Ogunade: Celebrating God’s faithfulness at 80

Looking back on journey of life, Hon. Justice Babasola Opeoluwa Ogunade, the chairman of Laity in the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) like Jacob, could not but say to God “I am unworthy of all Your kindness and faithfulness, which You have shown to me as your servant”, (Gen. 32:10). And so, on November 16, 2016, by the grace of God, Hon. Ogunade who will clock 80, will be joined by friends and well-wishers in a special thanksgiving service at Vining Cathedral Church, Ikeja, Lagos West Diocese in Lagos State to appreciate God, Who has kept him thus far. Expectedly, the Primate of all Nigeria, Most Rev Nicholas D. Okoh, the Bishop of Diocese of Lagos West, Rt. Rev Dr. James Olusola Odedeji together with other brother Bishops and Chancellors, Registrars, Legal Officers within the communion led by the Registrar of Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Barr. Abraham Yisa shall be in attendance to celebrate and rejoice with this man of God at this very ripe age.

At 80, one will agree that God has been kind to Hon. Ogunade and this has motivated him to plow himself effortlessly to the work of God. Although, a retired High Court judge of Ogun State, but he is a dogged and serviceable instrument in the hands of God, touching lives to the glory of God the Father.

By his position as the number one Laity and chairman of the house of Laity in the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), he has been dependable and cool-headed, as most people will attest to. Indeed, it is also important to point out that Ogunade is a member of Committee of Reference of Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), saddled with the responsibility of approving new Diocesan Constitutions. A work we must admit he had played a prominent role by bringing his legal expertise to bear to the glory of God. Also, he is a member of standing Committee of this Church and a member of the general Synod by the virtue of his position as the chairman of Laity. Again, he is the chancellor of Lagos West Diocese.

Sometimes people are worried about what an old man can achieve. But history is replete with persons who achieved at 80 and above. They include but are not limited to the following: At 80, Christine Brown of Laguna Hills, CA, flew to China and climbed the Great Wall; At 81, Bill Painter became the oldest person to reach the 14, 411-foot summit of Mt. Rainier; At 82, William Ivy Baldwin became the oldest tightrope walker, crossing the South Boulder Canyon in Colorado on a 320-foot wire; At 84, W. Somerset Maugham wrote “Points of View”; At 85, Theodor Mommsen became the oldest person to receive a Nobel Prize in Literature; At 86, Katherine Pelton swam the 200-metre butterfly in 3 minutes, 1.14 seconds, beating the men’s world record for that age group by over 20 seconds; At 88, Michelangelo created the architectural plans for the Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli; At 90, Marc Chagall became the first living artist to be exhibited at the Louvre museum; At 94, comedian George Burns performed in Schenectady, NY, 63 years after his first performance there; At 96, Harry Bernstein published his first book, “The Invisible Wall,” three years after he started writing to cope with loneliness after his wife of 70 years, Ruby, passed away; At 97, Martin Miller was still working full time as a lobbyist on behalf of benefits for seniors; At 98, Beatrice Wood, a ceramist, exhibited her latest work.

Hon. Ogunade has proven over time that age should not be a barrier in the service of the Lord. This should be one of the greatest lessons to learn that age not withstanding; in God’s service people need to apply themselves as a form of love, devotion and commitment to Him. Wherever we are, God created us that we may be useful to Him and to humanity. Yes, in the words of St. Ignatius of Loyola, we need to pray to God always: “Lord, teach me to be generous. Teach me to serve you as you deserve; to give and not to count the cost, to fight and not to heed the wounds, to toil and not to seek for rest, to labour and not to ask for reward, save that of knowing that I do your will”. Indeed, Ogunade is 80, but is still not tired in working for the Lord. I hope somebody is listening.

Fortunately, our God is good to those who love, serve and fear Him. He also gives them longevity of life and surrounds them with good things of life. Yes, Hon. Ogunade is a Testament of what God can do and is still doing. Therefore, as friends, well-wishers and all the Anglican faithful within the Communion gather to celebrate and rejoice with this man of God that just clocked 80, we sincerely wish him more years of fruitful service unto God and to humanity at large. Congratulations, my lord!

Ven.ErnestOnuoha
Rector, Ibru International Ecumenical
Centre, Agbarha-Otor, Delta State.
www.ibrucentre.org