Akinfenwa ordains four priests, urges them to proclaim gospel

Bishop of Ibadan Diocese, Anglican Communion, Most Reverend (Dr) Joseph Akinfenwa, penultimate Sunday ordained four persons as priests with a charge to preach the gospel of Christ to all the nooks and crannies of the world.

The advent ordination, which took place at the All Soul’s Church, Bodija, Ibadan was graced by dignitaries from all walks of life including family members, friends, relatives and clerics oradained, including Osunmakinde Oluyomi; Onuolia Obialo; Arotiba Olumide and Akingbelin David.

Akinfenwa urged the new priests to proclaim the gospel and fashion their lifestyles in accordance with the tenets of Christ who came to men as priest and servant.

He charged them to love, serve humanity with humility, care for the young, old, strong and the weak in their daily activities. The bishop also charged them to declare God’s forgiveness to penitent sinners and pronounce God’s blessings as well as to preside at the administration of the Holy Baptism.

He advised them to continue to pray fervently for the direction of the Holy Spirit on daily basis to enlarge and enlighten them on the understanding of the Holy Scripture.

Earlier, in a sermon entitled, “A call to faithfulness”, the vicar, Anglican Church of the Messiah, Ibadan, urged the new priests to always be faithful to God who is the author of life in their daily activities.

The cleric said that whenever faithfulness is lacking, it always leads to disaster and urged them to always cultivate the habit of making faithfulness a priority.

“Do not allow things to push you away from faithfulness. Do not run your race from another lane. Faithfulness rewards loyalty, hard work, integrity and humility. Be a man of faith, courage, and shun fear. Faithful servants see opportunity in challenges. Be positive-minded,” he said.

He, however, lamented that the country is in a mess today because of unfaithfulness of the people in leadership position and urged Nigerians to depart from evil activities so that God can answer the prayers of the nation.