The annual harvest and thanksgiving service of Christ Apostolic Church, Festac DCC Headquarters took place on Sunday December 12, 2021 making some distinguished staff happier with the showers of gifts and awards. The gifts and awards went to the Admin Secretary Mrs Ireti Falola, the Accounts Officer Mr. Lekan Olapoju, and the two senior drivers, Messers Samuel Erinfolami and Olusola Dada.
The beneficiaries were so recognised having spent more than ten years in the employment of the Church. Mrs Falola was employed as a Confidential Secretary on 3rd February 1994 “with a very small salary then but has remained with her passion intact for the job, with love and dedication for the work of God.”
Mrs. Falola was also appreciated for working meritoriously for almost 28 years working with five different ministers and superintendents in charge of the Church which has risen from a parish to the status of a Districts Coordinationd Council headquarters with a beffitting cathedral to behold.
Mr. Erinfolami was also recognised for serving the Church from 2001 and has served the Church as a driver for 20 years. He has also served with four different Superintendents till date.
In his citation, he was recognised as “the most experienced driver in the service of the Church. He is honest, experienced, straightforward and highly dedicated. He has no adverse report whatsoever in his record till date.”
The service of Mr. Olusola Dada who has been in the employment of the Church also as a driver in charge of the commercial bus of the Church for 12 years also appreciated for being, “industrious, committed and ever ready to go the extra mile to positively project the good image of the Church.”
Mr. Dada was also reputed to have served with three different Superintendents of the Church. He was said to be a “good and careful driver who does not joke with his job. He is never tired of travelling with the Church bus and he is equally strong and experienced.”
Also smiling home with his plaque and gift of a standing fan was the accounts officer, Mr. Olalekan Olapoju who has also been in the service of the Church for 10 years. He was appreciated for being honest, committed, transparent and reliable in carrying out his duties.
The beneficiaries who were there with members of their families went home with a plaque each for the award and different gifts to appreciate their services. While the drivers and the account officers went home with the plaque and a giant standing fan each, the Administrative Secretary went home with a plasma LG LED television.
The Church’s gesture was also appreciated by the Church members who openly felicitated with the beneficiaries.
Speaking in his own comments, the DCC Superintendent and the Senior Minister in Charge, Pastor Joe S. Jacobs appreciated the Deacon Timothy Okunlola led Anniversary committee for being thoughtful to appreciate the staff of the Church, expressing the hope that such would be able to encourage other Church members in the lines of their various duties.
Pastor Joe Jacobs
In his special message for the day titled The Good News of Jehovah, the DCC Superintendent and the host minister Pastor Joe Jacobs charged the parishioners and Christians at large to give the gospel to the whole world without any reservation, and this according to him could be done successfully by understanding The Man of the Good News, the message of the Good news and proclaiming them through the modern methods of the Good News.
He explained, “The gospel is a good proclamation of what man needs to be free from eternal damnation and Jesus Christ is the Good News of God to the entire human race.
“The message of the good news centres on Man of the good news which is Jesus Christ, the main focus is Jesus Christ, our only message. It means therefore that evangelism is not the good news about any religious leader or founder, or religious programmes, or serene or beautiful worship or cathedral environment, or dynamic pastor or preacher, and so on. Evangelism, he said is the good news about Jesus Christ the son of the living God, who died for the sin of the world.”
Pastor Joe Jacobs further explained that any presentation of the good news that sidelines or reduces the place of Christ is counterfeit.
He noted a situation where many churches are fast becoming material or temporal solution centres where people go only for their felt needs such as breakthroughs, miracles healings, and even food and drinks, rather than searching for their real need of spiritual revelation and reformation.
“God’s people should be taught the way of salvation, sanctification and perpetual holiness and not just how to meet their felt needs alone,” he emphasised.
He therefore charged that all Christians and children of God should hold on to the task of the great commision and should use all means and methods – old and contemporary to win souls to the kingdom of God, and these according to him are summarily through living a Christ like life, through dynamic and edifying praise and worship, use of modern communication equipment like telephones, use of social media, information dissemination for effective communication, special luncheon and get together towards soul winning, sponsorship and promotion through mass media of Radio and television, participation and supports for open air crusades, and churches and individual assemblies should give priority to mass evangelism.
Concluding the cleric charged the members not to limit harvest celebration to presentation of physical fruits and materials for harvest but also to actualise true harvest by bringing more souls to the kingdom of God.
Other activities which were part of the 43rd harvest thanksgiving service were presentation and thanksgiving by Christ Elevators drawn from various groups and bands in the Church. It was followed by general thanksgiving by all members including ministers and church workers.
The harvest elevators were Mrs Yemisi Oke from Ife Band, Mrs F. A. Olajubu from Oluwadara Band, Mrs Johnson-Abigail Band, Mrs A.O. Alake Ero Mimo, Deaconess F. Adeyemo Ireti Ogo, Mrs Oluwabunmi Joseph Ade Ogo Band, and others like Sister Adenike Orimolade representing Irapada Band, Deaconess C.I. Ilesanmi of Temidayo Band, and Deaconess T.A. Agbato of Isokan Band.
Other Harvest Anniversary Elevators were Deaconess G.A. Ajala, (Oluwabori Band), Mrs. E.M. Adeoye, (Ibukun Band), Mrs Olaiya Mogbonjubola (Ore Ofe), Sister Fajembola Olayemi (Aduragbemi) and Deaconness A.M. Oladejo (Ina Olorun Tan Band).
Of the male band were Elder R.R. Adeniyi of Ipiple Rere Band, Bro Mike Olasanmi (Christ Army Band), Mr. Uche Okafor (Asegun Band), Mr. Isaiah Adekunle (Aduralere), Pa J.O. Ariyibi, (Ilosiwaju), Mr. O.O. Oludipe (Isoji Band), Mr. Bisi Aderibigbe and Bro Ojo of Bolorunduro and Iye Bands respectively.
In his vote of thanks, the Chairman of the Harvest and Anniversary Committee, Deacon Okunlola on behalf of his committee expressed his thanks to the DCC Superintendent and the entire Church for granting them the honour and privilege of organising such a high profiled anniversary, as well as their supports and contributions for making the entire celebration successful.
Other members of the committee were Deacon Joseph Oladele as Vice Chairman, Deacon Akinlolu Adetunji Treasurer, Deacon M. K. A Ayeni, Sis. Adenike Orimolade, Evang I.B. Apalara and Mr. Sunday Oyelakin as members.
Other members of the committee are Mr. Femi Omojola, Deaconess Nike Ligali, Deaconess Olubunmi Olasanmi, Mrs Bolanle Osoba, Mrs Elizabeth Kasim, Hon. Baki Sunday and Mrs Ajoke Oludipe.
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