Falode receives honour for meritorious service at 70

A WELL-DESERVED honour was last week accorded a consummate father and grandfather, Joseph Abiodun Falode, at the celebration of his 70th birthday, which took place at St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Idimu, Lagos. The event was presided over by the Lord Bishop of Diocese of Lagos West, Anglican Communion, the Rt. Rev. James Olusola Odedeji.

 Speaking at the occasion, Odedeji described Falode as a committed member of the Anglican Church that the Almighty has used to establish many churches.

  “He is a committed member of this Church and an illustrious son of Ilesha.  He has done so much for our church and we believe coming here today to rejoice with him at his 70th Birthday anniversary is to appreciate him and thank God for all that he, Falode, has allowed God to do through him.  He has been an instrument in the Hand of the Lord.”  

  “We have five archdeaconries in this area, which are not unconnected with this man’s effort.  I have been in this archdeaconry now for about 25 years, so I am giving you facts and figures to tell you what God has used Joseph Falode to achieve.  But for him, we would not have had all these churches around.  So, if we say that we are having the largest diocese in the whole of Nigeria, Falode is one of the contributors to this,” he attested. 

  Odedji urged other church members to strive and do what they ought to do because nobody knows tomorrow. 

  “Personally, I never knew I would become a bishop.  I was just a student pastor in this premises.  It used to be that himself, the wife and myself used to go about establishing churches to sustain the existing ones and today I am here as the Bishop of the entire diocese.  It goes to say that whatever you know how to do, do it.  People will not only say it after you have died, but while you are still live.  I said it on the pulpit now that we should talk of the goodness an average person has done while he is still alive.  Let him hear part of it and this is the message for all,” he added.

  The Vicar, St. Peter’s Anglican Church and the Archdeacon of Idimu Archdeaconry, Ven. Taiye Arowolo, in his comment thanked God for the life of Falode, who, according to him, has been a father in the Parish. 

  “It is not by age, but God sometimes use some people to be a father.  He has been one of the people God has been using to plant churches in this area.  According to the record I met on ground, he has planted more than 10 churches.  We are thanking God for his life achievement.  We are also praying that God would continue to strengthen him and celebrate more years in Jesus’ Name.  I wish him long life because I believe he has not retired.  He should keep on working for the Lord,” he said.

   The celebrant, Pa Falode, attributed all his live’s achievements so far and the Lord’s favour  upon his family as God’s goodness. 

  “There are ups and downs in marriage, but I thank God that, compared with others, God has helped us to score at least 80 per cent,” he said.

  Falode, who described himself as a cutlass in the hand of the Lord, gave God the glory for all He has used him to achieve.  

 “Sometimes in the dream, I would be told to carry one.  So, whatever I have done as you can deduce from what I am saying that, God did them all and Jesus only should be glorified. Who is my utmost controller?  I do not count myself doing anything.  I am just a cutlass in the hand of the Lord, and my greatest achievement is the development of churches in this area.  I am just an assistant lay-reader who believes in planting churches and God has rewarded me greatly by blessing my children with good jobs.  I do not have long legs and they never wrote an application.  God did it all and I thank Him,” he said.

  Falode said he hoped to establish about two to three churches within the archdeaconry between this or next year.  

 “Money is not joy and sometimes, I would just be happy and I would tell my wife, that unpolluted joy has come again.  I, therefore, advise people to be contented with life and wait for their time.”

  Mrs. Falode said she was happy as she saw the Almighty’s hand in her family.

  “My husband is a nice man, tough and very honest.  My advice to others is that they should acknowledge God and place God first in all they do,” she said.