Send Forth Service For Revd. Dr. Israel Adelani Akanji At First Baptist Church, Garki On 15/08/2021

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REMARKS BY HIS EXCELLENCY, PROF. YEMI OSINBAJO, SAN, GCON, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA AT THE SEND FORTH SERVICE FOR REVD. DR. ISRAEL ADELANI AKANJI AT FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, GARKI, ABUJA ON THE 15TH OF AUGUST, 2021

PROTOCOLS

It is a special honour and joy for me to join you as we send forth Revd. Dr Israel Akanji, after serving as pastor of the First Baptist Church Garki for 22 years, as senior Pastor and Minister-in-charge.

In those 22 years, this humble, humorous General of God has also become a foremost, credible and articulate ambassador of the Christian faith in Nigeria. Credible not just because he is a true child of God preaching the gospel boldly and with compassion, but more so, because he has been an effective bridge-builder between faiths and ethnicities, realizing that Christ died for all men and that our gospel is the gospel of peace.

In his determination to forge pathways for peace and unity, Dr. Akanji’s doctorate thesis was on “Theology of Conflict Transformation In Contemporary Nigerian Society.” And I think it would have inspired his 2021 book titled “Towards a Theology of Conflict Resolution.”

I took the trouble to read portions of it to better understand his thoughts and in his thoughts expressed there, he proposed a new approach which challenges the religious institutions, particularly the Church, through its pastoral ministry, to become actively involved in the transformation of conflict in the nation through a practical theology which he described as a theology of hospitality.

The practical demonstration of the gospel of the love of Jesus Christ is his recipe for conflict resolution. I think that everyone must agree that what the Christian faith has over every other faith, is the gospel of the love of Jesus Christ. That transformative gospel makes it possible to love one’s enemies and to pray for even those who persecute us.

He has served the Body of Christ in Nigeria as the CAN Chairman of Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and is still serving as the CAN North Central Zone’s Chairman. When you read his life story you will know that he didn’t arrive here by a sudden flight. Indeed the lives of great men and women even as the lives of Nations teach important lessons.

Let me quickly refer us to scripture in Genesis 1:1 – 4: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 3. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. 4. And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness.”

The scripture says that in the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was without form and void, and darkness was on the face of the deep. So, the beginning was bleak, confused, without form, empty. This is the way of the lives of some of the greatest men and women and also the lives of Nations including our own – there might be confusion, grief, trouble, darkness, and fear. But even in that confusion, the Bible tells us that the Spirit of the Lord was hovering over the face of the deep. God was in that darkness still, He did not run away, He is not asleep.

So it is with our nation, today some things may seem bleak and grave, with insecurity, economic difficulties, but even in the midst of these problems the Spirit of God is in this land, it is here, hovering over this nation.

So what happens next in verse three of Genesis 1? We are told that suddenly God spoke “let there be light, and there was light.” The darkness came to an end; the fear and insecurity came to an end. So it shall be for you and our nation in Jesus mighty name, amen!

In the next verse, scripture says God saw the light, and it was good, so it shall be for you and our nation. The light will come and it shall be good very good.

Then God separated the light from darkness, and so shall it be for you and our nation; darkness will be permanently separated from this nation in Jesus mighty name.

Revd Dr. Israel Akanji now proceeds by the grace of God to the exalted office of the President of the Baptist Convention; the highest office of the Baptist denomination in Nigeria.

In this long and arduous journey, Revd Dr Akanji has had by his side, his dear friend, partner, and darling wife Mrs Victoria Akanji, Mama Sunshine. She has been an effective part of the great works that God has done in her husband’s ministry. You heard her say in the documentary that she considered this work a joint project.

We are confident that the Lord who has prospered their way this many years will do even exceedingly abundantly beyond all their dreams and expectations.

Tomorrow, the 16th of August is your 60th birthday Revd. Akanji, the word of God says in Proverbs 4:18 – “But the path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.” So it shall be with you, as your days, so shall your strength, wisdom, and favour with God.

God bless you all.

Thank you very much.