THE NIGERIAN POWER SECTOR DEREGULATION - so far

Prior to the enactment of the EPSRA, 2005, FGN was responsible for policy formulation, regulation, operation, and investment in the Nigerian power sector. Regulation of the sector was done through the Federal Ministry of Power (FMP) with operations through the National Electric Power Authority (NEPA), a wholly owned SOE responsible for power generation, transmission and distribution.

To address the twin issues of NEPA's poor operational and financial performance, the FGN amended the then prevailing laws (Electricity and NEPA Acts) in 1998 to remove NEPA's monopoly and encourage private sector participation. The amendments, however, were not far-reaching. This informed FGN of the need to undertake holistic policy, legal and regulatory reforms. The National Electric Power Policy, 2001, specifies the reform agenda, while EPSRA provides the legal basis for the unbundling of NEPA, the formation of successor companies and the privatisation of the latter. EPSRA also provides for the development of a competitive electricity market, the establishment of a dedicated regulatory body and the establishment of a rural electrification agency.

Consequently, FGN established the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN – the initial holding company) and subsequently unbundled it into eighteen (18) successor companies. Strategically, the objectives of the reform include (i) the transfer of management and financing of SC operations to the organised private sector; (ii) the establishment of an independent and effective regulatory commission to oversee and monitor the industry; and (iii) focusing the FGN on policy formulation and long-term development of the industry. This will lead to (i) increased access to electricity services; (ii) improved efficiency, affordability, reliability and quality of services; and (iii) greater investment into the sector to stimulate economic growth.

Presently, the Presidential Action Committee on Power (PACP), which is chaired by the President of Nigeria, and includes the Vice-President and Ministers of the Government who have key roles to play in sector reform, provides high-level oversight of the implementation of electric power sector reform. The executive arm of the PACP is the Presidential Task Force on Power (PTFP), which is chaired by the Special Adviser to the President on Power. The key tasks of the PTFP are to ensure a symbiotic relationship between the MDAs responsible for implementing various aspects of sector reform and privatisation, that their asks are undertaken comprehensively and on time and that any risks ahead of full sector reform are identified and brought up for mitigation or removal by the relevant MDA or Government functionary or by Mr. President.

The Federal Government-owned electricity system now comprises:

1.    Three hydro and seven thermal generating stations with a total installed capacity of about 6,852MW, with available capacity of 3,542MW (as of 31st July 2010). Each entity has been incorporated as a single-asset generating company;

2.    A radial  transmission grid (330kV and 132kV), owned and managed by the   Transmission Company of Nigeria, with the responsibility of undertaking the system operation and market settlement functions, respectively; and

3.    Eleven distribution companies (33kV and below) that undertake the wires, sales, billing, collection and customer care functions within their area of geographical monopoly.

Competitive tender will be carried out to receive bids from core investor groups (inclusive of competent generation asset owner/operators) for a minimum of 51% of equity in the following successor thermal generating companies:

a)    Afam Power Plc;

b)    Sapele Power Plc;

c)     Ughelli Power Plc;

d)    Geregu Power Plc;

And a separate concessioning process for the following successor hydro generating companies

e)    Shiroro Hydro Power Plc;

f)     *Kainji Hydro Power

*Note that Jebba power station is part of Kainji Hydro Power Plc.

Competitive tender will be carried out to receive bids from core investor groups (inclusive of competent distribution asset owner/operators). The bids will be considered against certain specific criteria that seek to address the strategic policy objectives summarised above. These criteria, first, are the payment of 51% of the value of the company as determined  and incorporated in the Multi Year Tariff Order (MYTO); second, given the levels of investment contained in MYTO proposals on the reduction of  Aggregate Technical, Commercial and Collection (ATC&C) losses over a five-year period (Note that a bidder who passes the technical evaluation and offers the highest ATC&C reduction proposal shall be designated the preferred bidder); and, third, proposals for investing in expanding the customer base and customer access/coverage area of the various successor distribution companies, listed as follows:

1.    Abuja Electricity Distribution Plc;

2.    Benin Electricity Distribution Plc;

3.    Eko Electricity Distribution Plc;

4.    Enugu Electricity Distribution Plc;

5.    Ibadan Electricity Distribution Plc ;

6.    Ikeja Electricity Distribution Plc;

7.    Jos Electricity Distribution Plc;

8.    Kaduna Electricity Distribution Plc;

9.    Kano Electricity Distribution Plc;

10.  Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Plc;

11.  Yola Electricity Distribution Plc

A separate management contractor procurement process is underway for Transmission Company of Nigeria.

Our training fee is nothing compared to the benefits, says NAPTIN boss

April 10, 2013 Musa Adamu Energy 1 comment

As the power sector reform enters its final phase, the sector is expected to become bigger. Additional companies will require manpower to function optimally, but there is already dearth of manpower. In this interview with MUSA ADAMU, the Director General, National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN), Engr. Reuben Okeke, relays how the agency is ready to surmount the challenge

How prepared is the NAPTIN to meet the manpower needs of the emerging companies?

 

I want to, first of all, say we acknowledge the dearth of technical manpower in the power sector and this is partly due to the embargo placed on employment since 1998. But, when the Federal Government decided to establish National Power Training Institute of Nigeria, (NAPTIN), the idea is to make sure that that huge gap in manpower requirement is bridged.

As a body, we have identified the huge challenge that we are going to face in, especially in post privatisation period and I want to assure that with the support of the Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, we have been getting prepared for the post privatisation era.

Similarly, with the technical support we have been getting from our development partners in recent time to make sure that we brace up to that challenge, we will be very ready by the time the reform is completed.

The desire to work towards this challenge is informed by the fact that if we don't have the local workforce ready, then local content law may not achieve its aim since the investors will definitely look elsewhere to fill the manpower gap. So, what we are doing right now is to make sure that we have enough engineers and craftsmen available for the investors to shop from.

 

How many Nigerians have you trained so far?

 

Well, we have done the manpower requirement survey and we know what is needed when the nation achieves the 20,000 megawatts, (MW). We are generating 4,500MW right now and we have less than 1,600 Engineers supporting this, and of this number, about 700 will be retiring in the next three years. Therefore, from the manpower requirement survey, we will need about 8,244 trained Engineers and Technologists to support the increased in the generation by the time we hit 20,000MW.

Also, we will be requiring a total of about 17, 500 technical manpower including lines men, cable jointers, fitters and so on to support 400,000MW.This number may be reduced if the level of automation in our operation is improved, and we are expecting that the investors coming in will invest in automation so that where you require four hands to man a sub-station, with automation, one hand may just be all right.

 

What is the entry qualification?

 

First of all, this is an engineering outfit; power is engineering. Having said this, I must add that we also have support services staff which NAPTIN is as well interested in. These are what we refer to as non-technical workforce. But for technical workforce, one needs to have a Bsc or HND in Electrical Electronic Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or in Civil Engineering.

Apart from this, a holder of a National Diploma Certificate from a government technical school or a Polytechnic or what they call a Trade Test Examination, (TTE) can be admitted for the lower cadre training.

Of recent, we have been thinking about how we can accommodate a school certificate holder with a credit in physics and mathematics and at least a certificate in computer to be taking up for some of the vocations we have in power sector like district sub-stations operators. These cadres run shifts and they are the ones you see all over the town where we have an injection sub-station.

Before coming to us for the short training, we also encourage that you should get employed in any of the value chain of the electricity for about a year or two before been. We have a lot of modular courses depending on the level with which you are coming into the institute.

 

What chances have those working in the sector but without these qualifications in the institute?

 

Everybody currently engaged and working also has a place. All we need to do is to find out your level and what you already know and we take you from there. This question is pertinent because in PHCN we go by the government rule which says you must have a certificate. So, it must be stressed that if what you only have is a school cert, you would not have a career progression beyond certain level unless you have a degree.

I need to also add that at NAPTIN, we are trying to come up with something that will have a universal appeal. By this, once you sit and pass NAPTIN exams and training, you can make all the career progression like any other person, whether in PHCN or elsewhere. On this, were are working with National Board for Technical Education, (NBTE) to develop what we call National Occupational Standard, (NOS) and it is expected to cover power sector vocation, power system protection, turbine maintenance, auxiliary maintenance in the power station, electrical system operations and electrical maintenance.

 

 

How well do you think Nigerians really know about the opportunity you represent?

 

Well, I would say we depend on people like you; the media to reach out to Nigerians. We are aware that no matter what we do here unless we depend on the media, it will be difficult, if not impossible, for the larger percentage of Nigerians to appreciate what we are doing.

We are currently running jingles on some select Radio outfits in the country and I must add that its costs a lot since we are just starting. But, we will get the needed funds to fund more commercials and advertisements in both electronic and print medium.

 

 

Some Nigerians say your fees are too high for an average Nigerian

 

It is true that our fees are a bit high, but if we should publish how we compute and arrive at such fees today, I bet you many of those criticizing us will jump to our defence. We have been challenged a couple of times on this issue actually. They asked how is it possible to ask for N750, 000 from a fresh graduate who has spent so much in the university and has not got employed to afford the fee.

But, I can tell you how we arrived at that. I want to assure you that the same people complaining would not mind spending N 2million to do masters and if he does it abroad, spends between N2.5million to N3millionn only to come back without a skill. He cannot work anywhere because his certificate cannot give him the needed skill to get a job.  Here we are asking you to pay just N750, 000 and get empowered and you are complaining? The new owners coming in will not look at your certificates alone; they will also want to know what you can give them.

 

Are you in collaboration with any University?

 

Yes, we are working with the National University commission, (NUC) to develop a modality on which we can work together. We have already identified two universities for this reason. It will be a mutually beneficial collaboration. The universities will also be able to restructure their curriculum, as a result.

We have about 244 graduates who have been with us for the past six months now and we have given them exams and we have seen from their results that universities have to review their curriculum, because some of these graduates are not even trainable.

 

How informed are the new investors about your activities?

 

The truth of the matter is that the new investors are not coming to reinvent the wheel. If the new investors come tomorrow, they would not be doing anything different from what we have been doing apart from ensuring efficiency. Why I am saying this is that we already know where the training needs are, but beyond this, we are going to work with the new investors and we would expect them to tell us the areas they would want us to emphasize on.

When the new national power training policy, which the minister will endorse soon, comes on stream, every investor would be required to train their staff. So, he can only exercise the option of training them abroad or bringing them to NAPTIN.

When I graduated from the University of Florida, living at home with my parents was not where I expected to find myself. With my degree in industrial engineering, I had envisioned starting a career immediately. But instead, I found myself job-less, stressed out, and mailing lots of resumes. In fact, being jobless and frantically sending out resumes is standard practice for most recent college grads these days.

If you’re in this position, it’s hard not to let it get you down – but while the job market is struggling, you’re not entirely out of luck. Here are 10 tips to survive, stay on track, and get ahead of the competition.

What to Do If You Can’t Get a Job

1. Stay Positive
Don’t be upset or surprised if you don’t have a job by graduation day. It is important to stay positive and continue your search. One way to maintain a positive frame of mind is to remind yourself how far you have come already – just like the challenges you faced in school, you will overcome being unemployed.

And remember, it’s important to set aside at least an hour each day to do something you really enjoy. Take a jog, read a book, or spend time with your friends and family. This can go a long way to help you maintain a positive attitude, which could be the very thing that lands you a job.

2. Reduce Your Cost of Living
If you don’t have an income, you need to reduce your expenses. And since you don’t know the duration of your unemployment, start eliminating expenses quickly to avoid depleting your savings and building up debt.

·         Move Back Home. Moving in with your parents has huge savings potential. Many parents don’t charge their children for rent, utilities, or even food. In fact, when I moved home after graduation, my parents looked at it as their last opportunity to provide for me financially; it was a kind of college graduation gift. It was also nice to receive encouragement and emotional support from my family during that challenging time. Just be sure not to mooch off your parents. Also, do something in return for their kindness, such as cleaning, cooking, and mowing the lawn.

·         Defer Student Loans. To defer a student loan means to suspend loan payments temporarily. There is usually an automatic grace period of six months before you have to start paying back student loans upon graduation. However, if you have trouble finding a job, six months may not be enough. If you find yourself in this situation, defer your student loans until you have an income.

·         Put Yourself on a Budget. One of the best ways to save money is to conserve it by implementing a personal budget. Determine the amount of money you have and how much you can spend each month for a specified period of time (perhaps one year). Then, limit your spending to that amount of money per month. Consider putting away your credit cards and using the envelope budgeting system if you tend to over-spend. 

3.                 Spend Time Networking

Professional networking can really pay off during a job search. Often, it’s not what you know, butwho you know.Here are several places to network:

·         College Alumni Associations. Being a recent graduate, you may receive phone calls and mail from your college’s alumni association asking you to join or donate money. Join if you wish, but more importantly, find out if there are functions you can attend to meet other alumni. People love to work with fellow alumni, and you may be able to find an “in” via such a connection.

·         Networking Events. Search online for networking events in your community. Once you begin attending these events, you may receive information for others not listed online.

·         Career Fairs. Career fairs are becoming increasingly common, and they can be hosted or sponsored by a school, a company, or even a city. Keep your eyes open for opportunities by checking online, in newspapers, and by watching the news.

·         Professional Organizations. Similar to college alumni, many people relate well to those who are in their professional organizations. In fact, it was via a professional organization (the Institute of Industrial Engineers) that I found my first job after graduating. Even if you don’t want to network, join a professional organization and attend a few activities in order to update your resume with current industry happenings.

·         Conferences. You can meet many people by attending a conference for your profession or industry. Individual conferences are typically held once per year, and can be held anywhere in the country. The cost to attend these events is often high, but if you leave the conference with some job leads, it could make it worth every penny.

·         Job Shadowing Opportunities. You can get a taste of a day in the life of a working professional by job shadowing. Even if the company for which you shadow does not have a current opening, they may remember you when they do have one. Check for job-shadowing opportunities with your college or local chamber of commerce.

·         LinkedIn. An increasing amount of people are finding jobs via social networking, and LinkedIn is the social network designed for professionals. LinkedIn allows you to display who you are, along with your degrees, experiences, and what specific line of work you are looking for.

4. Consider Going Back to School
This may not be ideal if you’ve been looking forward to working. However, if you were planning to eventually earn another degree, it might be best to simply get it out of the way, during which time the economy can recover.

On the flip side, if you were not planning to get another degree, don’t jump into a costly academic program out of frustration. As you know, earning a degree takes a lot of time, money, energy, and determination, and it’s not worth doing just to have something to do.

5. Keep Yourself Busy
While looking for a job is often a full-time job in and of itself, don’t put your life on hold because of it. Pick up part-time work at a temp agency, pursue your hobbies, or learn something new. You may even want get additional training or licenses to benefit your career.

6. Broaden Your Job Search
It took me seven months from the time I graduated to start my first job. I later realized that I had kept my job search too narrow by looking in a limited area, within only certain industries, and for one that required minimal travel. Had I been more open, I believe I would have found a job much more quickly.

Consider broadening your search to find a job quicker and especially if you’ve been looking for several months. Open yourself up to more locations, industries, career types, and entry-level positions, even if you qualify for a higher level job. Focus on getting your foot in the door, and try not to be too idealistic.

7. Build Your Skills
Every time you interview and are overlooked for the job, ask the interviewer what skills they recommend you improve. If you struggled answering the interview questions, ask a friend or family member to help you do mock interviews. This will also improve your confidence.

8. Volunteer or Work for Free
In some industries, it is common for a recent hire to work an unpaid internship before becoming a paid employee. If you are unable to find a paid job, consider this option as a way to gain experience and network. You could have yourself a paid job before you know it.

Another option is to volunteer for an organization such as the Peace Corps, Teach America, or AmeriCorps. Keep in mind that it takes time to be accepted as a volunteer, and these organizations require a commitment. For example, my sister joined the Peace Corps – the volunteer acceptance process took nine months, plus she had to commit for two years and undergo three months of training.

9. Start a Business
If the corporate world isn’t working out for you, take matters into your own hands by starting a business. Focus on an area in which you have a great deal of knowledge – for instance, if you are good with computers, a repair shop may be the perfect business to run out of your house. Consulting companies are also low-risk endeavors that require little start-up capital.

10. Start a Blog or Website
If you have a passion that you would like to share with the world, write about it and see where it goes. For instance, healthy cooking, personal finance, sports, couponing, and new technology are all popular topics online. It will take work and dedication to develop your blog, and it will take patience and smart social media marketing to build up a readership – but over time, you could find yourself with a dedicated following and a solid source of income.

Looking for a Job is a Job

Looking for a Job is a Job

Finding a job requires serious efforts. It’s a Job finding a job. Most often, Job seekers treat this with levity and expect luck or in some cases, give up while trying. They blame it on wrong Job information, false Job adverts, and etc. The list is simply endless. Studies however, have proven otherwise. My experience as a Job seeker and now a human resource professional has offered me more insight on the subject matter. Finding a job takes dedication and determination. A job seeker must understand that getting a Job requires perseverance but most importantly unwavering commitment to his/her pursuit. Here are something’s you need to know;

Ø  As a jobseeker, never depend on luck. Effort must be invested in your pursuit for a rewarding employment.

Ø  As a jobseeker, seeking for a Job is done every day and not once in a week or anytime convenient. You must dedicate time and resources to your pursuit. Most great Jobs have a short deadline. In some cases, a week or even days.

Ø  As a jobseeker, get rid of email filters that will prevent organization from reaching you. Deal with spam emails as it comes. I have seen countless individuals subscribing for spam filters. Please note this, when an organization send outs bulk invites either for aptitude test or interview, they do that through a channel. No one has time to start going through your spam filter message to be granted access. I have seen people subscribe for all kinds of message filter online and this has greatly limited their chances of being reached. Deal with your emails one at a time or better still avoid exposing them on forums, thereby inviting spam mails.

Ø  As a Jobseeker, be more flexible in your approach to job search.

Ø  Finally, have a SIMPLY but expressive Résumé. One that will speak for you even when you are not there. Be sure to make detailed but direct.

Looking for a Job is a Job. How are you looking?

PRACTICAL RESPONSIBILITIES IN PURPOSEFUL RELATIONSHIP

Systematic Expository Study of God’s Word                                                                 21/03/2011                                                                              

Study 26:  PRACTICAL RESPONSIBILITIES IN PURPOSEFUL RELATIONSHIP

1 Thessalonians 5:12-15

These verses reveal important roles and responsibilities for ministers and members in the church. In the Scripture, the Church is referred to as the Body of Christ, the family of God, the flock of sheep under the Shepherd, the fold of Christ, the Bride of Christ, the Temple of the Holy Spirit, the Building whose foundation and Cornerstone is Christ. As the Body of Christ or the family of God, the Church is not an organization but an organism. The ministers and members function harmoniously like the different parts of the human body (1 Corinthians 12:12-26). The roles and responsibilities of members of the body are ordained by God. And when they serve and minister without conflict or friction, there is health, growth and purposeful existence. In every local church, the roles and responsibilities of ministers and members have been clearly defined and outlined. When ministers and members graciously follow God’s revealed will for His family, there will be the realization of God’s expectation for the Church.

Some religious people have divided the Church into two: the clergy and the laity; an active clergy and a passive laity.  If the human body left all activity to the head, man would soon be dead and forgotten. “But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body as it hath pleased Him” (1 Corinthians 12:18). No member of the body is unnecessary or redundant. And no minister or member in His Church is expected to be inactive or passive. Each one has a divinely appointed role, responsibility and function.

1.         MINISTERS’ RESPONSIBILITIES TOWARDS MEMBERS IN THE FAMILY

1 Thessalonians 5:12; 1 Corinthians 3:9-11; Acts 20:19-21,26-32; Colossians 1:25-29; 4:11-13,17; 1 Timothy 1:3; 4:6,15,16; 1 Thessalonians 2:7-10; 2 Timothy 2:1-5; Titus 2:1-8,15.

“Know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you.” The ministers referred to are those who “labour in the word and doctrine” (1 Timothy 5:17), “labouring fervently that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God” (Colossians 4:12). The faithful minister – leader, pastor, teacher, evangelist – works hard and labours diligently among God’s people to feed them with knowledge and understanding (Jeremiah 3:15), to feed, warn and watch over them (Acts 20:28-31), to expound and apply the truth (2 Timothy 4:2-5), to warn and admonish the children of God (Colossians 1:28), to mature the saints and lead them to maturity (Ephesians 4:11-13), “to make ready a people prepared for the Lord” (Luke 1:17).  Paul, the Apostle, himself has left us a great example of a hard-working, labouring, conscientious minister. As an Apostle, he “laboured more abundantly” than all the other Apostles; as a prophet, he “laboured more abundantly” than all the New Testament prophets; as an evangelist, he “laboured more abundantly” than all other evangelists; as a pastor, he “laboured more abundantly” than other pastors; as a teacher, he “laboured more abundantly” than all other teachers. A builder, a preacher, a missionary, a church planter, a writer, a trainer and mentor, a servant of Christ and of the Church, Paul “laboured more abundantly than they all” because of “the grace that was bestowed upon” him. Each minister should endeavour to seek and obtain more grace and help from God so that he would labour more for the Lord: seek more sinners and lead more converts to discipleship; teach and preach with more clarity to lead more saints to maturity; and pray to receive more of the Spirit’s anointing to minister with more vision, zeal and faithfulness.

2.         MEMBERS’ RESPONSE TO MINISTERS WHO ARE OVER THE FLOCK 

1 Thessalonians 5:13; Acts 20:26-28,31; 1 Timothy 5:17; Romans 6:17-22; 1 Corinthians 16:10,11,15,16; 2 Corinthians 8:22-24; 1 Thessalonians 1:5-8; 2:13; Philippians 2:25-29; Hebrews 13:7.

The members’ response to the message of God’s Word is clearly spelt out. Members of the church have responsibilities ordained of God, toward Him, toward their shepherds, toward fellow believers and toward their families and neighbours. If these responsibilities are neglected, their lives become unproductive and unrewardable. The verses before us (1 Thessalonians 5:12,13) call members “to know them which labour among you and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake.” Members’ knowing their ministers as commanded by God demands recognizing them, accepting them, being aware of their calling as ministers appointed of God to make them all they need to be in Christ. It is a call to appreciate their ministers as men ordained by God to be His ambassadors and stewards to bring the mysteries of the Kingdom to them. The appreciation of the ministers also includes adequate support so that they will not have cares and concerns that will distract them from the ministry of the Word (Acts 6:2-4).

Members of the local church are also commanded to love and honour their shepherds.  Indeed we are “to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake.” We are not to dishonour them, slander them, belittle them or despise them. We are to esteem them very highly and “love them with a pure heart fervently.” It is God who has set pastors apart to fulfil unique ministries in our lives. So, He commands us to lovingly acknowledge and appreciate their ministry labours, greatly respect them, graciously overlook their non-sinful human frailties (Galatians 4:14), genuinely respect their ministries, continually pray for them, sincerely speak well of them, positively encourage them and constantly give our best service to make their ministries effective.

3.         MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIP AMONG MEMBERS IN THE FELLOWSHIP

1 Thessalonians 5:14,15; Ezekiel 3:18-21; Hebrews 12:12-17; Romans 14:21; 15:1-4; James 5:7,8; 1 Peter 2:21-23; 3:9-12; Romans 12:17-21.

In a good family, all the instruction, encouragement, admonition and support are not left with the father and the mother. All the members assist and support one another as needs arise. So also it is in the Church, the family of God. All the admonition, encouragement, support, intercession and correction are not left to the ministers. Members of the church share in the responsibility. The brethren “warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak” and to “be patient toward all men” (1 Thessalonians 5:14).

“Brethren, warn them that are unruly.” The unruly are those who behave in a disorderly, insubordinate manner. They are those who walk contrary to God’s prescribed way, walking in the opposite direction to a law-abiding, Spirit-guided congregation. The brethren are to warn, correct, and admonish such unsupportive, contentious members, alerting them of the danger and eternal consequences of their God-dishonouring actions. “Comfort the feeble-minded.”  The feebleminded are the fainthearted, the fearful. The brethren who are strong in the Lord, unafraid before the persecutors, bold and courageous in facing challenges should comfort, counsel and encourage the feebleminded, the fainthearted and the fearful. “Support the weak.”  Those who are weak in faith, weak in resolve and conviction, weak in understanding and susceptible to error and false doctrine, weak in conscience, having tendency to stumble over the traditions of men must be helped, supported to hold up and hold firmly to the truth. “Be patient toward all men.” As we help the unruly to come back to the path of righteousness, as we encourage and strengthen the feebleminded, as we support and hold up the weak, helping the unstable to stand in the evil day, we must not become impatient. “Giving all diligence, add to your virtue patience” (2 Peter 1:5,6).

     * * * * * * *

    Congregational Song:

BLEST BE THE TIE THAT BINDS

1.     Blest be the tie that binds

        Our hearts in Christian love;

        The fellowship of kindred minds

        Is like to that above.

2.     Before our Father’s throne,

        We pour our ardent prayers;

        Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one,

        Our comforts and our cares.

3.     We share our mutual woes,

        Our mutual burdens bear;

        And often for each other flows

        The sympathizing tear.

4.     When we asunder part,

        It gives us inward pain:

        But we shall still be joined in heart,

       And hope to meet again.