MEMBERS of First Baptist Church Lagos last Sunday were in upbeat mood during the annual harvest/thanksgiving service.
The event was attended by important personalities.
They include District Governor 9110 Rotary International Pat Ikheloa, his predecessor Otunba Bola Onabadejo and his wife, Bola, and Mrs.OshodiOnikepo.
Wife of Minister of Budget and Planning, Mrs. Sally Udoma, a member of the church, was theaunty of the day.
Pa MichaelAbodunrin, a retired Chief Magistrate, was the Grand Father of the Day.
The first bible reading from Psalms 104: 1-24 was taken by OloriAkandeAregbesola.
The host, Rev Sunday Fagbemi, who spoke on the theme extravangant thanksgiving, said despite economic recession, there was need to thank God for His goodness.
The cleric, who took his sermon from II Chronicles 29: 11-15, said: “Recession apart, let’s appreciate God. God has fed us.
“It’s not your salary that is feeding you. Many who receive fabulous salary spend on sickness.
“Even though things are terrible, God has carried you this far and will continue to carry you. God gave us everything – life, strength, his kingdom etc.”
Chairman of the event, Michael Awolade, said the service was not for fundraising but to appreciate God’s benevolence.
He recalled that when he came to Lagos in 1969, he had nothing but God had been blessing him.
Waxing nostalgic, he said upon arriving in Lagos, the civil war ended as the Biafrans surrendered the following day.
‘’Think about the goodness of God in your life and give him glory. I came from obscurity to limelight,’’ he said.
Harvest Committee Chairman,KehindeAmao, said the event was to thank for His provision in the past 12 months.
‘’We have cause to praise God for the peace and security in some parts of the country,’’ he said.
He disclosed that the church was built in 1855, thereby making it the First Baptist Church in Lagos and Nigeria.
He said this year’s harvest was unique because 23 late members of the church received posthumous awards for their services.
Their families graced the occasion.