Parishioners of St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Iseri-Oke in Ikosi-Iseri, Lagos, recently celebrated 130 years of mission in Aworiland. Woman Editor, TEMITOPE DAVID-ADEGBOYE, writes that it was a time of thanksgiving to God for his blessings thus far…
Children of Lord’s Labourers Fellowship, Archbishop Vining Memorial Cathedral Church, Ikeja, during their ministration
Every June 29 since 1736, St. Peter, The Apostle, has been honoured, as part of the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul. Orthodox Churches have always observed the feast, and denominations in the Anglican Church, which are named after Peter, are not left out of the celebrations.
Peter is said to have been crucified in Rome under Emperor Nero Augustus Caesar. It is traditionally held that he was crucified upside down at his own request, since he saw himself unworthy to be crucified in the same way as Jesus Christ.
It was no mere coincidence, therefore, that on Sunday, June 29, parishioners of St. Peter’s Anglican Church (SPAC), Iseri-Oke, in Ikosi-Iseri Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State, chose to celebrate the day with a thanksgiving.
The day also marked 130 years of the founding of the Church (SPAC) that heralded Christianity in Aworiland.
The week-long event, with the theme, ‘You Storm, Be Still’,began with film show, praise night and a three-day revival and outreach evangelism. Also, members of the public had the opportunity to undergo free medical check. This was supported by The Lord’s Labourers’ Fellowship International of the Archbishop Vining Memorial Cathedral Church (AVMCC), Ikeja.
In his sermon, Supervising Archdeacon, Ikeja, Ven. Sunday Fajemisin, noted that naming the Church after Peter, the Apostle of Christ, was considered historically unique “because like Peter, the Rock, this Church too has had its fair share of many storms it had passed through as the first Church in Iseri-land and the oldest Church in the Diocese of Lagos West (Anglican Communion); but it has remained steadfast in keeping the faith of the founding fathers, to be the light of evangelism in Aworiland”.
Espousing from Matt. 14:22-32 and Mark 4:35-41, Fajemisin likened the storms experienced by the Church in 130 years to the one Peter had when he had to walk on water after Jesus beckoned him to come to Him.
“Peter began to sink when the wind (storm) grew very strong, and he had to cry unto Jesus to save him. Immediately, Jesus reached out to him, held his hand and he was saved,” he said.
According to him, propagating the gospel in a predominantly traditional community is not an easy task, as there is bound to be obstacles and challenges.
He, however, noted that when a believer cries to Christ to be his sustenance and guide, he will surely make the difference.
The kind of storm that came up while Christ was sleeping in Mark 4:38-41 was to prove that Christ is indeed the Messiah for the world as when the people in the boat asked “who is this that even the storm obeyed him”, he pointed out.
He charged Christians in the country not to be wearied by the incessant crises around them, but to always think about why a storm had to rear its head where Christ himself was dwelling.
“It is because storms do not have respect for anyone; no respect for age, academics, status or race, riches, or any situation. Storms are wicked and daring, but one thing is certain: storms bow to superior power of Jesus Christ,” said Fajemisin.
The archdeacon admonished Christians not to think the task of labouring in the vineyard is over yet; “rather, the signs of the times we are in now are telling us that we are far from taking any kind of rest”.
Speaking on the insurgency currently ravaging the country, he noted that the country is passing through yet another type of storm for children of God. He urged Nigerian leaders to sincerely cry to God for help because he cannot fail.
“When the storm of old raged, the disciples called on Christ and he did not fail them. Unfortunately in Nigeria today, a number of our leaders have not realised that there is someone who cannot fail.
“Some of our leaders, while we pray for them in the churches, still rely on the barrels of gun, bullets, might and power and not on governance which can even make them realise that they, in turn, do have someone they can call on.
“As far as I am concerned, our leaders are wasting our prayers because there seems to be no change of heart in them. What we are passing through in Nigeria is beyond the physical, but more in the spiritual pedestal, and only the spiritual can address it. So, every genuine heart should continue to pray, (because) God is surely listening and his testimonies and peace will surely rule over the country,” Fajemisin noted.
The anniversary thanksgiving was marked with colourful song ministrations by children and adults of the church as well as by the visiting Lord’s Labourers Fellowship International.
Records have it that Saint Peter’s Anglican Church was founded sometime in 1884 by the first paramount ruler of Iseri-land, Oba Taiwo Olowo, then a very prominent personality in Lagos Island, who was also known to have embraced Christianity at the time of his sojourn on the Island.
The monarch was said to have, in fact, been a prominent parishioner at Christ Church Cathedral, Marina, which was founded on March 29, 1864.
When Olowo was invited to be installed as a paramount ruler of Iseriland, it was therefore an opportunity for him to gather members of his household as the first set of Christian worshippers in his palace.
The earliest Church services that were held in the palace were reportedly moulded after the services held at the Cathedral in Marina, since that was what Olowo was very familiar with.
The foundation of the church was said to have been laid at its present site on Ogun River Road in 1884 because the people opposed the siting of the Church elsewhere. To them, an unfamiliar religion as Christianity was an aberration to the gods of the land. No wonder, the growth of Christianity in Aworiland was stormy; it was an onerous task converting the traditionalists in the land to Christianity.