The Diocese of Lagos West, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), recently marked its 25th anniversary with several activities such as donation of hospital equipment to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja; Federal Medical Centre, Ebute Meta, and Anniversary Thanksgiving service, which held at the Archbishop Vining Memorial Church Cathedral, Ikeja, among others.

The Bishop of Remo and Archbishop of Lagos Province, the Most Reverend Michael Fape,who spoke at the anniversary thanksgiving service on November 20, 2024, with the theme: “This is the Lord’s doing,” eulogised the dynamic leadership of the Diocesan Bishop,the Rt. Reverend James Odedeji. He saidthe Bishoptook the diocese to greater heights and made it the envy of many dioceses in the Church of Nigeria.

Speaking on the anniversary theme: “This is the Lord’s Doing,” which was taken from Psalm 118: 22, 23, Fape said the ascension of Rt. ReverendOdedeji to the See of Lagos West could only be said to be the Lord’s doing. He also applauded the role played by the late pioneer Bishop of the Diocese, Rt. Reverend Peter Adebiyi, saying that he laid a very solid foundation for the Diocese of Lagos West to thrive.

Citing the victory of David and his acknowledgement of God’s goodness in his life, Fape noted that no matter the plan of the kingdom of darkness God’s plan for his children will always prevail.

He said: “There is no way we can talk about the Diocese of Lagos West, without looking at the life of David. David saw his ascendancy to the throne as the Lord’s doing. God’s plan for David to reign as king over Israel was not aborted.”

Calling on Christians not to pray for their enemies to die, Fape said if they die they won’t see God’s glory.

He said: “Today, by the grace of God, we are here gathered to give thanks to God for the silver jubilee inauguration of the Diocese of Lagos West. Indeed, my Lord Bishop, your existence in the last 25 years together with all your teeming members, your existence by the grace of God is the Lord’s doing and it is marvelous in our eyes.

“The strategic position of the Diocese of Lagos West in the Church of Nigeria, in the suprawest in the Province of Lagos, nobody can counter it because God hasstragetically positioned you, it is the Lord’s doing. The generosity of the Diocese of Lagos West is evident to all and can be compared to the Macedonian Church as recorded in the 2nd Corinthians 8:1,3,4, so when it comes to generosity, and giving you stand out by the grace of God. In the Diocese of Lagos West, there are other dioceses that have existed for many years before you were created in 1999, therefore, that this diocese is being spoken well far and near today is the Lord’s doing. That the Lord has groom you today from the very beginning in 1999 from the little you had then, but today you have become so big with many churches and the clergy in their large numbers, it is the grace of God. That the Lord has blessed the diocese with men and women of substance who have been using their resources to serve God in this diocese, it is the Lord’s doing.”