Sometime in 1980, during vacation in my Higher School Course days at Christ’s School, Ado-Ekiti, my venerable father, Chief D. O. Adetunmbi said that the Most Reverend Joseph Abiodun Adetiloye, the second Bishop of Ekiti Anglican Diocese wanted to see me. I asked my beloved father (Baba), what the Lord Bishop wanted to see me for? Baba said that he did not know. “When you see him he will tell you” my father said. I was a bit scared because I wouldn’t know if I have done anything wrong again. Because the last time I went to see him at the Bishop’s residence on top of Agidimo Hill in Christ’s School premises, and requested for his signature on my JAMB form, he seized the neck chain I was wearing and admonished me before responding to my request. I felt so ashamed of myself that he caught me, meanwhile I thought the tiny chain was hidden under my white school shirt. As instructed by my father, I went twice to see him at Ado-Ekiti from Ifaki-Ekiti but my visit fell within when he was busy with episcopal duties and was unable to see him. Ironically, I was happy because I was not sure what was awaiting me and was deliberately avoiding the bishop.
Many years after, out of curiosity I asked Baba again if he had any idea of why the Lord Bishop wanted to see me. He then said that the Most Reverend Adetiloye once said to him that considering his outstanding devotion to God’s work particularly in the Anglican Communion and since he won’t be able to take up fulltime clergy work, he wanted to have one of his children so inclined to become a priest. I have been one of my father’s choristers under the age of ten. Being a connoisseur of harmonized church music himself, he discovered that I was already experimenting vamping on his 1916 model French Christophone organ at the age of 7 years. I accompanied him to several church related functions in various parishes and to diocesan functions. At some point in time, I was his driver to all these places. Apparently, Baba had noticed my interest in everything he was involved with. He then told the Lord Bishop that he would send me to him. I must state that it was quite relieving for me that it was not a case of my doing anything wrong that the bishop wanted to see me. At the same time, I was happy that I didn’t see the bishop because becoming a priest was not on my radar then.
I went through this background of my remarkable experience to underscore the fact that God works in mysterious ways. Also that whatever He has destined for us will manifest no matter how long it takes. Today, if there is anything I wish to come to pass, it is to become an ordained priest in the Church of Nigeria (CON), Anglican Communion. This also reminds me of my teenage years when I was rebelling the cutting of my hair, I felt so amused in the recent past when I was visiting the barber’s shop fortnightly because I was feeling uncomfortable with the hair on my head after two weeks.
Apart from being a chorister as a little boy in the choir of my father the virtuoso church organist, over the years, without the prompting of anyone, I joined the choir of Anglican Church of the Ascension, Omodara Street, Opebi. I served in the parish council of the church for about 10 years after being elected as a two-term synod delegate and as a parish councillor. On the 1st of December 1996, I was among the pioneer set of trained altar servers in the parish, an initiative of Venerable Phillip Bolude Oyebolu. On August 7th 2014, I graduated with Diploma from the Lagos Anglican Bible College (LABICO) and on December 9th 2016, I was commissioned as a Licensed Lay Reader of the Lagos West Anglican Diocese at St John’s Anglican Church, Iju-Ishaga by the Right Reverend James Olusola Odedeji. Man proposes, God disposes, I am gradually getting close to wearing collar which I ran away from, 30 years ago!
I have been privileged to interact with a wide range of people and some of them have been a great source of inspiration for me in the Lord’s vineyard. Baba, Venerable B. P. Oyebolu, one of my mentors who gave me the chance to preach my first sermon on Good Friday in 1997 (28/3/97). After listening to my homily, Mama Victoria Onafowokan said that I should go to LABICO and consider seminary thereafter. Also a friend of mine, Pastor Yomi Oguntuase of a new generation church sect, recently remarked that I have written a number of books on my professional calling and on a wide range of subjects, and that it is imperative for me to write a book dedicated to God who gave me the intellect and vision. Initially, I thought that I should wait until I become an ordained priest before I write any Christian book. Through the grace of God, the inspiration came that I should first publish this one and as the spirit directs and the Lord Almighty permits, subsequent ones may follow.
This book is titled Christianity and Anglicanism, primarily because I want a timeless one-stop devotional pictorial-handbook that will first and foremost appeal to the sensibilities of Christian faith believers of all races while the major part of it will serve as a spiritual and seminary companion for fellow communicants and members of the Anglican Communion. In addition, those who are yet to grasp the doctrines of Christianity very well or appreciate the religion better will be able to relate with the book that will attempt to answer most of the probing questions of what, why and how.
Based on my modest knowledge as a growing theologian and moderate experience on how to attain the desired intimate spiritual relationship with God, this book is structured into six sections. The Christian book is historical with vintage pictures. It contains brief research on the history of Christianity, the prophets, the early apostles and the early church with a concise expose on the old and the new testament. It is important to have a clear knowledge of the Christian religion, therefore the “Articles of Religion” in its original form constitute the second chapter in the first section of this book. It should guide those who are yet to become Christians to know how to go about it while it should refresh the believers to become better Christians. The second section is about Anglican Communion, its doctrines and practices in the Church of Nigeria. A chapter is dedicated to Catechism while there are highlights on the structure of the church with relation to the various departments that complement the work of the vicar such as the choir, lay readers, altar servers, stewards, vergers, sextons etc.
The contents of the third section are mostly my LABICO notes and submitted assignments, while the fourth section is devotional. It is dedicated to holy communion, its efficacy and the principle of acquiring spirit filled power through being a communicant. It can guide daily growth in spirituality and how to share the power of the Holy Spirit for personal victorious daily living in Christ. This section is meant to enlighten believers of the worthiness of taking communion in order to have full benefit of the supernatural power therein. The fifth section is devotional too, it contains my few sermon notes as a Lay Reader and published articles on the essence of Christianity. The last section is a collection of integrated spiritual commentaries quoted from various published sources. It contains some selected words of God, applied bible passages that can be deployed for functional prayer points tips that could help in living a spirit filled Christian life. The annex of the book contains definitions of some biblical and theological words that could enhance further understanding of Christian religion and a directory on CON.
Most of my published books are fundamentally pictorial because I record most events I witnessed in photographs and at every opportunity I share them for posterity. Therefore, this spiritual book is not an exception, it has its own share of vintage memorable pictures. The culture, tradition and practices in the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion were recorded in pictures; some of the photographs I took personally and were published in this book. Apart from capturing church events such as consecration of a bishop, collation of an Archdeacon, church dedication, some vintage pictures of early missionaries in Nigeria were included. I was also able to tell my humble story as a keen church man with pictures as a chorister, altar server, lay reader, synod delegate and Bishop’s nominee to Ekiti-Oke Diocesan Synod.
This book to reasonable extent is a response to the need to bridge the yawning gap between the way the older generation was brought into Christianity and the way the new generation understands what Christianity is all about. A sect of the new generation is not very clear about Christianity, especially what the core gospel of Christ is all about and how believers are expected to live a fruitful Christian life and be happy, comfortable and contented. The lifestyle of Christians is expected to positively encourage people around them. In essence, Christian ethics should impact positively, all aspects of the social and societal life as individuals and the nation. Not very many people grew up in a family set up where Christian doctrines were inculcated from childhood. This book may help feel some gaps. I remember how my day started with family devotion very early in the morning with my father on his 1916-model French Christophone organ, while all family members sang from the Yoruba Hymn Book, followed by short exhortation and prayers. It was also repeated by 8pm before we went to bed in Ifaki-Ekiti. The catechism thought me right from primary one at St Michael’s Anglican Primary School, Ifaki-Ekiti in 1968 still resonates in my memory. Reverend Ogunjana, my teacher would ask us in Yoruba language in the class: “Ta ni Abrahamu (Who was Abraham)? We would respond with excitement on top of our voices in the class: Abraham ni apere igbagbo oun si ni Baba gbogbo wa. (Abraham was an example of a believer and the father of all).
In order to be a dedicated believer, it is imperative to understand what Christianity is all about and to be clear about Christian theology or grasp basic doctrines upon which the life, the teaching and the example of Christ are based. Otherwise, it would be difficult to differentiate or discern the fundamentals of Christianity from other religions. Consequently, Christians should be able to present their faith in its practical applications within the doctrines that are in consonance with the correct interpretation of the scriptures. This can be achieved if they allow the true traditions of the early church to guide them in discerning the formularies which will enable them to derive the spiritual benefits of sharing the power of resurrection and be filled with fruits of Holy Spirit for personal development to uplift their environment to the glory of God.
This is an uncommon Christian literature because it does not only have spiritual underpinnings, it tells the story of how Christianity spread to Nigeria through the West African coast. This makes the book to be historical, instructional and a devotional companion for Christians. In all, this book should encourage the readers to relate with their Holy Bible more. Nothing can replace the place of the Bible in the Christendom. I am therefore humbly pleased to present this spiritual handbook to interested people and Christians generally. May God’s grace be sufficient for everyone who reads the book.