Commit yourselves to God’s service, Bishop tasks clerics

By Ibukun Emiola

Bishop Joseph Akinfenwa of Ibadan Diocese, Anglican Communion, has tasked ministers of the gospel to commit themselves to the service of God and forget pursuing material blessings.

Akinfenwa gave the admonition on Wednesday in Ibadan at the Thanksgiving Service marking the retirement and 70th Birthday of Ven. Adewale Sanda, the Vicar and Archdeacon of Molete Archdeaconry.

He said: “One of the things you can learn from the celebrant is that he received God’s calling in spite of the fact that he was within a juicy job, but he came in with absolute humility like Christ.

“And, he served His God faithfully and God surprised him by supplying his needs beyond when he was in the forestry. He is an energetic man, who is never tired.

“He left indelible marks in churches where he had worked, even here at St. Annes and it was his crowning glory where God helped him to establish 10 different kinds of institutions.

“He is a man, who threw himself into the work of God, which is what we encourage every man to do.

“Do the work and God will surprise you. Whatever is your need, forget it just throw yourself into the service of God and he will bless you.”

Akinfenwa urged the celebrator to spend his retirement time in more devotion to God, praying for churches where he had served and impact humanity more as no one could truly retire from God’s service.

In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines, Alhaji Sharafadeen Alli, the Senator-elect, Oyo South Senatorial District, eulogised the virtues of Sanda.

Alli said: “I knew him when he was in the civil service; he was a very good man. He was then the Director of Forestry in the Ministry of Agriculture.

“He had a very good working relationship and he was a godly man. I wish him many happy returns, success and more wins in life.”

In his remarks, Sanda thanked God for watching over him from infancy and helped him to succeed in his ministerial assignment.

He said the book he launched was written over 30 years ago, adding that it was his daughter that saw the manuscript and made the publication possible.

Sanda prayed for leaders that would serve in the fear of God and rule the affairs of the nation well.

“I pray that they will not take money as the most important thing because most politicians go into politics in search of money and at the end of the day they may acquire the money and if God decides they may not live to enjoy that money.

“I pray that our leaders have the fear of God, because when they do, God will give them the wisdom to rule well,” Sanda said.

The event featured a public presentation of a book titled: “If the Foundations Be Destroyed What can the Righteous Do?” authored by the celebrator.

(NAN)