There was joy and sadness as the Diocesan family said ‘goodbye’ and ‘thank you’ to His Grace & Mama, the Most Rev’d Dr. Joseph & Mrs. Comfort Akinfenwa after 26 years of ministry in the Diocese, at a special service held at Ibadan Anglican Diocese, The Cathedral of St. James the Great, Oke-Bola, Ibadan on Sunday.
Having reached the mandatory retirement age, the church honoured them with an elaborate Send-forth/Appreciation Service where they were presented with gifts as faithful servants.
The special gifts were presented to the retirees by representatives of different groups amidst loud ovation by congregants who trooped to the Diocese to be part of the occasion.
Distinguished personalities that graced the occasion included the Deputy Chancellor of the Diocese; Chief Bolaji Ayorinde, Provost of Ibadan Anglican Diocese; The Venerable Johnson Olusegun Faleye, Mama Adenike Oshoba, Chief A. O. Ogunde, 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, Mr. Niyi Ogunsola who served as the Chairman of the retirement committee 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 Chancellor of the Diocese, Chief Ayorinde commended ministers, workers and members in Ibadan Anglican Diocese for the honour done to the retirees in appreciating their labour of love not minding the economic situation of the country.
He hailed Rev’d Akinfenwa and his wife for dedicating themselves as exemplary leader in the Diocese and beyond and for achieving unprecedented successes describing them as a silent achiever, pacesetter, foundation layer and builder to the core.
Mama Adenike Oshoba also lauded the family’s generosity and humanity, describing them as rare breeds
While noting that the retirees would still be useful to the church, Chief A. O Ogunde counseled that they should not be far from the Diocese emphasizing that retirement as church Ministers do not preclude them from working in some capacities where their services would be useful.
Responding on behalf of the family, Rev’d Akinfenwa expressed his heartfelt gratitude to church members in Ibadan Anglican Diocese, the Cathedral of St. James the Great Oke-Bola, Ibadan for the honour done by them for their service to God and the church.
Akinfenwa said he was overwhelmed by the show of love as demonstrated by the appreciation service held in honour of his family.
He urged the church faithful to pray for the emergence of a worthy successor who would do better than him take the Diocese to greater heights and work to enlarge the kingdom of God.
