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PA
UK News

Nigerian minister finds family connection after 3,400 mile move to Scotland

Revd Dr Elijah Obinna, who's taken over at St John's, found a member of his congregation has previously worked in the same hospital as his mother.

Dr Ann Jackson, 78, was a Church of Scotland missionary who went out to Nigeria between 1966 and 1970 and worked as a general physician in three hospitals.

One of them was the Presbyterian Joint Hospital in Uburu in Ebonyi state - the area where Revd Obinna used to live - and where his mother Margaret worked as a nurse for 28 years until she retired in 2008.

Revd Obinna, who is married to Favour with whom he has four young children, said his mother was "really surprised" to learn of the connection.

"It is amazing that Ann was sent to Nigeria by the Church of Scotland 50 years ago and now the Presbytery of Nigeria has sent me to the Church of Scotland," he added.

PA Wire

"I was surprised to learn of the connection because I had never been to Carluke before, so it was unbelievable to hear that Ann worked in the same hospital as my mum."

Dr Jackson said she was "thrilled to bits" with his arrival.

"I was stunned when I learned that Elijah's mother worked in the same hospital as me," she said.

"The way God works out his purpose is amazing and you never know where it is going to take you or how it is going to end.

The 41-year-old minister will be inducted at a special ceremony on Thursday.

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