The Guest Preacher at the Sunday Advent and Church Anniversary thanksgiving service of St. Andrew’s Anglican church, Ayekale, Ibadan on Sunday , Revd Canon Mattew Kehinde Olofinmomi
from Emmanuel Anglican Church, Oke-Ibadan has encouraged Christians not to be discouraged to spread the gospel inspite of the current insecurity and the persecution of Christians all over the world
St Andrew’s Anglican church is a parish under the episcopal and Ecclesiastical Leadership of His Grace, the Most Rev’d (Dr) Williams Oluwarotimi Aladekugbe the Archbishop of Ibadan Province and the Bishop of Ibadan North Anglican Diocese
In his sermon as contained in the press release issued and signed by the Ibadan North Anglican Diocesan Communicator, Chief Ayoade Solomon Olugbemiga, the guest preacher admonisshed Christians globally to remember that they were commissioned by Jesus Christ to go into the world and preach the gospel without any hindrance
Quoting from the Bible, Romans chapter 8 verse 35, Canon Olofinmomi said “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine,or nakedness, or peril, or sword, the guest preacher queried
“I therefore, as Christ soldiers charge you all to forge ahead and win souls for Jesus in preparation for His second coming when He would judge mankind, the clergy further stressed
“Follow the good example of Andrew the first disciple who saw Jesus, followed Him and introduced Jesus to other disciples”, he noted.
He concluded by saying that the preaching of the gospel is not limited to only Evangelists, Pastors, Bishops, Archbishops and other Church leaders but all Christians were directed to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world.
In his address, the Royal Father of the Day who doubles as the President Council of Traditional Baales in Ibadan, Chief Oladapo Wasiu Atilola congratulated the members of the church for the wonderful work they embarked upon especially the construction of the new vicarage, assuring the church that he would give his support.
The president Council of Traditional Baales used the occasion to call on his colleagues and other traditional rulers in Ibadan and Oyo State as a whole to maintain peace in their domains.
Chief Oladapo Atilola urged the traditional title holders to be vigilant and monitor the activities of the criminals, adding that such people should be fished out, exposed and prosecuted so that we would continue to enjoy peaceful co-existence in Ibadanland and people would be able to practice their religions without molestation, persecution and threat, noting that Nigeria is a secular state.
Appreciating the invited guests, the clergies and their wives as well as the congregation that took part in the service, the vicar of the church Rev’d Emmanuel Ojo assured them that they would reap the fruits of their labour if they do not relent as the second coming of Jesus is at hand who will reward everyone according to his deeds either good or bad.
