The Bishop of Diocese of Lagos West Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), The Rt. Rev’d JInsecurity has brought Nigeria to its knees, says Odedejiames Odedeji, has described the newly installed Dean of the Archbishop Vining Memorial Cathedral Church (AVMCC), Ikeja, Lagos, The Venerable Emmanuel Ariire Kolawole, as honest, dogged and respectful man, urging him to remain focused and undistracted.

The Bishop revealed this, last Sunday, at the inauguration, institution and induction of Venerable Kolawole as the seventh Dean of the Cathedral.

Held at AVMCC, Ikeja,the event witnessed the institution of other canons, including Rev’d Canons Tope Fashogbon; Innocent Okonkwo; Lekan Daramola; Samson Ogabi; Michael Fagbemi;Richard Oke and Ibikunle Opeyemi.

Speaking on the theme: “God Demands Total Obedience,” Odedeji reminisced on his long-time relationship with the new Dean and his exemplary conduct, adding that the new Dean once became frustrated and wanted to resign from full-time ministry, the cleric said, but he counseled him and after that, he tore his resignation letter.

According to the Bishop, the new Dean broke down in tears and later when he (Odedeji) became the Bishop, he made Venerable Kolawole acting Archdeacon of Egbe Archdeaconry and he transformed his parish.

“I did not know I was going to be a Bishop then. Less than a year later, I was elected Bishop and I appointed him acting Archdeacon of Egbe Archdeaconry and God used him mightily to transform that place,” Odedeji said.

The cleric said Venerable Kolawole’s tremendous impact in ministry led to his present position, adding that he was subsequently posted to Archdeacon Ogunbiyi Memorial Anglican Church against all odds where, he said the new Dean remarkably transformed the parish as well.

Encouraging the congregants on the need to obey God in all things, Odedeji stressed that God demands total obedience from His servants, adding that these days people, including Christians, want to serve God on their own terms.

The truth, according to him, “is that for a follower of Christ, obedience is not an option. It is a proof of a genuine relationship with God. It means allowing God’s will to swallow our own will.”

The Bishop, who argued that obedience cannot be forced, noted that it is not always easy to obey God because of the pressure of the flesh.

“We find it difficult to obey God because what He asks us to do sometimes may not align with common sense. With God, one plus one may not be two. The Bible, however, makes us to understand that if we are willing and obedient, we will eat the good of the land,” he said:

Odedeji noted that many find it difficult to obey God due fear of public opinion and
persecution, citing the example of Pontius Pilate, who, despite finding no fault in Jesus, gave Him up to be crucified to please the crowd.

He, however, assured Christians that obedience to God is the ultimate pathway to greatness, especially when they obey God fully. He added that their place in His kingdom is guaranteed as well as fruitfulness in God’s vineyard.

He identified various types of obedience, highlighting “uncommon obedience,” which he noted Abraham demonstrated when God instructed him regarding his only child, Isaac.

Odedeji, who observed that many Nigerians are overly “title-centric,” cautioned that, “What should matter more to you is the testimony of a changed life and the desire to make more impact in God’s vineyard, not the title. As humans, we are rarely satisfied with titles; the quest is always there to acquire one after the other.”

What is truly important is your testimony of impact.”