; Okagwe District headquarters from 2022 to 2023; and then to Annia District headquarters where he has been serving till today.
As a committed minister of the gospel, Apostle Henry Okechukwu Peter has consistently done exploits in the local churches where he has pastored and still pastoring. For instance, he erected church buildings at Obizi-Mbaise, Nchara-Oloko, Iberanta-Ibere and Umuoparaozara Olokoro. At Ekebedi, he fenced the church, erected and completed building of stalls.
He built a personage in Iberenta church and bought a land for building of personage at Umuoparaozara-Olokoro. At Okonu Aku District headquarters, this man of God ensured the completion of church personage and the painting of the church building. Within his short time in Okagwe, he embarked on moulding of blocks for the church. At Ania District headquarters, where he is presently serving, he has carried out renovation of church building and painting of personage. He has equally embarked on purchasing building materials for the decking of the church.
All these exploits are in addition to winning souls for the Lord and planting of churches including TACN Obohia-Okike in Ikwuano LGA and Ndi-Aku in Ohafia LGA.
Prior to becoming a pastor, Apostle Peter had been a church officer and served as a Deacon. As a pastor, he served as a Worker from 1988 to 1997 before being promoted to the position of a Probationary Pastor, Pastor Henry Peter was later ordained a Pastor -a ministerial cadre where he served for 13 years before he was ordained an Apostle in 2025, the highest-ranking position of the clergymen in The Apostolic Church worldwide.
Married to Deaconess Ifeoma Okechukwu Henry, a woman with spiritual endowment, Apostle Henry Okechukwu Peter is blessed with seven biological children and numerous spiritual children, who have thrown their weight behind his celebration.
Apostle Henry Okechukwu Peter has over the years devoted himself to training and mentoring children. He has the special grace of praying, grooming and instructing children to become useful in life. Little wonder, his spiritual children have become Pastors, church leaders and successful academics, career people, entrepreneurs and business men and women.
Apostle Peter is a celebrated servant of God, who serves the Lord with fear and trembling. He is not given to extortion neither does he make himself a burden to the church. He loves, accommodates, visits and prays for members of the communities where he is posted to, whether or not they are members of his denomination.
A very cheerful man of God, Apostle Henry Peter would always greet and bless the people of God with his popular “ịbụ onye agọziri agọzi, jisike!”- meaning You are a blessed! Well-done!
Considering the immeasurable contributions of this man of God, his children have decided to celebrate him while he is alive, unlike the popular manner in our clime, where people are mostly celebrated at death, when they no longer know what happens around them.
This celebration is apt, considering the stand of Tom Rath, who posited thus; “We must find ways to celebrate people’s lives and contributions while they are still alive. We need far more celebrations of life … even before people know they are dying”.
The event which holds tomorrow at the Bishop Nwedo Pastoral Hall Mater Dei Cathedral by 10.00am, will be chaired by one of the spiritual children of the Apostle, Engr. John Chigozie Faith. The Area Superintendent of Ohafia Urban Area, Apostle D.C Nwogwugwu is the spiritual father, HRH Eze Dr. Ambassador Stanley Ijenwa will be the father of the day while another spiritual son of the Apostle, and General Overseer of the Redeemed Faithful Mission, Apostle Harrison Okoro will deliver the sermon.
As we celebrate the Lord’s Apostle tomorrow, we pray that God Almighty would bless him beyond measure and grant him sound health and more fruitful years in His vineyard. Come, let us celebrate this servant of God!
Congratulations Apostle Henry Okechukwu Peter!
Congratulations Nnanyiukwu Henry, Onye Ozi Chineke Pụrụ Iche!!
Long Live the Glorious Vision of The Apostolic Church!!!
To God be the glory, Amen!
