RENAISSANCE (REBIRTH): PASTOR IDOWU ILUYOMADE – RCCG APAPA FAMILY 30TH ANNIVERSARY THANKSGIVING SERVICE (EXCEL 2021 RENAISSANCE)
RCCG APAPA FAMILY 30TH ANNIVERSARY THANKSGIVING SERVICE (EXCEL 2021 RENAISSANCE)
THEME: RENAISSANCE (REBIRTH)
MINISTERING: PASTOR IDOWU ILUYOMADE (PASTOR IN CHARGE OF RCCG REGION 20, HEAD, APAPA FAMILY AND SATGO ON CSR)
TOPIC: WELCOME ADDRESS
DATE: 9TH MAY, 2021.
Praise the Name of the Lord – Hallelujah!
I like to Please request that everyone of us on our various Platforms to rise up and observe a Minute Silence in Honour of our dearly departed General – Pastor Dare Adeboye!
… May his Gentle Soul rest in Perfect Peace – Amen!
And on behalf of my sweetheart – Pastor Siju and the entire Global Leadership of Apapa Family; I welcome you all to Excel 2021, which incidentally coincides with the Celebrations of Thirty (30) Years of our existence as a Family.
Apapa Family – A Family of Change Agents, Initiators, Pioneers, Setting Standards, Breeding New Grounds, Poised to take the Lead, to Sensitise Governance and Challenges of our Nation’s Spiritual and Political Leaders to be New Champions of the New World Order.
Apapa Family distinguished by our “Spirit of Excellence”, Attention, Potentials, Going beyond Average, Climbing Higher and Setting Standards, Reaching beyond the Marks and Breaking already laid down Records, Reclaiming “Lost Grounds”, Charting New Courses and Blazing the Trails with Increased Passions and Favour with our Ancient Marks of Holiness, of Great Passions and Excellence remaining the same – I WELCOME YOU ALL!
The Question to ask and as so many People are asking: What is Apapa Family? How did it began?
Well, Apapa Family is the Product of Prophetic Visions birth thirty (30) Years ago by our General Overseer and Father-In-The-Lord – Pastor E.A Adeboye; ably assisted by our Mother-In-Isreal – Pastor (Mrs) Folu Adeboye; cummutating in his mandating fifty (50) Workers from the Headquarters of The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in Ebute Metta (Lagos State Nigeria) to set up a Church for People like themselves – Young, Upwardly, Mobile Educated Professionals and led by Pastor Tony Rapu; himself being a Medical Doctor.
Unable to get a suitable venue in Surulere (Lagos State Nigeria); the Church then started out at Roxy Cinema in Apapa (Lagos State Nigeria) from where it grew to what is now known as “The Apapa Family” with over one thousand, two hundred (1,200) Parishes in Nigeria and several Parishes in over twenty three (23) Nations of the world across five (5) Continents – Africa, North America, Europe, Asia and Oceania.
When my sweetheart and I joined the Apapa Family, they were still at Roxy Cinema at Apapa from where we moved to the Freedom Hall at Jibowu Tola Street Surulere and we were both Ushers.
You can also listen to the audio here: Excel 2021 Welcome Address – Pastor Idowu Iluyomade
And then we were sent back to Roxy Cinema to assist Pastor Tokunbo and Pastor Adesanya who were then Pastoring at Roxy Cinema.
We were subsequently recalled back to Freedom Hall in 1995; from where we were asked to go and set up a New Church – The King’s Court Chapel at the Highbrow Area of Victoria Island at the Lagoon Restaurant.
I was totally disrupted when I was handed over the letter as my sweetheart and I were “Just Ushers” – We never Prayed before and armed only with the Workers Training as Reformers.
But you see; God in His Mercies showed me my first (1st) ever Vision within two (2) weeks of collecting the letter in September 1995.
I saw myself Standing with Pastor Tony Rapu, the then Head of the Apapa Family before the image of Abraham Lincoln at the Abraham Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC.
But I didn’t see the Head of the image – The impression that I got was that the Image was being used by God as a Representation of God Sitting on His Throne in Heaven.
Pastor Tony Rapu was holding a White Scroll; I stood next to him with my own Scroll which went on and on and on and I couldn’t even see the end of it.
Meaning that someone else, somewhere in the Future was holding it and the Scroll did not fall into the Ground.
I didn’t quite understood the Vision but then later on I realised that God was saying that the reason why our Pastor’s Scroll was short was because Freedom Hall as it was then was coming to an end. And one way or the other; I was going to be involved in a Leadership Role in the next Major Move.
True to the Vision, in about a Year afterwards, in September 1996; Freedom Hall was splited into about five (5) different Churches – One of which was “The City of David”.
On the 30th of April 2007; our Beloveth Pastor Eskor Mfon, the then Head of the Apapa Family Passed on to Glory and on the 16th of September, 2007; my Sweetheart – Pastor Siju and I were transferred to the City of David from the King’s Court Chapel as the New Head of the Apapa Family.
… Thereby fulfilling the Vision that I had in 1995 that in one way or the other, I was going to be involved in the Leadership Role in the Apapa Family.
I received the Vision of Exceeding Greatness that whatever we are doing or are going to do was going to be bigger than whatever we had done before.
The Vision has emboldened us to attempt to do Great Exploits for our God.
And the fact that someone else was holding the other end of my Scroll – Sometimes, somewhere in the “Distant Future” tells one that the term “Apapa Family” is an Ideology.
The Apapa Family Story is an “Unending Sustainable Story” because Apapa Family Foundation is in God – So, it will endure for Generations yet unborn through different expressions of our Faith.
Apapa is like a City Apostle Paul described in Hebrews 11:10, where he says: “The Architect of that City and Builder is God.”
Our Vision is one of Exceeding Greatness – Meaning that we need to surpass and transient the works that we have done in the Past as the Glory of the Latter House is always Greater than the Former.
To exceed Greatness also means to constantly involve in a habit to appraise ourselves, innovate, go beyond limits and forever exceeding the bar.
… It is an Unending and Limitless one!
The Bible says that the Path of the Righteous shines brighter and brighter unto the Perfect Day.
… That is Apapa Family, that is the Vision of Exceeding Greatness!
The Spirit of Greatness, Innovation, Heart of Service and Boldness remains very much alive.
We did not defect from the Culture but instead we Provoke urgently, requiring Changes that make our work Progressively better.
We need to rethink the “Familiar Path” and challenge Processes – Processes that others take for granted and are not bold enough to question.
God has kept us United in Visions and Driven by Passions to excel and Positively Impact and change our Communities, Nations and the World at large.
… We give Him all the Glory!
In Jesus Name, what we started thirty (30) Years ago as “Excel Conference” – Which was an attempt to Regroup and Launch the Vision of the Apapa Family; has over the Years grown to be a “Major Signature Event” that Portrays our essence and Ethics as Leaders of Change.
Many of the Concepts of Old has become irrelevant to Human existence of today. The Paces of Change is so quick that in less than Speedy Response can lead us to Playing Catch Up’s in Months and sometimes Years later.
To remain at the “Cutting Edge” with the Gospel, we are to recognise what has Changed, what is Changing and what will continue to Change. We Preach a Gospel of Eternal Relevance in a world of “Never Ending Changes”.
We cannot keep on Playing “Repeat Episodes” and expect to retain the attention of our diver Audiences.
Instead, being in the world and not of the world implies that we live in the world by sustaining Changes within us.
To sustain Change, we have to consistently acknowledged as a Forth (4th) Mandate that the Church is a Congregation of People and not Buildings, Pastors or any of the Physical Assets.
This means that our Agenda has to be People Driven in its entire Magnitude!
Sustaining Change of Necessity should involve Changing the lives of the People we have been called to:
I. For those that are saved; our focus is to keep them on the Narrow Path to Heaven.
II. For those that are not yet saved; God’s Mandate to us is to bring them into the Kingdom of God.
We have embarked on various Intervention works and Initiatives – The Dividends which will be numerable in transforming lives, in Preparation for a Global Future.
We have been taught to be Audacious with our dreams and do Mighty Things for our God; setting our Goals and Ambitions High!
We need to continue to aim for the Sun and not settle for the Second (2nd) Best – Our dreams, our works must Outlive us!
… Think Big, Think Global, Think of the Future, Think beyond Yourselves – We are supposed to be the Head and not the Tail.
I CHALLENGE YOU TODAY:
I. Can you see tomorrow?
II. Can you see the Glory ahead of you?
III. Are your eyes on Eternity and Greatness?
IV. Or are you only living for yourself today?
… It is time to dream Big!
The God that we serve says in Ephesians 3:20 – Now, unto Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that you ask of Him, according to the Power that works within us.
We cannot ignore the Younger Generation of Apapa Family or underestimate how the Lord has Prepared to use them Mightily as “Change Agents” in our Society.
We are convinced that the Future is not when the Youth grows but the Future is now when they Show Up.
Youth, Younger Generation as the “Change Catalyst”; God will use them to Change our Nation if we are to invest in them and Positively influence their Thinking, their Orientations and Actions to be of immense benefits to our Nation.
If Nigeria has not yet Changed; it simply means that those to Change it are yet to arrive fully Prepared at their Destined Spots.
We may have not mastered how to fill up the Church Pews but now must realised that beautiful butterflies refused to be cocooned into that Glorious Full Wing Destiny.
… And this is what ushers us into the Theme of this Year’s Excel: RENAISSANCE
Renaissance is a French word meaning: “REBIRTH”.
We have done well so far but God has something Greater for us – So, it is time for us to recalibrate, seek the face of God in order to refire and be Launched into the New Thing that God has in Stock for us.
The Process of Rebirth obviously comes with some “Birth Pangs” and “Pains of Change”.
We can take a clue from the Rebirth of the Eagle:
An Eagle has the longest lifespan of its Species – It can live up to seventy (70) Years but to reach this Age; the Eagle must first make some tough decisions.
In its fortieth (40th) Year, it’s long flexible talons can no longer grab Preys which serves as food.
DMC NOTES: A talon is a large, hooked claw. Although talons are usually associated with Eagles, Hawks and other birds of Prey, you can also use the word to describe the flesh-tearing claws or fingernails of raptors, werewolves or even enraged Preschoolers.
An Eagle foot is made up of four (4) Muscular toes, Powerful enough to hang onto a fairly large fish as the Eagle carries it through the air. The strong muscles in the legs, that when contracted clamp the tendons in the lower legs and toes down, closing all the talons together in a vice-like grip.
It’s long and sharp Perks begins to bend, in it’s old age, it develops heavy wings due to the thickness to its chest and this makes it difficult for it to fly.
Then the Eagles is left with only two (2) Options – To either die or go through the Painful Process of Change.
The Change Process (Rebirth) requires that the Eagles fly to the Mountaintop and sits on its Nest. There, it knocks off its Perk against the rock until it Plucks it out. Then the Eagles waits for a New Perk to grow before it Plucks out the talons. When the New talons grows back, the Eagles starts Plucking it’s thick heavy feathers. After this, the Eagles takes its famous flight of Rebirth and lives for another thirty (30) Years.
Why is this Change Needed?
It is needed in order for it to survive, live and be relevant again.
For us at the Apapa Family, it is time for us to lift up “Feeble Hands” and Refire. There is no resting on our hoars (DMC NOTES: Hoar is greyish white; grey or grey-haired with age).
… Rebirth is on top of us – Renaissance is ours!
Patrick Henry gave a great Speech during the Second (2nd) Virginia Convention on March 23rd 1775 to galvanise the People on the battle to attain Independence from Great Britain.
He said: Give me Liberty or give me Death!
DMC NOTES: The Second (2nd) Virginia Convention was a Meeting of the Patriot Legislature of Virginia which opened at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Richmond on March 20, 1775.
Esther said: If I Perish, I Perish.
The time has come and it must come; when we must be Strong and equipped ourselves as Man, Stand Up and face whatever Challenges that comes our Way.
… We must never, ever “Give Up”!
Challenges can never keep a Good Man down!
Be resolute concerning your Destiny and God Promises – You cannot “Give Up”.
If God be for us, who can Prevail against us – Nobody!
We must emulate the Picture of a Toad and the Frog – Hold on tight to God, hold on tight to your Destiny inspite of it all because Victory is ahead!
People of God, after the rain comes Sunshine!
Finally, we must celebrate all our Past Leaders – Pastor Tony Rapu; we doff our Hat; Pastor Eskor Mfon of Blessed Memory; Thank You for blazing the trails and all your works that you did and the People that you built.
And all those who has suffered some form of Pains and Challenges for the sake of the Propagation of the Gospel; we salute you.
Let us not be deceived – No Radical Change will come without Pain – Great Sacrifices and True Matters, the Icon of Reformation in Government, Policies or Ministries brought “SCARS” as Evidence.
One can’t discard the “Scars” – It must come. Instead you must be bold for the sake of our Nation’s Destiny!
We have in us the Marks of Christ.
How many of us will be able to say like Brother Paul; who said in Galatians 6;7 – From henceforth, let no Man trouble me for I bear in my body the Marks of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I have said Previously that the crises in the Nation and the Despondent Populace in search for Fresh Answers is a Great Opportunity for “True Faith” to manifest.
I Pray that the Abundant Grace that has been Provided to make us Great will not be wasted and Proven to be in vain – Amen.
And that at the end; we will end Gloriously – Amen.
At Apapa Family: Our Brand is God, our Gain is not only in this world but also in the world to come!
I salute once again all our Departed Saints – They ran their own race; they finished well and they finished Strong
Finally, I salute the “Chief Visioner” of our Family – Our General Overseer, our daddy and mummy; for standing tall and standing strong even in times like this.
And our Prayer is that the Strength to go on and fulfill Destiny; may God grant to you in Jesus Mighty Name – Amen.
People of God; it doesn’t matter what the enemies bring our ways; all things will surely work together for our Good as we Power on into the New Glorious Horizon that God has in store for us – Amen.
To encourage us; I have this Song that I want to sing – And if you know it, you can sing with me.
It says:
I feel like going on
I feel like going on
Though trials may come on every sides
I feel like going on
TO ALL MY BRETHRENS, I SAY HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!
And now with Jesus Joy; let us rise up as we receive the First (1st) Family of Apapa Family – Ably represented by our father-In-The-Lord and Mummy GO.
Who inspite of recent happenings in their family and against all odds still find time to speak to us today.
… Daddy and Mummy; we love you both – God Bless You sir and ma!
DMC NOTES: You can access the Full Text of Pastor E.A Adeboye Sermon at Excel 2021 Renaissance on this Link. Titled: BUILDING THE WORLD OF EXCELLENCE:
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