An Out-Pour Of Gratitude As TREM Oworo Holds Midyear Thanksgiving

BY CAMI EZENWA

When people are genuinely grateful to their maker,  it usually results in an out-pour of gratitude;  it manifests in every other aspect of their life –  their walk, their talk, dressing, dance and even giving;

 So was it  Sunday July 11, 2021 at the Oworo, Lagos branch of the Redeemed Evangelical Mission TREM), a.k.a Mercyland.

Blessed with a spacious compound with generous parking lot, and beautiful interior adorned in elegant colours of cream, brown and red, the total outlook this day was particularly striking, leaving  lasting impression in the mind of the first-time visitor.

It was the mid-year thanksgiving service of the church with the theme – Gratitude – and expectedly, praise songs were not in short supply, neither was expressive dance steps from the obviously grateful congregation..

Pastored by amiable man of God, Rev Iyke Ilonze, the members gave in praise, in dance and in money for as many times as it took the programme anchor to call on them.

But that was not the beginning of the day’s proceedings. In fact, well before the thanksgiving segment rolled off, the guest minister, Rev Mike Sekoni, had delivered an inspiring message anchored on Det. 26:3-5, with the refrain” A Syrian ready to perish was my father”.

Rev Sekoni went full blast immediately he was handed the microphone for the day’s ministration. Engaging his title and theme, he made the church realise that they were alive by divine grace, the good God continually carrying their matters on  His head like headgear, shielding, protecting and providing.

– An Out-Pour Of Gratitude 1-

Referring to his scripture for the day, the man of God submitted that that same passage of the Bible had left a lasting impression on him, after he read it in the context of thanksgiving.

If Abraham, Isaac or Jesus for that matter, had died like a Syrian, he queried, what would have been the lot of believers today?

And that despite being few when they were coming into Egypt, that the children of Israel left Egypt as a nation. All through the experience, the mercy of God was not in short supply for the Israelites, Rev Sekoni said, but that they experienced miracle after miracle, including crossing the Red Sea without needing a bridge.

The man of God went further to underscore grace, as what has made, and continues to make the difference in the life of the believer, just like it did for their patriarchs, and for which reason, they should reciprocate in thanksgiving.

“You can’t out-give God. What can you even give that would equal what God has done for you?  You are what you are by His grace. There is no amount of dance that you will dance today, that will equal with God has done for you” he submitted, adding that even service in the church would become an excitement to the believer truly appreciative of God’s grace and blessings.

The reminders were apt and timely and stirred up fresh enthusiasm in the congregation,, as it prepared them to participate in the thanksgiving full of praise.

The word ministration over, the resident pastor, Rev Ilonze took the podium. He was full of appreciation for the guest minister, recalling he had always had respect for him, because of his antecedents while in the Youngmen Christian Fellowship.

– An Out-Pour Of Gratitude 2-

According to him,  Rev (then Brother) Sekoni,  was among the active brothers in the group, that readily inspired others to commitment in the work of the gospel.

That he had remained steadfast these past years, the resident pastor added, was equally worthy of commendation.

Rev Ilonze also used the opportunity to appreciate the entire church for remaining committed all the while he was away, reiterating that members needed to be both grateful and thankful for God keeping and safeguarding them, and for privileges that they were enjoying but which were lacking in other environments

“I am glad to be back home in church. I am coming from a place where everybody is quiet. I am coming from a place where you can’t shout in church or prophecy, nor be dramatic like you are this morning. I am truly glad to be home” , the man of God said.

The order of thanksgiving accommodated families, major groups, ministering arms amongst others, and though it all, the choir remained steadfast dishing songs after another.

It was indeed a thanksgiving day well spent, and Rev Ilonze was full of gratitude to the organising committee, and all others who had one role or another to play in it..

In fact, he almost mentioned the entire church in his appreciation speech,   the church also praying for the planning committee for a job well done.

He stirred excitement upon excitement as he reiterated the point that if given another opportunity that he would be glad to pastor at TREM Oworo.

– An Out-Pour Of Gratitude 3 –

The Eagle reports that a highlight of the thanksgiving service, was the cutting of a birthday cake for Rev Sekoni, who just added another year.

And even as the service wound to a close, you could not but observe again, the obvious uniqueness of TREM Oworo, such that could keep it in the contention for a model branch. This was obvious in many respects, but particularly in terms of  the fine aesthetics in the church interior,  the ordered sitting arrangement, and the neatness of the entire surrounding, not forgetting his appreciative remarks that church also ran without hitch for the time he was away.  

READ ALSO: CAN Slams Buhari, Urges Him To Seek Foreign Help NowIt must have taken maturity, members remaining committed in their different duty posts, and helping to uphold the hand of the man of God. Here, you couldn’t but pick out Dcn Lucky Ayovuare for example, who, despite input before now, was ever on his feet, liasing, directing and instructing.

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