By 'Gbenga Bankole
It was a day of celebrating God's faithfulness on Saturday November 13, 2021 when people gathered to rejoice with the President of Christ Apostolic Church, Worldwide, Pastor Samuel O. Oladele as his home church, CAC Oke-Isegun Alagbagba, held her 80th anniversary thanksgiving service.
Although, Pastor Oladele hails from Oyo State, he was born and grew up in Alagbagba a remote village in Odeda Local Government in Ogun State with his biological father and mother.
While sharing his testimony, Pastor Oladele noted that when he was a young boy, he was a very tough child and everyone in the village knew him to be a troublemaker and he was nickname "Segun lile" (meaning Segun the difficult boy).
He noted that he faced many challenges which include false accusations and allegations, and many others that could not allow him to make it to Secondary School.
He explained how he was stricken by a poisonous snake or scorpion while writing common entrance exam, adding that he couldn't continue the exam despite the fact that he was a very brilliant student.
According to him, he was very committed to the things of God, urging everyone: "let us use all our might to work for the Lord, we never knew how and when God will pay us back."
The cleric described CAC Alagbagba as the greatest legacy of his father and his friend, Elder Ogunlolu who both founded it.
"The village of Alagbagba means so much to me. My father lived here, died here and buried here. And this is where I was born with all my siblings. I was raised here and spent my first 13 years of my life in this village before I went into ministry at age of 14 in Ibadan.
"Thank God this is a legacy bequeathed by Elder Ogunlolu and my father who planted this CAC way back in 1941. This is worth celebrating as the farms they left behind can’t produce anything again. But the church and school they left behind are legacies that are worthy of celebration," he said.
He narrated how he was made the Choir Master of CAC Alagbagba at age 9 by Pastor Rufus Ayegbusi, adding that he can't forget him, he taught him many songs.
Pastor Oladele introduced Pastor Ayegbusi to the whole congregation and he was welcomed with a standing ovation.
Pastor Ayegbusi described Pastor Oladele as someone who was very intelligent, humble and stubborn when he was a boy.
The Cleric who said that he was also very troublesome to the extent that he was nicknamed "Dele Ijogbon" (meaning, Dele the troublemaker), noted that he loved Pastor Oladele because he was a troublemaker.
He also said that "if you teach everyone songs in the choir, he would be the first person to know the song. Never underrate any young child, I never knew that he really cherished the time we spent together. I never knew he didn't forget. We didn't see until 20 years after I left here. I want to tell you he is my first son now."
The whole congregation burst into laughter when the anchor of the programme, the Special Assistant to the President, Pastor Tunde Asokeji jokingly said "Dele Ijogbon pade Segun lile" (meaning Dele the troublemaker met Segun, a difficult boy).
In his sermon, the General Superintendent of the Church, Pastor Olatoro Odejobi, commended the Church’s President, Oladele for remembering his hometown, his root.
Preaching from Psalm 116 verse 12 titled: “What shall I render onto the Lord”, he said the Bible passage is mostly used for sanctification but can also be used for thanksgiving.
He commended Pastor Oladele for remembering Alagbagba, his hometown, despite spiritual attacks he faced from devilish people during his childhood.
He however urged the congregants to emulate such act by not forgetting their roots and but contribute positively to their hometown just like Pastor Oladele did.
He listed reasons like God’s protection, His elevation, peace of mind and others as reasons to always thank God and showing grateful hearts to Him.
Apart from the General Superintendent, the programme had in attendance notable personalities such as the General Secretary, Pastor Emmanuel E. Mapur, Finance Director, Pastor Johnson F. Omitinde, Mission Director, Pastor Caxton S. Fasuyi, Director of Publicity, Pastor Ade Alawode, Youth Officer, Pastor Samson O. Gbuyiro, Itire DCC Superintendent, Pastor Gideon O. Oladokun and many others.
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