By The Rt. Rev Olukayode Adebogun
Trinity Greetings in Christ name. It is a rare privilege to write this edition of the Diocesan Brief for all people – clergy, lay and friends of our great Diocese. All thanks to the Almighty God for the opportunity to be among the living despite all odds and challenges facing our world today.
This year, our world has probably witnessed more challenges than innovations. A year we devoted more time to looking for cure for a disease that has ravaged the world (COVID-19). A year our traditional values have been shaking. It is year of wearing nose and face masks outside the surgical hall, a year of social distancing, a year to avoid hugging, shaking of hands and regularly and continuously washing and sanitizing our hands and a year everyone is encouraged to stay in door to keep safe. It is a year that may never be quickly forgotten by this generation, and generations to come who will read about and learn from our struggles and triumphs. We are, however, confident of one thing – He that has started with us will see us through. Amen. Despite all odds, we shall do the work of an evangelist this year and fulfil our ministry.
Worthy of Celebration:
We thank God for the growth that continues in our Diocese despite the effect of COVID – 19. There are many things the Lord did in our midst in the past few months. While others are thinking of casting down we are thinking of lifting up. It is my pleasure to highlight some of these extra ordinary things God did to HIS glory and the edification of HIS Church.
- God blessed Mount Zion Anglican Church, Chicago with a new Church building. We thank God for his provision and the effort of Ven Abiodun Alagbeleye (Rector and Archdeacon of Midwest Archdeaconry), Parish Church Council (PCC) and all the good people of the Church for this giant strides and purchase. The new Church building will be dedicated to the glory of God Sunday July 26, 2020 by the Diocesan, supported by the Suffragan Bishops, the clergy and all the lay people of our Diocese. We covet your prayers for the mission of this vibrant and growing church in Chicago, Illinois, USA.
- The leadership of our Diocese will also gather July 24 – 26 at the same Church for its semi-annual leadership and vision casting meeting to strategize on how to move the mission of this diocese forward. While we will exercise all necessary precautions with respect to COVID 19 guideline, we will not lose sight of our mission in North America. We are committed to preaching the Word in season and out of season. We must do the work of HIM who has called us while it is day; the night comes, when no one will be able to work.
- We are also grateful to God for the birth of a new Anglian Church at London, Ontario, Canada under the Canada East Archdeaconry and with the transfer/relocation of Rev Christian Okeke as the new Rector of church. May the Lord add unto them such as would be saved. The Church is marching on and the gates of hell cannot prevail.
- Our youth group – Anglican Trinity Youth Movement (ATYM) continue to plan for their regional 2020 convention in the various regions across our Diocese. They are the future of the Church and will not give up on their efforts to see the work of God continue in their generation. May the gathering in various forms witness the outpour of the presence of God in Jesus’ name. Amen
- We congratulate the women ministry of our Diocese under the leadership of mama ADOTT and the Regional Bishops’ wives on the success of the just concluded Diocesan women quiz competition. We thank God for the commitment of our mothers at the Parish, archdeaconry, and regional levels to the study of the Word of God and active participation in this Scriptural exercise. To God be the glory!
- The Directorate of lay ministers and Evangelists is set to release a comprehensive book and guide for lay ministry within the diocese. This is a clear confirmation of the relevance of the lay in the ministry and life of the Anglican Diocese of the Trinity (ADOTT).
- There are handfuls of churches who are applying to join the diocese and all four regions and the central area have new church plants and buying properties for effective ministry in their regions. These are indeed great news worth celebrating. To God be the glory now and for ever! Amen
Contend Earnestly for the Faith:
As I write this, my mind goes back to similar struggles and challenges of our fathers who laid a firm foundation for this diocese. Many sacrificed their lives, jobs and comfort to ensure the Faith is handed down to us. To ensure this Diocese remain firmly rooted, many were counted as outcast, some were accused and tagged as doing ministry the wrong way, others were ostracised from the group of the elite, they were discriminated against and called various names for showing commitments and stand for the gospel of Christ. They have been called negative names for having great foresight that will put the Church on great footings. The enemies of the cross have fought tooth and nail to derail the work and capsize the boat. In all these challenges, our Fathers and Missioners stood firm. These, our fathers can say like Paul in his message to the Corinthians:
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. (2 Cor 4: 9 – 12)
We have been handed a faith that calls us to put our complete trust in God. We are called to trust in Christ Jesus through genuine repentance and unshakable commitment to follow HIM all the days of our lives. This is the Faith that all who are saved in Christ have in common. This is the Faith of our Fathers. This is the faith handed over to us. In this edition of our Diocesan Brief, I am calling on all believers in Christ within and outside the Anglican Diocese of the Trinity (ADOTT) to contend genuinely, faithfully, carefully, committedly and earnestly for this Faith that was entrusted to us. Like Jude “I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people. For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about[b] long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord” (Jude 3b-4).
This is our collective, yet compulsory responsibility and we must be determined to guide and guard jealously this inheritance that has been handed over to us. We must move this work forward despite all the challenges and struggles facing us. We are all accountable to God. We shall all give account of our stewardship in this world. It is required of a steward to be faithful. Not only are we called to salvation in Christ Jesus, every believer is called to contend earnestly for this Faith. There is a calling that is central to all believers in Christ. That calling, to contend and fight as soldiers of faith was entrusted to us as believers in Christ Jesus – This faith on which each and every one will give account of how we build on it. Yes, we know, there are those who have secretly slipped in, and in their quests for power continue to malign and castigate the work that God is doing through us. Jude says they are ungodly people who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord (Jude 4). Such people have a form of godliness but deny the power thereof.
Apostle Paul says to Timothy his son:
But understand this (But mark this): There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people. They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over gullible women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these teachers oppose the truth. They are men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone. (2 Tim 3: 1 – 9)
Do not be discouraged by these oppositions as their end is already foretold. Every believer must be careful how they build on this great foundation that has been laid for us. “By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one must be careful how he builds (1 Cor 3:10)
Many fought the good fight of Faith before us and triumphed. We are on the same path and we shall triumph. We shall be victorious. We shall win the battle. Paul says “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. From now on the crown of righteousness is laid up for me, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but to all who crave His appearing (2 Tim 4:7 – 8)
Let us therefore continue to labour vigorously and earnestly so we do not miss the crown of glory that is set before us. We must focus on Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith. We are in the heavenly race. We must get to the finish line. No excuse is tenable for anyone to fail. A fierce battle or relentless opposition by fake brethren will not be enough for us to fall by the way side. Our Fathers ran the race and emerged victorious. “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way as to take the prize. Everyone who competes in the games trains with strict discipline. They do it for a crown that is perishable, but we do it for a crown that is imperishable. Therefore I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight like I am beating the air (1 Cor 9: 24 – 26). Run the race as a focused winner. Don’t be distracted. Defend the faith and stay true to the cross of Jesus Christ our saviour.
I am equally reminded of our 2020 Diocesan introit:
Fight the good fight with all thy might;
Christ is thy Strength and Christ thy Right.
Lay hold on life, and it shall be
Thy joy and crown eternally.
Faint not nor fear, His arms are near;
He changeth not, and thou art dear.
Only believe, and thou shalt see
That Christ is All in all to thee.
Brothers and Sisters in Christ, keep your 20/20 vision alive. Fight the good fight of the faith. “Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made the good confession before many witnesses” (1 Timothy 6:12). We must fight the good fight of faith. That is what it means to contend.
St. Jude, in concluding this epistle, says to his audience:
But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy. To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen (Jude 21 – 25).
This concluding remark is a clear summary of how we are expected to contend for the faith today. We must:
- Build ourselves on our most holy faith,
- Pray in the Holy Ghost,
- Keep ourselves in the love of God
- Look for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
- Have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
May God give us the grace to earnestly contend for this faith. May we all run the race and finish well in Jesus’ name. In line with our theme for 2020, we enjoin every member of this diocese to contend earnestly for the faith handed over to us, be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist and fulfil your ministry. It is time to stay focused, hold on to the Faith of our fathers and continue our mission in this land without recognition to the opposition.
Remember the words of this ancient and Catholic hymn, written in 1849 by Frederick William Faber in memory of the martyrs of Faith from the time of the establishment of the Church of England by Henry VIII and Elizabeth:
Faith of our fathers, living still
In spite of dungeon, fire and sword,
O how our hearts beat high with joy
Whene’er we hear that glorious word!
Faith of our fathers! holy faith!
We will be true to thee till death!
Our fathers, chained in prisons dark,
Were still in heart and conscience free;
And blest would be their children’s fate,
If they, like them should die for thee:
Faith of our fathers! holy faith!
We will be true to thee till death!
Faith of our fathers, we will strive
To win all nations unto thee;
And through the truth that comes from God
Mankind shall then indeed be free.
Faith of our fathers! holy faith!
We will be true to thee till death!
Faith of our fathers, we will love
Both friend and foe in all our strife,
And preach thee, too, as love knows how
By kindly words and virtuous life.
Faith of our fathers! holy faith!
We will be true to thee till death!
Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy. To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen
The Rt. Rev Olukayode Adebogun
