The District Superintendent (DS) of West and East Africa (WECA) of The Apostolic Faith Church, Rev Isaac Adigun has admonished Christians not to relent in preaching and advertising Jesus Christ through whom man can get to heaven.
Adigun, who stated this on Monday, December 25, 2023, at the Oyo Area Headquarters of The Apostolic Faith Church located at Lodge Street, Oke-Ado, Ibadan, while delivering his closing remark for the 2023 Christmas Concert of the church themed, “Behold the Star”, also revealed Brother Funsho Sobowale, who moderated the programme, as is his spiritual mentor.
The concert attendees were treated to 17 spirit-filled songs including “Funiculi, Funiculla (Luigi Denza J. Van Duffel, “A bi omode fun wa” (G. F. Handel), “O Holy Night”, A jolly jingling” (Greg Gilpin), “Run to the manger” (Victor C. Johnson), “Eleru Niyin”, “O Mary don’t you weep” (Arr. John Aina), and “E ku odun” (Ogedengbe & Osunniran Ebenezer).
Others are “Two marches n D Movement 1”, “There were shepherds abiding in the field”, “And lo! The angel of the Lord came upon them”, “And the angel said unto them”, “the suddenly there was with the angel”, and “Glory to God” (G. F. Handel), “The joy of Christmas” (Faleye M. Olukoya), “Bi awon Olus’agutan” (Arr. Owen J. Thomas), and Polongo Jesu (Ayo Ogunranti).
While the opening song is “Christians awake”, the closing song is “O come, all ye faithful”.
The DS said that the main purpose of the Christmas concert is in the last rendition titled, “Polongo”, which means advertise.
According to him, humans advertise what they have used, what they have tried and it works for them, hence, they want other people to enjoy this particular product as well.
According to him, Jesus Christ is worth publicising because he is merciful and a defender who forgives sins completely and once he forgives, he will not remember the sin again.
He enjoined the attendees to take their burden to Jesus Christ and confess their sins to him, even the sins that are so heavy and difficult to share with fellow human beings.
Adigun established that Jesus was sinless but he came to the world to die for the sins committed by human beings, stressing that as a result, he is ever ready to forgive as many as possible of sinners that come to him.
Saying “I am one of these choir members only that I am not in their uniform to perform with them”, he pointed out that the last time he was on the platform with the choir members was over 40 years ago.
“I had the opportunity tonight to be on the other side, just to sit down, not officiating from here, just to sit down and be enjoying it and be soaking it in. It is wonderful. That was really enjoyable. May the Lord bless you, may He strengthen you, may He accept your sacrifice. I would love to join them again”, he added.
He told the audience that he was playing French horn when he was an active choir member, noting that it will be difficult now to play French horn because he has lost of of his teeth.
He hoped that he would be able to play French horn one day after his lost tooth had been replaced.
Speaking on Brother Sobowale, he stated, “Brother Funso Sobowale was and he is still my mentor. I got saved at Ijebu Ode training centre where he was in charge of all the students. It was under him that I became a Christian. It was under him that I got trained. so, he is my mentor, I am still under him. I appreciate him. God bless you, Brother Funso.”
Among the dignitaries that graced the occasion were royal fathers including Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II, represented by Asaju Olubadan, High Chief Odunade Ademola, and Baales, including the Baale of Ekotedo Ibadan, Tayo Ayorinde and Olori Rashidat Adetunji, wife of the immediate past Olubadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji.
The government representatives included the Special Assistant on New Media, Miss Fadairo Ifeoluwa and the Special Assistant on Youth Affairs, both represented the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon Debo Ogundiwin.
Several clergymen were also in attendance. Venerable S. A. Ayebusi, who represented the Bishop of Anglican Communion, Ibadan, Dr J. O. Akinfenwa gave the vote of thanks.
