My dear brothers, sisters, mummies and daddies,
In the precious name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, I wish to welcome you back to the congregational worship. Indeed, we have missed our most cherished Sundays and week days fellowship due to the COVID-19 pandemic which have ravaged the world. Because of this, not only have we been locked down in our houses but the door of the Church building had been shut down.
In just a few months, this pandemic has dramatically changed our lives and turned our world upside down. The pain and anxieties it has caused around us are real. Additionally, as Christians we grieve the inability to meet in person with our fellow church members. Though, it is important for us to remember that the Church never actually closed, just the door of our building.
As Christ disciples, we have learnt more practically during the lockdown how to live out our calling to worship, pray, encourage, witness, disciple and serve in creative ways that minimize the risk of COVID-19 transmission. That was why we’ve gone online with our broadcast “If my people will Pray” I believe many of us who watched all the episodes would have enriched your soul and spirit profitably. It also gladdens our hearts that some of you constituted your families and neighbour into a church where you worship every Sunday. I learnt that some of you even took collections and submitted to the Church. We also rejoice with those who continued to contribute financially, spiritually and morally to the church throughout the lock-down. Your labour of love for God and His work will never go unrewarded
The COVID-19 pandemic in its present form will pass. One day we will look back on this time and see clearly that God was with us and was working in our midst for good. Knowing this, we can turn to Him today as we resume our physical worship and ask Him to give us the discernment, compassion and faith to make the right decisions. What I know about COVID-19 and the challenges it presents are changing so rapidly for our favour.
May I then charge you that now that the door of the Church building had been opened for congregational worship, I want you not only to be regular in your attendance more than before but also encourage others who are still not convinced or afraid. To be fearful is to show lack of courage and confidence in God. Such condition enslaves and works against spiritual progress in life. God warned Joshua after the death of Moses “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” (Joshua 1:9) Spirit of fear does not come from God “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”(2 Timothy 1:7) It is more profitable for you to be physically present in the Church as it attracts more blessings.
I don’t want you to be deceived into thinking that attending services at home be made permanent, I encourage you and all that are not present in the church today to cherish our community fellowship and begin to enjoy the benefits of corporate prayers, music, bible study, etc. again.
The Almighty God who created us, who commanded that we worship Him said in Heb.10:25 “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”
There are those who will tell you and accused you of why don’t you continue to study at home? After all you can pray at home and God will hear you: Yes, I agree. Anywhere you cry unto Him, He will answer. But He is the same God through Christ in Matt 21:13 who says His (God’s) house is called the House of Prayers. In other words, He Himself designated the House of God as a place where you will pray and answer will come fast. That is why David says in Psalm 122:1 “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.” Because He knows that when you go to the house of the Lord, you will be in His presence where there is fullness of joy.
God Himself appreciates physical fellowship. He demonstrated this in Gen.3:8-9 “And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?” God could still administer our first parents from heaven but decided to come down to them. The presence of the prophets at various times is a demonstration of God’s presence.
To crown it all He (God) sent His only begotten son (Jesus) to come as described in John 1:14 “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”. He also preferred to choose twelve disciples and later seventy until they are many. To me, it shows the importance of having many around you to share the glory of God. In 1Cor. 12:27, Paul reminded us that the church is the body of Christ, no part can live in isolation of the other, every part need the encouragement of the others. Read Rom 12:4-5, Col.1:24, 1 Cor. 12:25-26 and Eph.4:11-13.
I have absolute trust in God that if we join together in sincere corporate prayer and cry unto God, He will shame the devil and put an end to this enemy of the people. We must therefore, join our forces together to ask our ever dependable, faithful and reliable God to free us from this pandemic. Let us plead the blood of Jesus to mark us like the days of Passover that until the end of the COVID-19, none of us or our loved ones will be a victim.
Let me state clearly with much emphasy that the pandemic and its continuous infection is not over, it’s still much around. Many are still dying both young and old, rich and poor. We must therefore obey all the precautions put in place by the Church as mandated by the Ogun State government. The government had put in place a task force that will be going around to ensure compliance. Any church who failed to follow the rules may be closed down.
The Diocese of Awori has for some times organized teachings, trainings, lectures and workshops for our workers and wives on the need to keep our members safe from infection. I appeal to all of you passionately to listen to them and obey. The stewards will also be available to guide your movements, kindly respect their opinion. It is true God is our ultimate deliverer and protector but we must do our own part by obeying the instruction of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
My prayer is that, at the end of this pandemic, none of us will be missing as a result of being victim and our seat in the Church will not be vacant.
I use this opportunity to thank every one of you for your prayers always and your unalloyed support for our ministry in your midst especially the love you demonstrated at the celebration of my wife’s 60th birthday held on the 31st July, 2020. Certainly, we cannot thank you enough. God who is the highest rewarder will pay you back handsomely in Jesus name.
May nothing again close the door of our churches to prevent us from worship. Kindly co-operate with the head of your church as he will be leading you with some programme that will bring back all the lost benefits and blessings.
Remain blessed in Jesus name.
Your Bishop and Friend,
Rt. Revd. Dr. J. Akin Atere
The Lord Bishop, Diocese of Awori
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