Carrying the Cross

Oluremi Owadayo

Description

Born in Ifira-Akoko, Nigeria in 1939 Bishop Matthew Oluremi Owadayo was appointed Men’s warden of Archbishop Vining Training Centre, Akure; preferred Cathedral Provost, and later Dean, Immanuel College of Theology, Ibadan. In December 1994, he was elected Bishop of the Diocese of Egba.

Sujets

• Autobiography
• Biography

Informations

• Publié par: Safari Books Ltd
• Date de parution: 17 juillet 2014
• Nombre de lectures: 1
• EAN13: 9789788431725
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 30 Mo

Extrait

CARRYING
THE
CROSS
The Autobiography of
Bishop Matthew Oluremi
OwadayoCARRYING THE CROSS
The Autobiography of
Bishop Matthew Oluremi Owadayo
Safari Books Ltd
IbadanPublished by
Safari Books Ltd
Ile Ori Detu
1, Shell Close
Onireke
Ibadan.
Email: [e-mail]
© Bishop Matthew Oluremi Owadayo
Publisher: Chief Joop Berkhout, OON
Deputy Publisher: George Berkhout
First Published 2014
All rights reserved. This book is copyright and so no part of it may
be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any
form or by any means, electrical, mechanical, electrostatic, magnetic
tape, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior
written permission of the author.
ISBN: 978-978-8431-43-5Contents
Dedication vii
Acknowledgements ix
Foreword I xiII xv
Preface xvii
Chapter 1: Early Childhood 1
Chapter 2: Getting Started: 13
My Primary Education
Chapter 3: My Secondary Education 27
Chapter 4: Apprenticeship Pays 65
Chapter 5: A Grouse Against My Ministerial
Ambition 73
Chapter 6: Launched into Full-Time Parish
Ministry 93
Chapter 7: Undergraduate Days at the
University of Ibadan 107
Chapter 8: Training Future Church Leaders 115
Chapter 9: Back for Higher Degree 123
vChapter 10: Romance with the Academia 131
Chapter 11: Preferred Cathedral Provost 147
Chapter 12: From Provost to Dean 171
Chapter 13: Episcopal Election 193
Chapter 14: My Ministry, Our Ministry 201
Chapter 15: Synods and their Themes 221
Chapter 16: Various Prongs of Evangelism 235
Chapter 17: Diocesan Silver Jubilee
Celebration 283
Chapter 18: Medical Welfare for the Clergy 301
Chapter 19: Glorious Exit 313
Chapter 20: The Family God has Given Me 319
Chapter 21: Honours Roll 325
Index 327
viDedication
his book is dedicated to God for granting me AbrahamTOgundana and Sarah Asake as caring parents; Zachariah
Ademola and Elisha Olabode as dear brothers; and Eunice
Olufunmilayo, my loving, dependable and supportive wife and
mother of our glorious children.
They are all the architects of my success story.
viiAcknowledgements
owe God Almighty the deepest gratitude for enabling me toIwrite my autobiography. In His inscrutable wisdom, He graced
me with the most caring mother and most loving brother, who
both denied themselves to give me education by heeding the
inspiring counsel of Prince (later, Oba Olufira) Joseph A.
Adesunloye.
I am thankful to God for people who crossed my way and
impacted my life and ministry by their assistance, direction,
inspiration, joy and encouragement. These God-led people
included Moshood Alebiosu, a 1955 final year muslim student
who helped me with words of encouragement when I faced
financial difficulties in Victory College, Ikare; Chief and Mrs. A.
I. Dare, who played the role of father and mother to two of
our children, Femi and Ope, when my wife and I went on further
studies at the same time; Bishop G.I.O. Olajide who
discouraged me from withdrawing from Immanuel College of
Theology, Ibadan, in 1963 when I had health challenges; Provost
(later Archbishop) T.O. Olufosoye, who kindly took me to
Adeoyo State Hospital, Yemetu, Ibadan, to find solution to my
health problem; Rev. Prof. (later Prelate, Methodist Church,
Nigeria) E. Bolaji Idowu and Ven. Dr. (later Bishop) and Mrs J.
O. Arulefela, who insisted on my going to do higher degree;
Ven. Prof. J.O. Awolalu for his tireless concern for my research
success; Hon. Justice and Mrs. Owen Fiebai for their golden
advice in Jos; Archbishop J.A. Adetiloye gave me the rare
opportunity of heading the Seminary (Alma Mater) and
ixappointed me Chairman Theological and Doctrinal Committee
for Church of Nigeria; Archbishop P.J. Akinola (my Parishioner
No.1) who retained me as chairman of the same committee and
in addition appointed me to serve (as the Representative for
the Church of Nigeria) on the Archbishop of Canterbury’s
InterAnglican Theological and Doctrinal Commission (IATDC) that
produced a Report titled: ‘Communion, Conflict and Hope.’ I
also remember Hon. Justice B.O. Ogunade, my adviser when I
was appointed Chairman, Commission of Enquiry into the
Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN) 2007-2008 crisis.
I am grateful to the present Primate, Archbishop and
Metropolitan of the Church of Nigeria, the Most Rev. Nicholas
D. Okoh, MA, FSS, MSS, LLD, a very humble, unassuming,
disciplined and detribalized church leader who debunked the
general theory that ‘retirement means too old, leave it to the
younger ones, be in seclusion.’ For Archbishop Okoh, there is
no retirement in the service of the King of kings! He invited
Bishop E.B. Gbonigi and myself to give lectures at the 2012
DIVCCON. The Primate also graciously appointed me chairman
of the Anglican-African Commission in 2011. He again invited
me as a resource person to Jan. 2014 Episcopat Retreat.
Also with grateful thanks to Toyin and Bimbo, who did
the typing in London in the Summer holiday of 2011.
And we register with the greatest sense of appreciation
our acknowledgement of the immense contributions by all
members of Egba Diocese for bringing our ministry to a glorious
climax.
xForeword 1
his book is a compendium of the grace of God at work inTthe life of an ordinary citizen, but destined child of God,
from the most humble of beginnings. From his birth at his
hometown, Ifira-Akoko, in 1939, into the family of Abraham
and Sarah (replay of the biblical patriarch and matriarch) and
the events surrounding his birth and early years, it is obvious
that God had great plans for him, and that Satan knew it as
well. Thanks to his mother who bore the burden of his education
and prayed earnestly for him; also to his brother who shared
substantially in the burden. Being a very intelligent chap,
especially in Arithmetic, he gained admission by the will of God
into Victory College, Ikare (mission founded) against his wish
of going to Kings College, Lagos (secular).
His decision to proceed to training as pastor after his
College education was in contrast to the times because white
collar jobs were readily available for all educated persons and
more so, in those days, families looked up anxiously to such
lease of life. Rtrd Bishop Owadayo is indeed a man after God’s
heart; he was hardworking and self-disciplined; got high grades
at school but answered God’s call rather than go for the things
of the world. Little wonder God lifted him up to the apex of the
Church ministry. During his training, God providentially
mentored him through some human instrument; and after his
ordination, was sent back to Victory College, Ikare as Chaplain.
xiGod used him in several capacities in the parish ministry
while he continued with vigorous academic pursuit to the Ph.D
level, though with much struggles. He was at a time appointed
Men’s warden of Archbishop Vining Training Centre, Akure;
preferred Cathedral Provost, and later Dean, Immanuel College
of Theology, Ibadan. In December 1994, he was elected Bishop
of the Diocese of Egba. Through all his journeys in the ministry,
God taught him not to live by sight but by faith. Before his
retirement in 2009, he had made tremendous positive impart
on the Church, especially in the area of evangelism, medical
care, etc., and in the lives of the ministers; all with the unalloyed
support of his wife, Eunice, and others too numerous to
mention.
The testimonies of the life of Rtrd Bishop Owadayo, as
contained in this book, are evidences of what God can do with
a man when he surrenders to His will obediently; accepting
whatever He has permitted. It is also proof that it takes discipline
and hardwork on the part of man to make God’s plan to
materialize. This book is, therefore, going to be a great
encouragement to all those struggling with the will God,
especially those in or being called into the holy vocation. The
life of Bishop Owadayo is a proof that God cares for His own
and that when He calls, He equips.
As we recommend this work to all and sundry, it is our
prayer that God will through it bless and revive the hope of
those, especially of His messengers, who are at the brink of
giving up because of hard times or difficulties. God is ever
xiifaithful, neither failing, changing nor shifting like shadow; hence,
He can be trusted with our lives and even the unknown. The
Psalmist said:
“Once I was young, and now I am old.Yet I have
never seen the godly abandoned or their children
begging for bread.”
The Most Rev’d Nicholas D. Okoh,
Archbishop, Metropolitan and Primate of All Nigeria.
xiiiForeword 2
y first contact with Dr. Matthew Owadayo was in 1978.MHe was at that time, a senior Lecturer in Theology at the
University of Jos. At the invitation of the bishop of Northern
Nigeria, the Rt. Revd Titus Ogbonyonmi, Dr. Owadayo
preached at my priesthood ordination and made a permanent
impression on my tender heart as a genuine pastor, teacher
and erudite scholar. By his personal conduct and visible
humility, Dr Owadayo earned my respect, a respect that has
been sustained to this day.
In 1989, I became the bishop of the virgin land called Abuja.