By Boluwatife Oparinde
Christ Apostolic Church, Mount Bethel, Ile Ife has celebrated the 51st Thanksgiving Anniversary of the Church, alongside the 87th birthday thanksgiving of the Retired Senior Pastor and Pro Chancellor of Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU), Pastor Professor Anthony Adia Malomo Imevbore.
The dual celebrations held on Sunday, 13th November, 2022 at the CAC Mount Bethel Zonal Headquarters, Ede Road, Ile Ife.
Professor Imevbore had on Friday, 11th November, 2022 clocked 87 years as the church's anniversary was also characterised by a week-long series of activities that included medical checkup; outreach to Kosere correctional centre, Ile Ife; and, a 3-day revival.
The church's anniversary and thanksgiving service themed "Behold, I will do a New Thing" (Isaiah 43:19) featured sonorous and classical songs ministration by the Christ Apostolic Church Theological Seminary (CACTS) Main Campus Choir, Bro Stephen Farinade and the CAC Mount Bethel Mass Choir.
In his sermon titled "The Essence of Timing," the Retired Zonal Superintendent of CAC Bethel Zone, Ile Ife, Pastor C. E. Onukaogu, expressed that lasting things take time, saying that, "best things in life take time. While dreams are transitory and never last, things that are profitable and durable take time to mature. Weddings can take no more than a day but marriage takes a life time. A good meal takes time to cook. A good grade takes time to prepare."
Emphasising the need to accompany prayer with works, the cleric said, "it man’s brain that empowers man regarding how to work in order to subdue and survive. Praying without working begs the issue. That is why the generality of Africans religiously pray but barely exist and do not live optimally and maximally."
Expositing Matthew 13:22-29 on the parable of the wheat and weeds, the Retired Zonal Superintendent furthered that, "the second point that can be deduced from this Wheat/Weed parable is that, wherever we have potentials for fruits or results, our enemy will mark the potentialities with calamities."
"The third thing we can deduce from the text is that corruption and destruction are not the same thing. The fourth lesson we can gleam from this parable is that there is wisdom in waiting," he continued.
The clergyman urged his audience to, "wait until it is harvest time. As a matter of fact, Prophet Habakkuk in chapter 2 verses 1 to 3 says “ Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it lingers, wait for it; it will certainly come and not delay”. Do not even rush the harvest."
Pastor Onukaogu concluded that, "Time is in the hands of God. Let us surrender fully to Him. He will sort out the harvest fully for us. He will give us a good harvest of wheatful joy and the empowerment to destroy the weedful intruder."
The birthday celebrant, Pastor Professor Imevbore appreciated God for the gift of life, as the service ended with the birthday and general thanksgiving of the church anniversary.
Clerics in attendance were, the Zonal Superintendent, CAC Mount Bethel, Pastor J. F. K. Akinbami; Retired Senior Pastor and Pro Chancellor of JABU, Pastor Prof. A. M. A. Imevbore; Retired District Superintendent, Pastor I. O. Obisesan; Pastor G. Olatayo of Parakin Assembly; Pastor A. F. Lawal of Olasode Assembly; Pastor R. O. Olujobi of Adesanmi Assembly; Pastor G. Adeyemo from Akure; and Pastor E. T. Ayandokun.
Also in attendance at the thanksgiving service and birthday celebration were, the Provost, Christ Apostolic Church Theological Seminary (CACTS), Pastor Prof. C. O. Oshun; the Chaplain and Director of Student Affairs, CACTS Main Campus, Pastor M. A. Adetunji; Pastor Sunday Samuel; CACTS Main Campus Choir, among others.
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