2023 Christmas Day will never be forgotten in a hurry by six ministers of the Gospel Faith Mission International (GOFAMINT), Ikere District in Ekiti State who officially retired as church officers.
Having reached the mandatory retirement age of 70, the church honoured them with an elaborate Send-forth/Appreciation Service held last Christmas celebration where they were presented with gifts as faithful servants.
Pastor Olumide Frederick Akinrotohun, who retired as GOFAMINT Ikere District Pastor received the star gift of a new Toyota Corolla car from workers and members of the church having served them in various capacities in Ikere Ekiti and its environs for 35 years.
Other retiring ministers in the District who were showered with various gifts included Pastor Ignatius Sunday Kumoluyi, Pastor Samuel Olulayo Adedapo, Pastor John Aderemi Alabi, Pastor Abel Babatunde Adeyemo and Mrs Martha Funmilayo Idowu.
The gifts were presented to the retirees by GOFAMINT Deputy General Overseer, Pastor Emmanuel Toluwalemiose Oluwayemi amidst loud ovation by congregants who trooped to the District Campground along Ikere-Akure Highway to be part of the occasion.
Other senior GOFAMINT ministers that graced the occasion included the Assistant General Overseer in charge of African Missions, Pastor Samuel Omotoso Okomolehin; Regional Pastor for Region 10, Pastor Clement Ojo Abe; Ado District Pastor, Pastor Babatunde Bello; Oke Ila District Pastor, Pastor (Dr) Ayodele Ibikunle; Odo Ado District Pastor, Pastor (Prof) Kayode Olabanji, among others.
The special service featured special songs by the district choir and children choir, Bible reading, prayer for the retirees, and presentation of good gifts, among others.
In his remarks, Pastor Oluwayemi showered encomiums on the retirees whom he said had used the active period of their lives to serve God and the church noting that greater reward awaits them in the kingdom of God. He further encouraged them to keep on serving God till the end of their lives.
The Deputy General Overseer, who was accompanied by his wife, Mrs Blessing Oluwayemi commended ministers, workers, and members in GOFAMINT Ikere District for the honour done to the retirees in appreciating their labour of love not minding the economic situation of the country.
He hailed Pastor Akinrotohun for dedicating himself as an exemplary leader in the District and for achieving unprecedented successes describing him as a silent achiever, pacesetter, foundation layer, and a builder to the core.
While noting that the retirees would still be useful to the church, Pastor Oluwayemi counseled that they should still be engaged in working for God emphasizing that retirement as church officers does not preclude them from working in some capacities where their services would be useful.
Delivering the sermon of the day titled “Work while it is day,” GOFAMINT Region 10 Regional Pastor, Pastor Abe challenged ministers, workers, and members of the church to work for God during the active period of their lives because old age is inevitable.
He likened old age to the night period which is meant for resting and not for working, charging the congregants to utilize the period they are in their prime to work for God.
Pastor Abe enjoined the church faithful to take the work of evangelism more seriously charging them to be committed to preaching the gospel for more souls to be won into the kingdom of God.
He stressed that the services of the retirees would still be needed even though they had officially stepped down from active service of the church noting that their faithful enriched the work of God in GOFAMINT Ikere District.
Responding on behalf of other retirees, Pastor Akinrotohun expressed his heartfelt gratitude to church members in GOFAMINT Ikere District for the honour done by them for their service to God and the church.
Pastor Akinrotohun said he was overwhelmed by the show of love as demonstrated by the appreciation service held in honour of the retirees.
He urged the church faithful to pray for the emergence of a worthy successor who would do better than him take the District to greater heights and work to enlarge the kingdom of God.
The Idanre, Ondo State-born clergyman had served the church in various capacities including Assembly Pastor, Assistant District Pastor, and District Pastor which he combined with working as a lecturer in the College of Education, Ikere Ekiti where he served as Head of Department, Dean of School, Member of Governing Council, among other responsibilities.
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