The Anglican Bishop of the Diocese of Lagos West, Rt Rev James Odedeji, highlighted the importance of faithful service in God’s vineyard during the investiture of Mr Adewale Bolaji as the new President of the Guild of Stewards.

The event took place on Sunday, July 7, at the Archbishop Vining Memorial Cathedral Church in Ikeja, Lagos.

A statement on Monday noted that in his sermon titled ”Faithful Service”, Odedeji emphasised that serving in ‘God’s house is a privilege, not a right’.

He stated, “When it comes to service to God, one thing is very fundamental. That thing is faithfulness. Service in God’s house is nobody’s right. We are the ones that cannot do without God. He can do without us.”

The bishop outlined the qualities of faithful service, saying, “To be faithful is to be devoted, to be honest, sincere and not dubious. It is to be trustworthy. To be reliable. It means to be consistent and accountable. To be faithful is to be available and dutiful. It is to be correctable.”

Odedeji urged the guild members to serve with joy and wholeheartedness.

He said, “When God calls you to service, it is not to serve in sadness. We must be excited whenever we find an opportunity to serve God and humanity.”

He also stressed the importance of serving reverently and sacrificially, reminding the congregation that “God is the paymaster.”

The bishop warned against pride and arrogance in service, stating, “You don’t know who people are until you give them power. So, I urge you to be humble because humble people are great.”

He also emphasised the need for genuine conversion and the power of the Holy Spirit in serving effectively.

“We need genuine conversion. Jesus pointed out that there will be people who will be turned back in eternity because he never knew them.

“We must have personal knowledge of Christ before we volunteer ourselves for service. You will also need the power of the Holy Spirit to be able to do what you are doing. Without the Holy Spirit, you can’t go far,” Odedeji said.

The investiture service included the dedication of all guild members and the decoration of principal officers. The newly invested president, Bolaji, expressed his commitment to the role, promising to uphold the virtues of hard work and diligence.

Bolaji stated, “As the Lord lives, we will succeed. The grace to succeed has been provided. And like our Father in the Lord said in the sermon, we will serve joyfully, wholeheartedly and sacrificially.”

The event attracted guests from various Anglican dioceses in Lagos, marking a moment for the Guild of Stewards in the Diocese of Lagos West.