Members of the Cherubim and Seraphim Unification Church of Nigeria, Lagos State chapter, converged at the St. James C&S Church, Aboru, for the 5th annual General Conference and Thanksgiving ceremony to chart a new course for the church, Jide Okeowo, who was at the event reports.
When the Local Organising Committee of the Lagos State Chapter of the Cherubim and Seraphim Unification Church of Nigeria, under the chairmanship of Dr. Joseph Adagba chose ‘Vessel unto Honour’ as theme of 5th annual General Conference and Thanksgiving ceremony, they never had an inkling of the impact such a topic would have on participants at the conference.
For several months, great efforts and planning were put in place to ensure that the conference turned out to be a huge success and, on Thursday, November 8, 2018 the conference was declared open.
Declaring the conference open, Apostle Dr. Emmanuel Omoniyi Owomoyela, Chairman of National Executive Council, C&S Unification Church of Nigeria, representing the Supreme Head of the Church, Dr. Solomon Alao, congratulated the host state and church for the huge success of the event and the great role the chapter is playing in the development of the church.
“We are proud and happy to be associated with this chapter and the role they have played over the years. This is the 5th in the series and by God’s grace it has always been an event we look forward to, you can see for yourself the huge turn-out of Seraphs all over Lagos state.
“This event is an avenue for seraphs all over the state to interact, exchange ideas and deliberate on how to move the body of Christ forward. The theme of the lecture “Vessel unto honor is also an interesting one which was delivered perfectly.
“The theme could not have come at a better time as God is interested in what we make of ourselves, so we must be something God will see and rely on. It is a call for re-awakening as Christians” he said.
His thoughts were shared by the man of the moment and the Chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the church, Dr. Adagba, while delivering his keynote address. Adagba called for a fresh awakening amongst seraphs all over the state and the country at large.
According to Adagba, “We still have a long way to go in Cherubim and Seraphim, I am a born seraph and I don’t mince words to tell whoever cares to listen that, but I am not pleased with what I am seeing and it is time to change the narrative and make ourselves useful to God and the theme ‘Vessel unto Honour’ could not have come at a better time.
“I thought deeply before arriving at that theme. I want all seraphs to wake up, think and start and get going because the journey is still very far.” he said.
He showered encomium on the Guest Lecturer Dr. Adebayo Adeniji for doing a thorough job on the theme of the conference.
“I am happy that the lecturer did a great job on the topic for those who want to listen” he added.
Speaking on the journey so far, Adagba said it gives him great joy to see the successful outcome of the program.
“Before our regime, there has never been anything like an annual general conference, there were other programs, but when we came in, we meditated and put our heads together and put this conference together and we thank God that since we started this, we have been calling churches together and the turnout has always been massive, some churches are still standing aloof, but I know that very soon, they will all come on board. It gives me great joy that we seraphs can come together and reason together and deliberate on how to forge ahead to chart a new course for ourselves” he said.
Adagba also used the occasion to reveal that all plans had been put in motion to bring in every member of the church together under one big umbrella.
“We have set up a committee that is looking at bringing everyone under one roof, we called that committee Planning Development and Research committee, they are going to the nooks and corners of the state to bring in churches who are still outside, they will surely come in as their coming in will be to their benefit”.
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He also called on Nigerians to vote their conscience and not be swayed by money or material things ahead of the upcoming general elections in the country.
“Our country has been going through a difficult period in the last few years, as true citizens, let us continue to pray for her, for those in authority and for all of us in Nigeria. Iurge our members to perform their civic responsibilities to the best of their conscience, Nigerians should not allow themselves to be swayed by money or material things ahead of the upcoming general election in the country,” he admonished.
This assertion was also shared by the Secretary-General of the Church, Apostle Olatunde Ogunkunle.
“Nigerians should look out for the pedigree of each candidate and what they have been able to achieve before making a choice, they should try and look at where we are coming from, so we may know where we are going to.
“I do not want us to vote based on propaganda and false promises that may never be kept and I pray that God will help us to make the right choice at the end of the day,” he prayed.
He was full of accolades for the host of the event for the great job that was done.
“This has always been a great event as the Lagos State chapter of the C&S Unification has always been our flagship Chapter and it glorious that they are having their 5th Annual conference and God has given them the grace to put an event of this magnitude together” he gushed
He also urged all members of the church to remain steadfast as God is able to do all things and enjoined every ember to always ensure to make themselves vessel unto honor.
In her speech, Rev. Mother Esther Abimbola Ajayi, said the conference afforded every member of the church to take stock, appraise themselves and be reawakened to their roles and contributions towards fostering unity and upholding the objectives of the great church of God.
According to her, “This event is another occasion for us to take a chance at stocktaking, internal appraisal, and the re-awakening of our roles and contributions to fostering unity and upholding the objectives of this great church of God. Our image is a very important weapon of evangelism, many people can be misled or persuaded based on our image,” she said.
Ajayi, who is the head Minister at the Love of Christ Generation Church, London, also enjoined everyone to support and those in the drive to take the church to the next level.She was also full of gratitude to the Lagos State Chapter for making her the Special Guest of honor at the event.
The event was also an avenue to shower recognition on deserving individuals in the church who have contributed in no small measures to the development of the church.
One of such deserving personalities was Dr. Oluseye Yomi-Sholoye who was bestowed with an award for her tireless effort to chart a new course for young seraphs and every member of the church with her various empowerment programmes through her New Seraph Initiative.
Speaking after receiving the award, Dr. Yomi-Sholoye said it gave her great pleasure to be a recipient of the award, hear her.
According to Yomi-Sholoye, “It surely feels so good to be appreciated and that our efforts in C&S are well appreciated and acknowledged, this will spur me to do more.”
She revealed that plans are already in the pipeline to bring the women empowerment program to the Good Women Congress very soon as a follow up to the existing programme where over 100 women received funds to go into small scale businesses.
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The chairman, Planning Committee of the conference, Dr. Rotimi Odugbesan was full of gratitude to God for the success of the conference and gratitude to everyone who made the event a success.
“I give glory and adoration to God of heaven for making this event a success and for making it possible for us to assemble for the fifth time in the series of the Annual General Conference of the Lagos state chapter of this great church,” he said.
Speaking further, Odugbesan expressed his gratitude to Rev. Mother Esther Ajayi for her support and involvement, and to Dr. O-Sholoye for her kind gestures and support to the chapter as well.
“My profound appreciation goes to the great icons of the church, Reverend Mother Esther Abimbola Ajayi whose involvement in this year’s conference contributed to the success and I cannot but mentioned Dr. Yomi Sholoye for her kind gestures and support to the chapter” he concluded.
As we look forward to the next event, according to Dr. Adagba, it will even be a bigger, better and more befitting event with another captivating lecture.
On the third day and closing ceremony of the three-day meeting, the atmosphere was charged with anticipation and the excitement was so palpable and thick that you could slice it with a knife as eminent members of the Cherubim and Seraphim Unification Church of Nigeria holds its award ceremony where deserving and worthy members of the church were showered with awards in recognition of their selfless service to the body of Christ.
Apart from Dr. Yomi-Sholoye who receiced her award on the first day of the event, other got their on the third day.
First to receive the award on the closing dayof the event was His Eminence Dr. Lekan Akintayo who was recognised for his contribution to the church and for always making his church building MT Sinai available for use for all the church’s programme.
Expressing his gratitude, Rev. Akintayo thanked the organisers of the award for the honor done to him, “I feel humbled, I didn’t see any significant issue in what I was doing by opening the doors of my church to all Seraphs to use, I thank you for this and I dedicate this award to all C&S members,” he said.
Next on the list of awardees was the Head of Department, HoD of the Paediatrics unit, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Sup Apostle Prof. Adebola O. Akinsulie who was also bestowed with an award for his selfless dedication to the propagation of the gospel.
Akinsulie, who was short of words expressed his gratitude. In his words, “I am very proud to receive this award, I have received several awards, but this is the greatest and I dedicate it to all children and every member of this great church” he enthused.
The award for the most performing division went to the Ikorodu Local Division under the chairmanship of Supt. Apostle Fagbamila for the great success the division recorded during the event it organized on the 26th of October, 2018.
For her selflessness and dedication towards changing the narrative and empowering thousands of young Seraphs all over the country through her well-thought-out initiative, The New Seraph Initiative, Dr. Olwaseye Yomi-Sholoye also smiled home with an award.
Speaking after receiving the award, Dr. Yomi-Sholoye said it gives her great pleasure to be a recipient of such an award hear her.
“It surely feels so good to be appreciated and that our efforts in C&S are well appreciated and acknowledged, this will spur me to do more.
“She revealed that plans are already in the pipeline to bring the women empowerment program to the Good Women Congress very soon as a follow up to the existing programme where over 100 women received funds to go into small-scale businesses,” she said.
The peak of the award dubbed “the mother of all awards” went to Reverend Mother Esther Abimbola Ajayi, a woman of immense personality. She was presented with the award of ‘Most Outstanding Distinguished Seraph’ for her contribution to humanity through her Non-governmental Organization, The Esther Ajayi Foundation where over 1.3million people from all walks of life have benefitted.
Presenting the award, the Chairman, Lagos State Chapter of the Cherubim and Seraphim Unification Church of Nigeria, Dr. J.O Adagba said the massive turn around and great development witnessed in the church all over the country at this time is due to the role she is playing, hear him
“What is happening in our church today is unprecedented due to what she is doing in our midst and for her selfless service,” he gushed. Adagba also urged her not relent and to continue to propagate the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
That award opened the floodgates of other awards that ensued. Agbado Oke-Odo Local Division also presented her with an award, this was closely followed by another award from The Good Women Congress.
Expressing her gratitude, Ajayi thanked the church for the recognition. “I am so grateful and honored to be showered with these accolades, it makes me joyous and is going to spur me on to do more. I want the unification to be strong and powerful. If someone is on a mission and she finds people who are appreciative of what she is doing, it makes the job so easy. We will be better. Thank you so much for this award” she said.
In a sweet twist, the presenter of awards was presented by an award when Agbado/Oke-Odo sprung a pleasant surprise on Dr. Adagba by presenting him with an award for his selflessness and for taking the state to a glorious height amongst the comity of Seraphs nationwide. He was also presented with a life-size portrait of himself. Expressing his gratitude, Adagba dedicated the award to all Seraphs in the country and worldwide.
As all members of the church departed from St James C&S, they cannot wait for the next installment of the Annual General Conference which Adagba has promised will to be bigger and better. We are all waiting with bated breath.