We have heard about small men doing great things, so also have we heard about smaller people making great strides. A case in point is David and Goliath, how the little known shepherd boy from the countryside defeated the well-known warrior who for many years had tormented the Israelites.
That was the story of Our Saviour’s Anglican Church, Egbe. A church in a remote place, yet it was made the headquarters of what is today known as Egbe Archdeaconry by the Lord Bishop of the Lagos West Diocese of the Anglican Church.
Our Saviour’s Anglican Church, Egbe, though small in size and number, has taken several steps that place it among champions, especially when it comes to church development and evangelistic outreaches for which believers and the church in general are called for.
“A Church Growth principle is a universal truth which, when properly interpreted and applied, contributes significantly to the growth of churches and denominations,” Donald McGavran, founding Dean and Professor of Mission, Church Growth, and South Asian Studies at the School of World Mission at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California, once wrote. “It is a truth of God which leads his church to spread his Good News, plant church after church, and increase his Body.”
In a similar vein, the scripture gave an express command to Christian faithful to go into the world and make new disciples. In Matthew 28:19, it says, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
Therefore, churches are planted primarily to win new converts as they grow and develop the Christian faith of the people amidst trials, persecution and challenges. As Gene Veith, author of ‘Loving God with All Your Mind: Thinking as a Christian in the Postmodern World’, writes, “One would think that [persecution] would be an obstacle to church growth when joining the church meant a death sentence. And yet, the age of persecution was the greatest period of church growth in history.”
History has taught us that the church movement started and actually grew in the face of persecution faced by the early Christians who were martyrs for their faith in a new religion, a religion that is today witnessed in remote parts of the world to the testimony of the scriptures. That movement of church development has seen many churches spring up in remote villages and cities, even in places least expected.
Though doctrinal teachings and creed may differ, all Christians are baptised into one faith, one gospel and by one name, Jesus Christ – a name given by which all mankind might be saved.
Bishop’s impression of the dedicated church
Bishop Odedeji of the Lagos West Diocese of the Anglican Communion, who said he had been a part of the church long before he became a bishop, could not hide his feelings about the newly dedicated church.
“When I came in, I saw the reason why a vibrant and goal-oriented priest must be brought here – that was what I did. When I brought the vicar here, he was just a priest and this place was archdeaconry headquarters, so it was like a contrast, but I knew the young man was more than able and that he has done again today,” Bishop Odedeji said.
“This is not the first church God has used him to build; the church where we brought him from was completed by the same man, Venerable Ariire Kolawole,” he said.
On the significance of dedicating a church, the Bishop said from historical point of view, from the church custom and tradition, and from the biblical perspective, nothing is used before dedication.
“Dedication is just saying this place is now set apart away from profane and common uses but for the use of Blessed Trinity, away from any other uses. This place is not just a place where anybody can do what he likes; what is only permitted here is the worship of Yahweh.
“When you look at the Old Testament passages, when a synagogue is newly built, God will be invited afresh to take his proper place. God said, ‘Wherever my name is recorded…’ Therefore, the name of the Lord will be recorded afresh here today. That is what we mean by dedication, it’s just saying it is set apart from other common uses.
“Here now nobody eats; the only food permitted here is the body and blood of Jesus Christ. Nobody cracks unnecessary jokes here, same way nobody comes in here to sleep – this is exclusive to God and for God alone, and it is a holy land from today,” the Bishop said.
Our Saviour’s Anglican Church
Before March 15, 1984, the nearest Anglican Church to Egbe people was St. Paul’s Ishaga, Isolo and St. Peter’s Idimu. However, some Anglican members that relocated from Isolo to their own personal house in Egbe, so conscious of the spread of the gospel, thought of having an Anglican Church in their new abode. The move was first made by one Pa Rueben Ogunlano of St. Paul’s Isolo, who went to his vicar, Rev. S. K. Olanrewaju, to seek counsel and permission to start an Anglican Church in Egbe.
Other members also raised the issue of having an Anglican Church in Egbe and went to seek the consent of their vicar. Among them were Niyi Banjo and Akinyemi, while the then District Church Council (DCC) under the leadership of Rev. Ola Oyebajo paid for the land by instalment (twice). After the payment, both Pa Ogunlana and Mr. Adeosun started the move to get more Anglican members around Egbe for the new church.
St. Paul’s Isolo donated a pulpit, lectern, baptismal font and altar table, while Adesanya and Gbokoyi constructed and donated all benches and wooden lecterns. The altar was paid for by Banjo while drums were also donated by one Mrs. Coker. She also added two priests’ seats in the altar, while choir hymn books were donated by Adebayo and Agbolade donated lectern.
This small Anglican Church increased and was later made the headquarters of an Archdeaconry, which was inaugurated on March 3, 2009, and Ven. Jacob Adelagun Oluwase was made the first Archdeacon.
The old church building was demolished to give way for the new one on December 2, 2013. On December 10 of the same year, the foundation of the new church building was laid by the Ven. Dele Okunuga, the Archdeacon of Isolo Archdeaconry as directed by the then Bishop, Rt. Revd. Peter Awelewa Adebiyi, while Ven. Christopher Aiyejoto was the vicar. But before then, on December 8, the faithful moved into the new building with only pillars to carry the half-roofed structure. The roof was completed on Saturday, December 16.
Venerable Ariire Kolawole, the man at the centre of it all
Venerable Ariire Ayo Kolawole resumed duty as the Vicar of Our Saviour’s Anglican Church, Egbe on August 15, 2013 while the church was still in its old small church building with new pillars and half-roofed surroundings.
Thanking the Lord Bishop whom he referred to as “a father, mentor, leader and benefactor”, Ven. Kolawole said the dedication of the church was “a proof of God’s manifestation and His genuine love towards His own people”.
He appreciated the members of Our Saviour’s Anglican Church, Egbe, who were instrumental to the completion of the task of constructing a befitting edifice for the Egbe Archdeaconry headquarters through their support.
“Some members that may not like us to mention their names but whom God has already registered their names in the book of life – I thank you for your financial support to make the bank loan payment possible and completion of this long overstayed vision.
“The structural engineer and supervisor of this project for four years, Engr. Femi Kehinde (a Baptist member) came to our rescue when the ship was totally down and the church was almost made a thing of ridicule. He used his time, men, money and experience for four years without collecting a penny from the church,” the vicar said.
