By Job Osazuwa
For members of St Paul’s Anglican Church, Oke-Afa, Isolo, Lagos, last Sunday was a day like no other. Since 2014, they had been waiting for it to dedicate their new church building
At a special service, members of the church and their guests all turned out in dazzling colours to witness the dedication of a worship centre whose foundation was laid on March 16, 2014. The need to expand the church, it was gathered, became imperative following the phenomenal growth the church had witnessed over the past years.
Blazing with colours, the newness of the church alone kept thrilling the parishioners. And they could not conceal their ecstasy all the while the service lasted. With every part of the edifice gleaming, the parishioners recalled that the days of worshipping under the mango tree while the church was being built was over for good.
Standing tall and looking down on other buildings in the neighbourhood, its main auditorium, including the upper chamber, was filled to capacity on this occasion with worshipers. The parishioners who were ready for the event were in boisterous mood, spotting locally-made fabrics, with St Paul’s Church, Oke-Afa, Isolo Diocese of Lagos West (Anglican Communion) boldly emblazoned on them.
The array of automobiles and the upsurge in vehicular and human traffic were clear testaments that something unusual was happening at the venue.
The Lord Bishop, Diocese of Lagos West, Rt. Revd. James Olusola Odedeji, stepping up to the pulpit, declared the church dedicated for the worship of God. Then, the choristers, who appeared in their best robes, burst into songs of praise and worship, with the congregation passionately joining in the chorus, with fervent shouts of Hallelujah intermittently reverberated from the four corners of the auditorium. It was worship like no other as they sang and danced like never before.
Before he delivered his sermon, Rt Revd Odedeji reeled out names of the people who contributed immensely towards making the building project a huge success and prayed for them. He also took a cursory look at how the church’s foundation was laid three years ago, saying that he could not forget in a hurry when he visited the parish in 2011 and saw worshippers cramped into one little space.
He commended those behind the project, describing them as dogged and steadfast in sacrificing their time, money and resources.
According to him, a dedicated church is known for being an intense praying church. He said any church that did not take prayer serious would soon become a dead assembly. He admonished the church not to relent in praying, assuring them that God would always deliver them from their bondage.
He said a true church must be a sacrificial/generous church and charged the parishioners to learn how to give out their money and resources without murmuring.
“Some persons are rich but they are too stingy to the extent that to give out any small amount is a big problem to them. But I want you my brethren to belong to the group that scatters yet increases, according to the Bible.”
Odedeji added that a church could be accepted as dedicated when it was known as a true church not defined by its tribal or economic status. He said a church must be guided and led by the scripture while its members must live by the word of God only.
“A church must be a ministry of loving, sharing and caring. Everywhere Jesus went, He was doing good things. He didn’t simply stop by praying and preaching the word; when He needed to feed the people, He did so without hesitation.
“A dedicate church is an obedient church. Jesus said the Pharisees honoured him with their lips but their hearts were far from Him. We don’t own our lives, God does. Wherever He asks us to go and whatever He asks us to do must be done without complaining.”
There was a short dance-drama by the church’s choir, showcasing how the labourers worked tirelessly to complete the auditorium. This was followed by a standing ovation from the congregation, with an elated Odedeji describing the choir as second to none.
“As we dedicate today, we pray that whenever our people call the name of God here, He will answer expressly in Jesus’ name. Paul’s Anglican Church has a peculiar history. The church came into being as a result of the need to satisfy the yearnings of English-speaking members of the church at Ishagatedo, a predominantly Yoruba speaking congregation in 1980,” Odedeji recalled.
Bishops and other leaders of the Anglican Communion from Abeokuta, Ogbomosho, Ibadan and other parts of the country were part of the celebration.
The Vicar of the Parish, Venerable Chiedu Anyadi Ekpunobi, expressed gratitude to God and all the people who contributed to making the dream church a reality and the day a memorable one.
“I carry loads of congratulations to every member of St Paul’s, Oke-Afa. It is time of rejoicing – a time to give unlimited praises to God Almighty. It is a time to even dance on the streets for what God has enabled among His people, even in our unworthiness. We will never stop celebrating this God who has made us to celebrate this day,” he said.