ANNIVERSARY

By Babajide M Alabi, with contributions from Deacon Steve Amuda
The Psalmist in Psalm 100 wrote: “Serve the Lord with gladness: come before His presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord He is God: It is He that that made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise; be thankful unto Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting; and his truth endures to all generations.”

 

In respect to the command of God on thanksgiving and celebration, the Everlasting Father's Assembly (EFA) of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Leeds over the weekend of 15 to 17^th July, 2011 rolled out the drums for the 5^th Year Anniversary Celebration of the parish. As typical of the parish, there were singing, dancing, merriments and shouts of joy, led by the host ministers, Pastor Samuel Obafaiye and Pastor (Mrs) Tonia Obafaiye. The event took place at the church premises on 15-17 Walter Street, Off Kirkstall Road, Leeds.

The prelude to the celebration started earlier in the month when Pastor Sam Obafaiye pronounced July as the month of Non-Erasable Footprints. He said:

Most times, footprints on soils get cleaned off by agents of erosion almost immediately. However, some footprints are so large and deep that they therefore last. From this month of July 2011, God is preparing our destinies to be such that will leave an impressive footprint on the earth surface, a print that will show our love for God and provide the proof that we have pleased Him.”

Setting the tone, Pastor Obafaiye announced dates for the celebration of the Church Anniversary. A three day event from July 15 – 17, 2011. The excitement among the congregation was electric, as they see yet another opportunity to praise and worship the Almighty God, and also thank Him for His Blessings on the church for the past five years. Most especially to thank God for where He has brought the church to within the spate of 5 years.

To a thunderous applause, Pastor Obafaiye announced the line up of ministers as Pastor Tunde Adebayo-Oke, the RCCG Coordinator for the Republic of Ireland, Pastor Yomi and Mofe Obadimeji of RCCG Area 18, UK, Pastor Elizabeth Osunde, Holy Ghost Zone Parish, Leeds, Brother Silas (Victory Assembly, Sheffield), Sister Ejiro (Peculiar Praise, RCCG, Manchester), the Eternal Worshippers and the Everlasting Drama Troupe.

Kicking off the celebration on Friday 15th July, 2011, the moderator, Deacon Victor Olobaniyi welcomed everybody to the presence of God. In his usual jovial but firm character, Deacon Olobaniyi enjoined members of the congregation to see the event of the night as an avenue to be blessed by the Most High God. He pointed out the significance of the date of celebrations 15 to 17 and the address of the church which is also 15 to 17. He said this is not just coincidental but divine.

To officially declare the celebrations open, Brother Samuel Dahunsi, the Music Director of the Eternal Worshippers (the choir of Everlasting Father's Assembly) led the congregation in the Church anthemtitled “That I May Know You”. Brother Sam Dahunsi enjoined members of the congregation to have expectations during this anniversary celebrations.

Sister Ejiro (Peculiar Praise) from RCCG Manchester mounted the rostrum to deliver yet another powerful praise and worship session that got everybody in the Hall dancing and singing to the Most High God.

The first guest minister, Pastor Elizabeth Osunde of the RCCG Holy Ghost Zone, Leeds read from Mark 14: 1-10 to illustrate what Indelible Footprints means. She said the reason for the 5th Year Anniversary celebrations is Jesus Christ. She enjoined whoever in the congregation that has has been disconnected from Jesus Christ to reconnect so as to leave indelible footprints in his/her generation.

The second guest minister, Pastor Yomi Obadimeji of the RCCG Strongtower Parish, Manchester, urged the congregations to clap for Jesus. And so began a clapping/praying session for victory, restoration, success, blessings, breakthroughs and many more. In his teaching titled Gifted To Make A Mark, Pastor Obadimeji told the congregation that everybody is gifted (Eph 4:7), He said every human being is gifted to make a mark, and prayed that no one in the congregation will die with his gift, or not make a mark.

Pastor Obadimeji said however, human beings need to identify their dominant gifts. The dominant gifts are the ones that distinguishes inividuals and make them excel and leave non-erasable footprints. He cited the examples of David whose dominant gift was being a warrior, Joseph, whose gift was interpreting dreams and Apostle Paul whose gift was in revelations.

He concluded by saying, human beings are given gifts to help those around them, to be inspirational to others, however when these gifts are not used in the right way, the Lord will withdraw them.

The second night was with high expectations to surpass the first night. In the ceremony moderated by Deacon Stephen Amuda, Brother Silas kicked off with rendition of beautiful and soul inspiring praise and worship songs. His rendition of the songs brought the whole congregation on their feet as they sang and danced along. Brother Silas from RCCG Victory Assembly Sheffield, who has ministered in so many Festival of Life (UK) events and Ministers conferences with the General Overseer (Pastor E. A. Adeboye) was a sight to watch and behold.

Pastor Ebun Oladele of RCCG, Everlasting Father's Assembly, led the Liberty Prayers urging members to pray so that they can leave Non-Erasable Footprints on the sand of time. She prayed that our end should be better than our beginning, and we would leave good non-erasable footprints.

The Everlasting Drama Troupe, in a short presentation, gave the members of the congregation an insight into what the church had gone through in its five years of existence. This was aptly illustrated by the subject of the drama, when a farmer couple found themselves stranded and had to lease land to cultivate. However, in the course of farming and harvest, the land owners were disturbing them, while some workers with little or no patience deserted them. The drama presentation was a demonstration of how much pain the pastor, the family and members of the congregation had gone through before coming to the rest place, where the church is located now.

Pastor Obafaiye while introducing the guest minister, Pastor Tunde Adebayo-Oke, the RCCG coordinator in Republic of Iraland, described him as a father whom he so much value and who has always been with the parish since its inception. And to a rapturous applause, Pastor Adebayo-Oke was invited unto the podium.

Pastor Tunde Adebayo-Oke spoke on Indelible Footprints using the main scripture for the conference (Mk 14:9) . He briefly spoke on indelible footprints as being where God wants you to be in life. He said if human beings are not doing God's will in their lives, they cannot leave non-erasable footprints. He made mention the fact that we are fearful and wonderful created to make marks That God has called us to manifest His power to the world, 1 Cor 4:20, and therefore there must be manifestation of His power in our lives daily. Drawing from David's life in 2 Sam. 18:3, who worth more than ten thousand people, Pastor Tunde stated that David made impact in His generation with the manifestation of God's power and prayed that we will also make impacts in our generation..

The Eternal Worshippers, led by Brother Sam Dahunsi and conducted by Brother Oluwabori Odunaike, rendered another powerful number to the delight of all present. The performance was given a standing ovation by members of the congregation.

The third day, 17th July, 2011, was a Sunday and the usual time for Celebrations Service in Everlasting Father's Assembly. However, this was a double celebration as it was the closing day of the anniversary. The day was declared open by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, RCCG, EFA, Leeds, Dr. Abiye Hector-Goma, who thanked God for His protection and provisions for the church.

The events kicked off with a praise and worship session led by Brother Silas. As usual he did not disappoint as members of the congregation sang and danced. This high praise would eventually set the tone of the day, as the Eternal Worshippers also delivered special numbers to the delight of the members of the audience. They sang both in English and Spanish and were accorded standing ovations for the performances.

Pastor Tunde Adebayo-Oke, the guest minister, in his usual soft spoken manner treated the topic Indelible Footprints exhaustively. He reiterated the fact that God has plans for every human being, but for the plans to come to pass in our lives, we need to align with the Lord Jesus Christ. That we are called to be different from the people of the world. We are to be meek like Moses in Deut 34:10, Moses is the only prophet that knew God face to face yet he was humble. That when we are empowered by God we should not allow pride to set in, rather we should be humble and prayerful. He stated that desire is the bedrock of success (Psalm 37:4), we must desire to make footprints and pray God to marvellously help us till we are strong (2 Chro.26:15), after all we still need His help to be fulfilled even when he has promised us, like Elijah who needed to pray after the word of Lord had come to him that it was going to rain 1Kings 18:1&2, 41-45.

In a very emotional and humble session, Pastor Obafaiye mounted the rostrum and spoke of the highs and lows of the Everlasting Father's Assembly. He spoke of the sacrifices and endurance of himself, his wife, his children and also the members of the church. Pastor Obafaiye said the Lord has given His Word concerning the church and He will surely perfect it. He went down memory lane when the church started and the dedication of the members, especially the first three members of the church. They are, Deaconess Oyelade, Sister Chavwe and Brother Tobi Akintokun. The pastor expressed his appreciation to them by presenting them with gifts.

Pastor Obafaiye also presented gift to some invaluable members of the congregation who help in oiling the wheel of progress of the church. They range from members of the Welfare Department to the Sanitation Group. Among them are; Minister Olobaniyi, Sister Yewande, Deacon Bolaji, Sis Rufina, Minister Caroline, Sis Oyinka, and Sister Christine. He praised them for their faithfulness and dependability.

Pastor Obafaiye, thanked his children, who had to endure so much. He revealed the children rarely go to bed before midnight in the hey days of the ministry. They were useful and willing tools in the house of God. He thanked them for their understanding that Daddy and Mummy had to go through the learning process to achieve the plans of God for their lives.

In conclusion, Pastor Obafaiye expressed his gratitude to his wife, Pastor (Mrs) Tonia Obafaiye for he perseverance and sacrifices. He said many a times, she had to deny herself several things so that the ministry can blossom and be what God had plans for. The members of the congregation gave a standing ovation to Pastor (Mrs) Obafaiye as she stood up to collect a prize and a hug from Pastor Sam Obafaiye.

The three day anniversary was brought to an end by Pastor Sam Obafaiye. It was an eventful anniversary as members look forward to the 6th Year Anniversary with so much activities and celebrations.

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