LAGOS FIRST LADY DECLARE METHODIST SYNOD OPEN+ CHARGES RELIGIOUS LEADERS TO UPHOLD THE WORD OF GOD.{PHOTOS}.#PRESS RELEASE

 

… Declares Methodist Synod Open

Lagos State First Lady, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, on Friday, urged religious leaders to recommit and uphold sound teachings of God’s word to their followers, saying such was necessary to galvanise the people towards adhering to divine directives and commandments.

Dr. Sanwo-Olu, who stated this while declaring open the 5th Synod of Methodist Church of Nigeria, Diocese of Ereko, Lagos Island, said religious leaders owe the people an obligation to properly guide them to embrace holiness and righteous living in order to make the world a better place.

She said, “My charge to the Church and religious leaders today is that we should recommit ourselves to sound teachings of the word of God and strictly adhere to His commandments to make the world a better place. The world needs the critical intervention of the church and religious leaders to lead the way in holiness and righteous living”.

The First Lady, represented at the event by a former Permanent Secretary in Lagos State, Dr. Ibironke Shodeinde, congratulated the Bishop of Ereko Diocese, Rt. Rev. Joshua Adeogun; the Lay President, Mr. Olusina Thorpe and all the Presbyters, Clergy, Laity and members of the Diocese on the successful commencement of the 5th Synod, describing it as a commendable milestone.

“Synod is an important event in the Church Calendar. It is an assembly of the leadership of the Church in a Diocese and key stakeholders to decide important doctrinal matters, and as well fashion out ways to bring about both spiritual and physical growth. It is also a veritable avenue through which the Church lends its voice to critical issues affecting the polity and the generality of the people, thereby serving as the compass and conscience to right the wrongs and address societal ills”, she said.

On the theme of the Synod, “Watch And Pray”, taken from the book of Matthew 26: 41, the wife of the Governor said it was apt and rightly focused on making people conscious of the need to be watchful and prayerful in order to avoid falling into temptation.

Her words: “To be watchful means to be careful and take heed in doing the right thing on a consistent basis. This is why the Bible, in the book of Proverbs 4:23 admonishes us to “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life”.

“Whatever conquers your heart rules your world. We must be watchful and mindful of what we feed our hearts with, in order not to fall for the antics of the devil”, she said.

CAPTION:

Pix 1: (L-R) Oloja of Lagos-Elect, Prince Tiamiyu Kosoko; Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Information and Strategy/Lay President, Diocese of Ereko, Methodist Church of Nigeria, Mr. Olusina Thorpe; Bishop of the Diocese, Rt. Rev. Joshua Adeogun and representative of Lagos State First Lady, Dr. Ibironke Shodeinde, during the formal opening of the 5th Synod of the Diocese held at Methodist Church, Ereko, Lagos Island, on Friday, April 16, 2021.

Pix 2: (L-R) Wife of the Oloja of Lagos-Elect, Mrs. Sola Kosoko; her husband, Prince Tiamiyu Kosoko; Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Information and Strategy/Lay President, Diocese of Ereko, Methodist Church of Nigeria, Mr. Olusina Thorpe and Bishop of the Diocese, Rt. Rev. Joshua Adeogun, during the formal opening of the 5th Synod of the Diocese held at Methodist Church, Ereko, Lagos Island, on Friday, April 16, 2021.