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WHAT YOU GIVE TO THE MINISTRY IS WHAT THE MINISTRY GIVES BACK TO YOU – BISHOP JAMES ODEDEJI

• Posted In News
• Jan 03, 2022
• BISHOP AJAYI CROWTHER MEMORIAL ANGLICAN CHURCH, GOWON ESTATE, LAGOS

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The Diocese of Lagos West always began a New Year with Clergy, Workers and Wives Retreat. This year’s edition held at Bishop Ajayi Crowther Memorial Anglican, Gowon Estate on Monday, January 3rd, 2022 was well attended by the expected participants in the Diocese of Lagos West.  The Diocesan Bishop, the Rt. Revd. Dr. James Olusola Odedeji with his wife Dr. Mrs. Lydia Odedeji used the avenue to interact with the Clergy, Workers and Wives to review the past year and to look into the New Year for God’s direction and instruction.

While delivering his sermon, Bishop Odedeji spoke extensively on the theme ‘Ministry Platform’. He reiterated that what everyone gives to the ministry is what the ministry gives back to one while highlighting various warnings on the platform of the ministry. He also warned that everyone should mind his business, focus on his ministry and he further encouraged everyone to be patient in the ministry. He encouraged that ministers must spend quality time in prayer, spend their money and time on their fields of specialty (their ministry) and seriously work on their characters and attitudes in the ministry.

Bishop James Odedeji illustrated with the examples of Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 11, Elisha who got double portion of anointing of Elijah and Gehazi who got leprosy for his covetousness. He added that many joined ministry without knowing what the ministry entailed. He also said the ministry is expensive, demanding and costly so one must think deeply before going into it.

The Diocesan continued by emphasizing on the way the congregation assess their ministers which include appearance, vocabulary, hygiene, children and their wives. He encouraged everyone to improve in all these areas. He warned that ministers of God are under 24/7 surveillance by the people. 

The Bishop added that negligence of one’s family as ministers could hamper the health of the minister which could result into premature death and that would eventually cut off the dream and the aspiration of the Clergy in the ministry.

The retreat also featured a lecture delivered by Venerable Israel Owoyele on the challenges of 21^st Century Clergy and Wives in the contemporary world.

The Revd Oluwole Ibikunle

(Diocesan ICT Coordinator)

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