CELESTIAL CHURCH OF CHRIST APETE PARISH
CIRCUIT HEADQUARTERS, SOUTH-WEST
PROVINCE, OYO STATE
TWENTY FIFTH YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE
FOUNDING OF THE PARISH
ANNIVERSARY
LECTURE BY VMSE M.O. SHODUNKE
HELD
ON MONDAY 16TH MARCH 2015
LECTURE
TITLE: From Grace to Grace
Pre = amble – two
minutes silence in memory of those who have gone before us.
1. VMSE Bola Ajibike and wife MC. Mope
2. Senior Evang. (Prof) Lekan Salimonu
3. MC (mama) Maria Adewale and others.
As we go to
memory lane and discuss some of the aspects of the history of Celestial Church
of Christ Apete Paris in its Twenty-five years of existence we cannot but raise
our voices in praising God for His wonderful mercies.
The Psalmist
in his Chapter 136 1-5 taught us to recount the mercy of God.
Oh, give
thanks to the Lord, For He is good For His Mercy endures forever…
Oxford
Advanced Learners Dictionary looks at
Grace as:
a. God’s
mercy and favour towards mankind; influence and result of this.
b. Favour,
goodwill i.e grace attracts Favour and goodwill to those who have been given
the grace.
c. Quality
of simple, elegant beauty.
d. pleasing
accomplishment.
And Scripturally Grace is looked at as
unmerited favour i.e. getting things that one does not qualify for by might or
by right.
All these meanings of grace apply to
Celestial Church of Christ Apete Parish in its Twenty-five years of existence.
The topic
given to me for this anniversary lecture is particularly fitting and
appropriate. So, for the purpose of this exercise, we shall look at the history
and experiences of the parish and the shepherd to bring out the ingredients
necessary for one or all to grow from grace to grace.
The
History of the Church
The journey
to Apete as a sanctuary is a grace from God and revolved around a gentleman, an
academic who plied his profession in a tertiary institution where teachers are
taught and produced.
He lectured
there between Monday and Friday every week and spent Saturday and Sunday in
prophecy ministration in Celestial Church Christ, Irapada Parish, Olorogun,
Ibadan, a calling in which he excelled. Based on the persistent calling of God
on Prophet Adewale, the now group of five (amongst others) decided in Unison to
establish a small place of worship where the teacher of teachers would be the Shepherd.
That was how Apete Parish was born. God’s grace was about to manifest.
The five-member group consisted of:
1. Superior
Senior Evang E.O Adewale (then Sup. Wolider)
2. Venerable
Most Senior Evang. Bola Ajibike (then Honorary Assistant Evangelist) now late.
3. Senior
Evang. (Prof) Lekan Salimonu (then honorary Assistant Evangelist now late
4. Ven. Most
Senior Evang. (Big. General) S.F Daramola (then Honorary Assistant Evangelist).
5. Ven. Most
Senior Evang M.O Shodunke (then honorary Assistant Evangelist).
While the
five persons agreed on the desirability of setting up a worship place Sup.
Senior Evang. Adewale could not reconcile himself with the idea of quiting his
well paid job as a senior lecturer for the humble job of a full-time worker in
the vineyard where the prospect of a decent and comfortable living he was used
to looked highly improbable. This was inspite of the fact that Superior Wolider
Adewale had severally received divine messages that he should go out to work in
the vineyard.
I am talking
of events between 1986-1989. The matter was however put to rest on the Boxing
Day of 1990 during the Christmas party in the house of one of the original
four-member group when we advised, counseled and indeed insisted that Sup.
Adewale should hearken to the divine calling to serve in the vineyard as
Shepherd. It was an emotional day for all of us. The four of us who were in
good positions in our various places of work felt bad that we were putting
pressure on Sup. Adewale to abandon his comfortable position to go into a world
of “uncertainty”. He (Adewale) was also unhappy to find himself in a situation
in which he did not want to say no to us and at the same time he was not sure
the future in the vineyard was rosy. But the four of us believed that God
Jehovah who called Sup. Adewale would provide for him as he did to the people
of old, Shepherds and prophets alike.
Land
for the Church
Obtaining
land at Apete following the decision to site the parish there was made easy by
the sacrifice of Senior Evangelist Lekan Salimonu who ensured the release of
his uncle’s landed property and the connection of Late VMSE Bola Ajibike with
the traditional rulers of Apete community. Getting the land with relative ease
and the particular location was God’s grace. The location had made possible the
considerable expansion and development that had taken place since the modest
beginning.
The
beginning
The Shepherd
had been sourced by God Himself, He had further assembled a team that was to
work with the Shepherd, He had also made Apete Community to be expectant that
something big was to come to their midst. This is God’s grace that we are
talking about.
The simple
inaugural service took place towards the end of 1989 under a tent. That was the
humble beginning. Within weeks and months however people started to come, first
to receive divine messages from the gifted prophet/shepherd and later to enroll
as members of Celestial Church of Christ Apete.
As people
streamed into Apete parish God was manifesting Himself in their lives
positively; He was answering their prayers; solving their problems and
generally providing for their needs. In no time Apete Parish has become a
toast, first within the neighboring communities and later to far places. The
shepherd and those around him had earlier on taken a firm resolution to obey
the rules, regulations and tenets of Celestial Church of Christ and to
predicate the operations of the Parish on the living book – the BIBLE.
Among the
people joining the Parish are highly placed persons in the society and they
used their positions in one way or the other to assist the growth and
development of the Church. At this time Asst. Sup. Evangelist Demola Sadipe
also identified himself with Apete Parish and became a regular visitor with his
wife, MC Omipe.
Among the
early worshipers at Apete parish are Olasunkanmi and wife, Ata and wife, Baba
Elijah and wife, the Oguntundes Prophetess Mama Apete, Afolabi and wife, Amos Onifade a.k.a as Baba
Lapete, Ige and family, MC Iwolode etc. All these people and many others new
and old worked selflessly with the Shepherd to build the phenomenon that Apete
parish has become. It is important to place on record that the group of four
friends earlier on mentioned in this write up contributed in diverse ways in
the course of the growth and development of Celestial Church of Christ Apete
Parish.
Late Senior
Evangelist (Prof) Lekan Sulaimonu was the Chairman of the building Committee
that handled the construction of the Elegant and imposing Cathedral of the
Church while the other three also served as members of that committee. Late
Lekan served with commitment and dedication throughout. He was indeed a leader
and his three other colleagues also performed well. The four of them were
usually involved in any activity taking place at Apete Parish. Although they
had their individual parishes Superior Evangelist Adewale was their common
“Oluso”, and he still is.
The
leadership of our great Church at the state level and also at the National
Headquarters level noticed the good things happening at Apete and indeed the
potentials and they (the leadership) became truly happy. This recognition
further propelled the parish to better performance.
Growth
and Development
As prophet
Isaiah stated in Chapter 1 verse 19 and I quote from New king James version “If
you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land”. The
obedience, readiness and willingness of the shepherd and the team helped in the
spontaneous growth of a sixty by forty church auditorium on a four plots of
land to what it is now. And this is traceable as follows;
A. The
physical development
The physical development at Celestial Church of Christ Apete
Parish is a delight to behold. Besides the Cathedral which is the main
auditorium and which is one of the biggest and best of our Auditoria in this
country, there is a second auditorium being used as Sunday school. There are
protection Apartments (Ile-abo) for male and female, there is a 20-room Guest
House, a shopping complex, and an elegant Mercy Land. There is also a Nursery
and Primary School which will be officially blessed and opened by His Eminence,
the Pastor and Spiritual Head of Celestial Church of Christ world-wide during
this Twenty fifty year Anniversary Celebration.
It is important to note that the small parish established by
the then ten families has now produced thousands of worshippers and has given
birth to parishes in Port Harcourt, Ido and Ada in Osun state where they are
sources of blessings to their Provinces.
B. The
spiritually development
The spiritual development at Apete Parish under Superior
Evangelist E.O. Adewale’s watch has been commendable. The Evangelism Committee
at Apete is vibrant and holds regular crusades and revivals within and outside Ibadan.
For nineteen years, the committee has been producing daily bible reading
publications annually. The parish also carries out:-
i. Weekly
programme on Wednesday 10am-12pm tagged Breakthrough Service.
ii. Third Friday every month 10pm – 5am
programme tagged Asale anu.
iii. Television
programme on BCOS, Ibadan on Sundays 8:30-9am teaching the word.
iv. Television
programme on LTV8, Lagos Every Wednesday between 6 and 6:45am known as Voice of
God (Ohun Oluwa).
These are
some of the ways through which Sup. Evangelist Adewale and his Parish propagate
the Gospel. Additionally superior Adewale is a regular lecturer at the annual
worker’s retreat at Imeko, Ogun State. This gifted servant of God is always
available to give inspirational speeches and lectures within and outside the
country.
The
place of Apete Parish among parishes
Apete parish
is one the four high performing and best parishes in Oyo State. The assessment
for this conclusion is based on the following criteria:-
i. Size and quality of congregation
ii Wealth and assets base
iii. Financial contribution to the central
pursue of our great Church.
iv. Spiritual development and propagation of
the Gospel
v. physical
development and contribution to the community around.
Celestial
Church of Christ Apete Parish has become very visible on the radar of Celestial
Church of Christ worldwide. Members of the parish were appointed to serve on
various committees of the Church, Ad hoc and some of them permanent such as
International Management Committee and the Celestial Women Council. Indeed the
Shepherd of the parish Superior Evangelist E.O. Adewale is a member of the
Pastor-in-Council which is the highest ruling body in our Church.
Today,
Superior Evangelist Emmanuel Oluwole Adewale should have a sense of fulfillment
even when the journey still continues. The trials of the past are no more and
God has been truly wonderful to him and his family. The parish has also
flourished and attained enviable height.
The first
Epistle of Paul to Timothy Chapter 517-18 states: “Let the elders
who rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially those who labour
in the word and doctrine. For the scripture says “you shall not muzzle an ox
while it treads out the grain” and “the labourer is worthy of his wages”
Permit me,
Mr. Chairman to pay special respect to MC Adesola Adewale, a lady who has a lot
of faith in her God. She supported her husband when there was no glamour; she
stood by him during his periods of trial. Now glamour has come, the children
are around and they are being given a head-start in life.
Thank you
Sola.
Challenges
ahead
Celestial
Church of Christ Apete Parish has indeed become a thing of pride to many –
parishes, persons and groups. It has become a reference point.
A philosopher
once said, “success is sweet, but sustaining it must be embraced in order to be
worthy of the success”. The beautiful members of the congregation in Apete must
continue with their dedication in their worship and the Shepherd with his team
of workers must continue giving leadership. And the sky will be our limit.
I want to
request the Shepherd to please reach out and bring back those who were part of
the building block of this great Parish but who are no longer with us for
whatever reasons. They may not be many, but they should be brought back in the
spirit of the parable of the lost sheep.
Ingredients
of Grace
The
experience and the shepherd of Apete Parish highlighted above have shown the
grace of smallness to greatness. Grace is available to all but for the grace to
abound and increase, it must be harnessed, processed and salted. It was by
grace that he was called and an enabling environment was provided. Hence, the
visible increase.
A lesson to
note by all for grace to abound from the above is that everybody must apply
necessary ingredients. Such ingredients include:
1. Obedience (Isaiah 1:19, Deut. 28:1-14, Lev. 26:1-9)
2. Focus: Anyone that focuses his focus will be the focus.
3. Hard work: Thou seest a man diligent at work; he will sit among
the kings and not with ordinary people.
4. Prayer: (James 5:16)
5. Righteousness/Holiness (Proverbs 28:13)
6. The fear of God (Proverbs 28:14)
7. Right Attitude: your attitude in life will determine your
altitude. Such attitude include; perseverance, tolerance, love, steadfastness
etc.
In conclusion
I congratulate the Shepherd, workers and the entire congregation (old and new)
for the great achievements in these past twenty-five years made possible by His
grace. As we recount His mercies we can justifiably say that God’s grace
abounds here.
And for
others who care to achieve, please take time to study deeply the ingredients
highlighted above among others. God desires all to increase in His grace. You
too can make it.
Long live
Celestial Church of Christ, Apete!
Long live
Celestial Church of Christ worldwide!!
Thank you for
listening.
VMSE M.O. SHODUNKE
16th
March, 2015
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