The 52nd Founder’s Day Anniversary of Motailatu Organisation Worldwide has come and gone but activities marking the epoch-making event still reverberate in Ondo City, Ondo State where the headquarters of Motailatu Church of God is situated.
The three-day event was well attended by members and elders of the church from various parishes.
The organisation was founded by His Most Eminence, Archbishop Isaiah M. Akinadewo (Omo Jesu) on June 14, 1964.
He died on December 26, 2014.
The celebration of this year’s anniversary, presided over by the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the church, Senior Superintendent Gabriel F. Akinadewo (Omo Jesu II), was unique in many ways.
Many spiritual/historical sites were visited starting from Friday, June 10 when the event commenced.
A convoy of vehicles from Ondo City went to Bolorunduro town, a distance of 15 minutes, to worship in Oke Igbala Olu C&S Church founded in 1936 by the late Chairman, Spiritual Workers’ Union in the defunct Western Region, Saint Benjamin A. Adekahunsi.
Archbishop Akinadewo was ordained in this church by his father, Saint Adekahunsi, as ‘the Lion of the tribe of Judah’ in 1976.
The parishioners were happy that 80 years after the church was founded and 40 years after the ordination of Archbishop Akinadewo, they visited the premises.
From there, the close to 20 vehicles in the convoy moved to Mount Ararat in the same vicinity where Special Apostle David Akinadewo preached on the essence of ‘the powerful effect of prayer on the mountain’, as illustrated by the Biblical Prophet Elijah and Jesus Christ.
As he was preaching, heavens sent ‘showers of blessing’ on those in attendance.
The convoy immediately moved to the Cathedral of Oke Igbala Olu C&S Church in Sabo area of Ondo City, also founded by Saint Adekahunsi, for a revival and later prayed at the tombs of Adekahunsi and Holy Mother Emily O. Akinadewo.
After returning to the Mission House of Motailatu Church of God on Brigadier Ademulegun Road, special prayers were also held at the tombs of the Patriarch and Matriarch of the church, Archbishop Akinadewo and Superintendent General Apostolic Mother Mary A. Akinadewo.
After the prayers, series of bible lessons were conducted which dovetailed into vigil at St. Adekahunsi Motailatu Cathedral, Oke Iwosan, Ondo.
The vigil, conducted by Special Apostle Babajide Akinadewo, started at 10 pm and lasted till 6:05 on Saturday morning.
At 2pm, a procession was held round the town and hundreds of residents joined the parishioners.
Shouts of ‘Motailatu’, ‘Omo Jesu’ and ‘Baba Oluso’ were heard from the joyous crowd as the convoy moved through popular streets, such as Oke-Isegun, Lafenwa, Olorunsola, Yaba, Idi-Isin, Surulere, Ope Oluwa, Gani Fawehinmi and Mokola.
The choir, supported by trumpeters and drummers, rendered melodious songs.
Many old men and women, who could not join the convoy, prayed for the growth of the church and the Akinadewo children.
The thanksgiving service on Sunday was held with Special Recognition Awards given to 56 families in the city.
According to Senior Superintendent Akinadewo, the award was given to the families “to appreciate the support given to our father when he started the missionary work”.
Before the service started at 10am, the church was filled to the brim.
The Choristers, in their white garment and blue cape, rendered beautiful songs to mark the 52nd anniversary and annual conference.
In his sermon, Akinadewo, who quoted relevant verses in the Bible, said there was ‘a big stone’ hindering the progress of the country and ‘only God can roll away the stone’.
He urged political and religious leaders to fear God because “according to Psalm 62:11, power belongeth unto God”.
Some of the families honoured were Adekolurejo (the late Osemawe of Ondoland); Osunwe (the late Akogbe of Ajueland); Akinjagunla (a high chief); Adetowubo and Oshodi (lawyers); Akinnuoye, Adegboyega, Adenekan, Akinwumiju, Akinfe, Ajetunmobi, Adeuga, Akinselure, Hamzat, Fasehun, Adegoke, Akinduro, Fadayomi, Olajide, Osunwe and Fawehinmi.
Superintendent James Akinadewo, Special Apostle Victor Adelalure and Special Apostle Abayomi Daramola supervised the award event.
The four Head Teachers of Motailatu Primary Schools in the city, founded by Archbishop Akinadewo in the early 80s, were also honoured.
After receiving their awards, representatives of the families thanked God for the life of the founder “and we also want to appreciate the children for their efforts in projecting the image of their father and ensuring that the church continues to carry on the good works of Baba Omo Jesu”.
The ‘seven prayers in seven minutes’ session was spiritually magnifying and soul lifting as members prayed for the world, Africa, Nigeria, Ondo State, Ondo City, families and individuals.
The anniversary cake was later cut by some of the elders with prayers by everybody “for God to keep us alive” to attend the 53rd anniversary next year.