Sunday December 20, 2020 will remain indelible ìn the annals of the very popular Celica Church of Christ, Ibadan as the church rolled out the drums to celebrate its 28th year of existence.
It was a day of double celebration because the church also used the auspicious occasion to mark its annual harvest service. With such double-whammy explosion of blessings, the huge influx of congregants from all walks of life could best be imagined. Church members and well-wishers came from countries as diverse as the US, Dubai, South Africa, the UK and many other nations to mingle with home-based worshippers in their thousands in what could be termed a day of glorious outing for the founder and spiritual father of the church, Rev. Prophet Emmanuel Adetunji Abiodun Àkà njà ADEONIGBAGBE.
The celebration which held at the International Headquarters of the church located at Km 7, New Ife Road, Ibadan witnessed performance of soul-lifting popular songs by the Choir and Guest Artistes Led by popular gospel musicians.
The high points of the event were the grand entry of the Founder His Eminence the Anointed Prophet (Dr) Emmanuel Adetunji Adeonigbagbe, who showered blessing on the overjoyed congregations; the general benedictions and the incisive sermon that touched on deep issues affecting the congregation and the nation at large.
Dr. Adeonigbagbe’s entry, after a visit round the church branches in the city commanded great reverence from the church members who lined up kneeling for blessings and laying of hands. That Baba Adeonigbagbe has been a huge blessing to them was quite glaring in the explosion of joy and camaraderie that followed. amidst pulsating music from the choir and invited gospel artistes’ Evangelists Dare Melody and Ajidara.
The 28th Anniversary Sermon by Prophet Adeonigbagbe highlighted with joy his decades of work in the ministry without blemish. While using the opportunity to celebrate the church heirarchy, including Celica Mother Rev. Agnes Adeonigbagbe, Rev. Samuel Olujimi Adeonigbagbe, Pastor and Supreme Head, Anointed Mother Modupeola Adeonigbagbe, other church elders, Council of Irijus etc, the world renowned church founder based his sermon on the theme of humility.
Quoting from Numbers 20: 25-28; Luke 14:11 and Romans 12: 3 etc, he warned the congregation against pride. According to him, “Pride is nothing; position is nothing. If you are popular today, know that someone somewhere is better than you. Nothing lasts forever. Be humble!”
Dr Adeonigbagbe used the stories of bygone church heroes and generals of the faith to illustrate that nothing lasts forever except legacy and goodness. He also used the opportunity to touch on the problems with Nigeria, especially the “Giant of Africa” paradox. He decried the propriety of a giant of Africa “that is corrupt, cannot secure it’s people and is rocked by inflation.”
He frowned upon the ills of “negotiated justice system and the manipulation of justice” that is rampant in the land. He decried a giant of Africa with a voiceless head, using the analogy of a city of the blind where the one-eyed man is king. He wondered: “If the head is rotten, what would become of the rest?”
The crux of Dr. Adeonigbagbe’s message to the leaders was a return to justice and equity. He called for a new society where things would be done properly and not a society where sex for marks is rife, where palliatives for the poor is hoarded by the rich and powerful and where citizens receive one thousand naira for votes among other ills.
Dr. Adeonigbagbe rounded off his admonition by praying to God to restore the nation to the paths of righteousness.
The activities of the 28th Anniversary of Celica Church of Christ would not be forgotten by all attendees in a hurry. It was indeed a day of huge blessings as witnessed by The Lagosian.
