Bishop Akinfenwa bows out after 40 years of visionary Anglican service

Bishop Akinfenwa bows out after 40 years of visionary Anglican service

The Ibadan Anglican Diocese on Saturday celebrated the retirement of the Bishop, Joseph Akinfenwa, during a thanksgiving service at St. James Cathedral, Okebola, Ibadan, as Bishop Akinfenwa bows out after years of service.

Delivering the sermon, Williams Aladekugbe, Archbishop of Ibadan Province and Bishop of Ibadan North Anglican Diocese, urged Nigerians, particularly Christians, to cultivate the habit of gratitude as Bishop Akinfenwa bows out from active episcopal duties.

Preaching from 2 Corinthians 9:15, Aladekugbe encouraged the congregation to continually thank God for His “indescribable, unfathomable, and unsearchable gifts and blessings.”

He expressed concern that many beneficiaries of God’s blessings often fail to show appreciation, stressing that thanksgiving should translate into “thanks-living.”

“Let us focus more on what God has done rather than what He has not done. We should learn from biblical figures like King David and Apostle Paul, who remained thankful regardless of their circumstances,” he said.

“Don’t always be full of requesting from God or grumbling; the worship most acceptable to God comes from a thankful and cheering heart.

“It’s he who realised his indebtedness to God that always give thanks. God has two dwellings; in heaven and in thankful and meek hearts,” he said.

Aladekugbe urged the bishop and congregation to remember God’s many promises and various blessings bestowed on them.

“Baba, always remember that without God you won’t be who you are today; remember how he has taken you from being a farm boy to an icon you have become today,” he said.

Giving retirement tips, Aladekugbe advised Akinfenwa to maintain a strong social life, without disconnecting entirely from people.

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He urged him to establish a new routine to suit his present position.

“Stay active in retirement – that keeps you healthy and going. Eat healthy diets, sought out your finances, practice gratitude every moment and always set a goal for yourself.

“Retirement can be lonely, one must learn to cope, so visit places to enjoy nature and to maintain healthy life,” he added.

He described the bishop as a man with gifts of vision, mission, wisdom, earnestness, wit, sense of humor, humanness, selflessness and unqualified sacrificial devotion and indefatigable commitment.

In his tribute, the Primate, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most Rev. Henry Ndukuba appreciated God for Akinfenwa’s retirement in good health after a life well dedicated to God.

“We recall with hearty thanks, your 40 years of service to the Anglican communion with about 30 years in the episcopacy as the bishop of Sokoto and later Ibadan- where you served as archbishop for two tenures,” Ndukuba said.

According to the Diocesan Chancellor and Justice of the Supreme Court, Hon. Justice Helen Ogunwumiju, leadership’s measure is not in the tenure alone but in the legacy left behind.

“Your legacy is unmistakable: a diocese more united, more purposeful and more spiritually grounded than your lordship found it.

“Leadership at this level demands sacrifice – the quiet, unseen sacrifices of time, of personal ease, family commitment and often of self.

“With these, I speak for the laity that we indeed owe you a debt that words can scarcely repay,” Ogunwumiju said.

Former Diocesan PRO, Ven. Wole Ogunseinde described bishop Akinfenwa’s 26 years of episcopacy as visionary, transformative and not deviating from the biblical faith.

He praised Akinfenwa as an encourager who helped over 20 priests acquire PhDs with diocesan support.

“He is a missionary in the true sense of the word and he is happy when the gospel is shared to the lost, downtrodden and misguided people,” Ogunseinde said.

Similarly, Ven. Sunday Ezeike referred to the bishop as “a father, mentor and role model”.

“Baba and mama’s ministry impacted my life in many ways. He priested, preferred me as honourary canon and statutory canon to archdeacon in Ibadan diocese.

“He sent me back to school for my first and second degrees and many more; he taught me about preparing for retirement about 24 years ago,” Ezeike said.

Others described the bishop and his wife as people of integrity, hospitable, humble, loving, understanding, prayerful, accessible and hardworking, who served God faithfully.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Akinfenwa was born on May 24, 1956 and was ordained as a priest in 1986.

He became the bishop of Sokoto Diocese in 1998 and assumed office as the bishop of Ibadan Anglican Diocese in 2000, serving for 26 years.

Akinfenwa will clock 70 on May 24.