…as General Superintendent, Zonal Superintendent advise on spiritual growth
By Goke Ilesanmi
It was a mixed bag of massive spiritual reawakening, intellectual empowerment and physical excitement as the Christ Apostolic Church, Ikeja Zone, Lagos celebrated its 2022 annual founders’ day christened “Ikeja Day”, between Tuesday, October 4 and Sunday, October 9.
The one-week celebration which had our revered father, Pastor E.O. Odejobi, the CAC General Superintendent as the Special Guest of Honour and Guest Minister for the grand finale, kicked off with the Zonal Youth’s prayer session on Tuesday, October 4. On Wednesday, October 5, the Zonal Good Women had their vigil while CACMA’s prayer session held on Thursday, October 6. On Saturday, October 8, there was a seminar for workers while the celebration ended with a thanksgiving service on Sunday, October 9.
Declaring the event open earlier on Tuesday, October 4, Pastor Emmanuel Adetula, the acting Zonal Superintendent advised members to remain united so as to accelerate the pace of the target development in the zone. The versatile and visionary Leader stressed the need to commit the affairs of the zone to the hand of God and advised members to serve God wholeheartedly and target heaven at all times.
Pastor Adetula who also reiterated these words of advice during the workers’ seminar on Saturday, October 8, delivered a lecture with the title “Christian Maturity: A Key for God’s Move”. Quoting Luke 2:40, the respected Leader said in the life every man, there is a time to be born into the world and a time to die and depart this world.
According to him, “Between these two important life events is a period of growth; it is a period when a child, after birth experiences an increase in different stages and in different dimensions and aspects of his life until he finally departs from this world. It will therefore be erroneous for you dear child of God, to think that you can become a useful vessel, a vessel of honour in the hand of God without addressing this issue of spiritual growth.”
In his welcome address during the thanksgiving service on Sunday, October 9, Pastor Adetula who expressed deep appreciation to the General Superintendent for honouring invitation of the zone commended all assemblies in the zone for their persistent support for and commitment to the District/Centre, Zonal and highest CAC authorities. He also lauded the assemblies for embarking on various development projects in their localities.
Pastor Adetula encouraged all ministers and members in the zone to intensify efforts on soul-winning programmes in all assemblies as the church of God matches on to greater heights because rapture is imminent.
Meanwhile, the General Superintendent who delivered the anniversary thanksgiving message tagged “Grow in the Grace and Knowledge of Our Lord Jesus Christ” taken from 2 Peter 3:18, advised the congregation to strive to attain spiritual maturity and not rely on just miracles as the main reason for seeking God.
Pastor Odejobi urged the congregation to aspire for spiritual growth and maturity by always studying the Bible for requisite knowledge. He said growing in the knowledge of the Word of God becomes imperative because it took sound knowledge of the Word of God for Jesus Christ to silence the devil when he came to tempt Him (Jesus Christ) after the massive spiritual exercise of fasting for 40 days and nights.
Elder Fola Asekun, the Planning Committee’s Secretary who also doubles as the Zonal Secretary backpedalled on the memory lane by telling the congregation the series of efforts that finally ended in the creation of the zone in October 2003.
Meanwhile, all members of Ikeja Zone have commended the efforts of the Planning Committee of the 2022 “Ikeja Day” celebration ably chaired by the intelligent and energetic Pastor Awe Ebenezer with Elder Fola Asekun as Secretary, Elder Osunmakinwa as Treasurer among other members.
Amidst torrents of commendations for the enormous success of the 2022 edition, all members in the zone have said they eagerly look forward to a more spiritually enriching, intellectually impactful and physically exciting celebration in 2023.
Glory to God in the highest