During his sermon on “Faithful Service,” Bishop Odedeji emphasized the importance of serving in God’s vineyard with reverence. He stated, “Service in God’s vineyard must be done seriously and with respect. This kind of service brings dividends. God is the one paying us when we serve.”
He encouraged the congregation to trust in God’s rewards: “Stop saying nobody is paying you. God is the paymaster. He will pay you with interest and reward your future generations.”
Genuine Service
Bishop Odedeji elaborated on the nature of genuine service in God’s vineyard, highlighting the core of the Guild of Stewards’ mission. Citing various Bible verses, he underscored the fundamental importance of faithfulness in service to God. “Service in God’s house is nobody’s right. We are the ones who cannot do without God. The call to Christian service is a privilege,” he asserted.
He further explained that faithfulness in God’s vineyard means being devoted, honest, sincere, trustworthy, reliable, consistent, and accountable.
Service with Excitement
The Bishop urged the guild to serve with excitement and joy. “When God calls you to service, it is not to serve in sadness. We must be excited whenever we find an opportunity to serve God and humanity. King David said, ‘I was glad when they said to me, let us go to the house of the Lord.’”
He also called on those serving in God’s vineyard to do so wholeheartedly. “Serve heartily. We must be dedicated, committed, and attached to God’s work. We must see it as a matter of life and death,” he affirmed.
Beware of Corruption
Bishop Odedeji warned against pride and arrogance, labeling them as corrupters of service in God’s vineyard. “You don’t know who people are until you give them power. So, I urge you to be humble because humble people become great.”
He also cautioned against grumbling and murmuring, emphasizing the need for genuine conversion to attain excellence in service. “We need genuine conversion. Jesus pointed out that people will be turned back in eternity because he never knew them. We must have personal knowledge of Christ before we volunteer ourselves for service. You will also need the power of the Holy Spirit to do what you are doing. Without the Holy Spirit, you can’t go far,” he said.
The Bishop called on guild members to support their president and work together in the interest of the Church of God.
The Service
The investiture service included the re-dedication of all guild members and the decoration of principal officers. The colorful event attracted guests from various dioceses under the Anglican Communion.
The New President
Adewale Bolaji, the new president of the Guild of Stewards, Diocese of Lagos West, expressed his gratitude during an interview. He viewed his investiture as a recognition and reward for many years of commitment to God’s work. He vowed, “I am very grateful for the confidence and trust reposed in me by all our members. This is a big honor to me and my family, which will not be taken for granted.”
Bolaji outlined his vision for his tenure, emphasizing transparency, dedication, and capacity building for all members. “Our vision is to build upon the progress, achievements, and successes attained by my predecessor. We are determined to build an all-inclusive administration that will involve almost every member of the Guild,” he stated.
He promised to leave a legacy of transparency and dedication, ensuring active involvement from all members across the 30 archdeaconries.
