By the outcome of the 22nd annual Convention of the Chaplains Fellowship of Nigeria, one can safely conclude that the fellowship has been repositioned to meet its challenges and responsibilities in the coming years.
By the new arrangement, Bishop Barrister Olusesan Ebenezer Adeniyan has been appointed as the Deputy Grand Commander while Apostle Prof Alexander Bamgbola, the former Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria in Lagos State has also been appointed as the Assistant Grand Commander.
The officers were commissioned and decorated at the convention alongside Rev. Dr. John Kome and Pastor Mrs Hope Kome who were also awarded as 2nd Assistant and 3rd Assistant Grand Commander respectively.
The above were part of the events at the recent convention of CFN held at the expansive premises of Preach The Word Cathedral, at 86, Old Otta Road, Ekoro Junction of Lagos State.
The Convention which had Archbishop Afilaka Ayodele Lawrence JP, the President and Grand Commander of Chaplains Fellowship of Nigeria as Chief Host also had Chaplain Bishop Ebenezer Oladeji, Chaplain Bishop Olusesan Adeniyan and Chaplain Rev. Mrs. Bolanle Adereti as Directors of programme and Bishop Isaiah Adegunju Adereti as host.
The tune of what to expect for the day was set by the welcome address of the Grand Commander and the President of the Fellowship, Archbishop Afilaka Ayodele Lawrence.
He said, “It has been twenty two years of the existence of our great association Chaplains Fellowship of Nigeria Inc as a registered body under the appropriate laws of the federal republic of Nigeria, we are grateful unto God for preserving our lives to be able to gather for our annual National Convention today the 1st day of May, 2022.”
The Grand Commander went further to explain the next step to take as a follow up to a previous meeting which approved the reconstitution of the organisation.
He said, “At our last year annual Convention/General meeting of this body, resolutions were duly passed for reformation of the administration and management of this body by creating the four underlisted management hierachies; (1) the Board of Trustees, (2) The National Executive Council, (3) The National Advisory Council, and (4) The National Convention/General Meeting.”
Archbishop Afilaka also took the advantage to announce the election of Bishop Barrister Olusesan Ebenezer Adeniyan as the substansive new Secretary General who would also be “saddled with the responsibility of deputising administratively for the national leadership of CFN as it may be necessary or officially delegated.
“I have it in my capacity as the President/Grand Commander of the Chaplains Fellowship of Nigeria CFN (Inc) considered and approved with the registered Trustees of this body that our Secretary General Bishop Prof. Olusesan Ebenezer Adeniyan be promoted in the next CFN Rank of Deputy Grand Commander as the third person in the administrative hierarchy of CFN by her registered constitution, and his decoration with the new rank will also take place today”
So that authenticated the selection and appointment of Bishop Adeniyan as the General Secretary and a Deputy Grand Commander of the fellowship, and his decoration by the event.
Apostle Alex Bamgbola, the former Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria in Lagos State was decorated as Assistant Grand Commander and was incorporated as a member of CFN Board of Trustees.
Also decorated were the duo of Rev. Dr. John and Pastor (Mrs) Hope Kome as 2nd and 3rd Assistant Grand Commander respectively, with Pastor (Mrs) Clara Adenike Bamgbola as 3rd Assistant Commander.
There were also some newly commissioned and promoted officers. The newly commissioned officers were Chaplains Gbenro Amos, Obatayo Victor and Adekoyeni Tobiloba Folorunso as Zonal Commanders.
In his message at the convention, Apostle Alexander Bamgbola the guest Speaker who spoke on Gratitude to God, the theme of the convention called on members of Chaplains Fellowship of Nigeria to always appreciate God in all things that He does.
According to him “Gratitude is thankfulness in everything, we should appreciate God by giving thanks and showing him our gratitude. Let us give thanks to God more than prayers,” quoting Colosians 3.17.
Apostle Bamgbola also called on CFN members to always be available for the unique service that God had called them to.
He said, “Let us begin to be available, committed, teachable and humble. Let us take this call as a serious assignment and be more prayerful,” as he also assured Archbishop Afilaka praying that the Grand commander “had sown into the land and he would reap generationally in Jesus name.”
Another discovery at the convention was the decoration of Pa Chaplain Joseph Oladele Osasan as a Chaplain officer. Pa Osasan turned 90 years on February 2, being born in 1932.
Pa Osasan who disclosed that he joined CFN over twenty years ago was formerly of the Salvation Army Church, Tinubu, Lagos is now of Praise Bible Church, Iyana Ipaja, affiliated to Preach The Word Evangelistic Team.
The convention had in attendance Apostle Dr. Ezekiel Abatan and members of Virgin Prayer and Ministerial Fellowship International among which were Rev. J. B. Adeyemi, the General Overseer Emeritus of Gospel Pentecostal Assembly, Rev. Michael Ajiboye, Rev. Dr. Gabriel Dabiri aka Ariya Jesu, Pastor Olubunmi Oke and others.
Other distinguished guests at the convention were Rev. Dr. Michael Awoleye, Rev. Prof. and Rev. Chaplain Mrs Olugbenga from LIFE Theological Seminary, Ikorodu.
Other features of the programme were special songs ministration by Rev. Dr. Chaplain Foluke Awoleye, the Chaplain and Preach The Word Choral Group and a special number by Chaplain Sunday Adeyemi.
Before the convention was drawn to a close, there was a session of special prayer for Nigeria, and General thanksgiving by the participants.
Some of the officers of the CFN that were part of the programme were Chaplain Bishop E.A. Oladeji, General Officer Commander, National GOC/Trustee, Chaplain Afolayan Williams, Chaplain Augustine Enasogbe, Deputy Director of Prayer, Chaplain Bishop Oluseye, National Director of Tailoring, Chaplain Abimbola Adereti, Chaplain Imeh Bassey, Chaplain David Haruna, and the National Patron and Matron, Bishop Isaiah Adegunju and Rev. Mrs. Bolanle Adereti.
Speaking in a brief comment, the General Secretary, Chaplain Adeniyan expressed his thanks to God, for making the convention possible, the leadership of CFN for the confidence reposed in the new board, the supports of the Board of Trustees, National Executive Council, National Advisory Council and the National Convention of the CFN, expressing the hope and confidence that the convention without doubt has repositioned the CFN for the responsibilities and challenges of the future, which is to make greater impact in the land locally and internationally.
By the new development, Preach The Word Soldiers of Christ Seminary Inc was approved as an “Interdenominational Chaplaincy and Theological Institute for the body of Christ worldwide as another arm of the gospel ministry entrusted to Archbishop Prof Afilaka Ayodele Lawrence as the Chaplaincy and Theological Institute responsible for the training of those called into the Evangelical/Pastoral Ministry either as a Chaplain or a priest.”
The management and administration of the seminary have also been restructured and reconstituted with functional offices and officers.
With this development, it is expected that Chaplains Fellowship of Nigeria would fly high in the coming years, as all members far and near were ecouraged to play their mandatory roles to lift the banner of the fellowship.
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