+35 Years In The Ministry
Bishop (Dr.) Stephen Tunde Victor Adegbite is a big name among the Christian Community in Lagos. He is the Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Lagos State. He is also a Methodist Minister. And a brilliant one at that. He is also the Bishop of the Metropolitan Diocese of Ikeja, Methodist Church of Nigeria, Ikeja, Lagos.
Recently, City People spent quality time with him. He turned 55 last Thursday and also celebrated 35 years in the Ministry. We got him to tell us about his career as a distinguished man of God, serving the Methodist Church Nigeria. We started by asking him to tell us about the Methodist Church of Nigeria.
How does he see the state of the Methodist Church today? “Methodist Church Nigeria is moving forward. And the gate of hell will never prevail against it. You will agree with me that before now, we don’t use to have the many dioceses that we now have in Lagos State or Lagos Metropolis. The number has increased and that has also increased our membership drive.”
“For instance, the one that we have in Ikeja where I am the pioneering Bishop has been able to put in our best and that is why you can be able to be here at our permanent abode and our offices, all done within 5 years. It has never happened in the history of our church. We bought this property, renovated it, to the glory of God. This has become an enviable place, the pride of Methodist Church and the immediate past Prelate mentioned that. He said, in the South-West, I can say this is one of the best, if not the best, Bishops House and also Bishops office complex. And it is to the glory of God.”
So, with our support for the new Prelate of Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence, Dr. Oliver Ali Abba, Methodist Church Nigeria will move forward. And we would not leave him alone. God has appointed him as our leader. We have accepted him as our leader. He is going to do well and whatever it takes for us to support him, we have to do it, in our prayers, and in our financial support, we must do the same to him. All Ministers in the church must pray to God. Members must also believe & trust in their Ministers that when they offer prayers, it will come to pass. And as the lord is blessing the members, they will also continue to also bless the altar. And God will preserve our lives. At our own time, Methodist Church Nigeria will be what we can be proud of, In The Name of Jesus Christ”.
A few years back, there was the fear that if something drastic is not done, the older churches, like the Anglican, Methodist were fast losing members, especially the younger members, how does the Bishop see this trend? What does he think?
“We know it is not possible, because if you read the history of the church in Africa and in Nigeria, you will know there is something that is called Generational drift. In the 70s, if you don’t have a Sutana in your home you are not anywhere. And in the 80s if you were not going to the deeper life, or the Redeemed Church, you are not anywhere, but now, you now go through the Mountain of Fire, and you go to many other places.”
But at the end of the day, you now come back to think of it. That after 170 to 180 years, the Methodist Church, is still solid. It is still standing. The Roman Catholic Church is standing. The Anglican Church is standing. That shows that, Number 1 there is a plan for succession. And that church is not owned by one individual, or his family, or her family. And when they die, the church dies with them. And there will be leadership tussle. You don’t have that in the orthodox churches. You play your own part and leave.”
“The day I am 70, I have to leave this church and other people will take over. So, these are the reasons why the church will continue to move forward. But most of the so called Pentecostal Churches, are not real churches. Some of them are Cults. And a lot of the Pastors are not called by God. They call themselves. They are called by their belly. And that is why they do what they do now. If they are called by God, they will have the fear of God. And the Bible says to us that the fear of God, is the beginning of wisdom. But churches who are called by God, will have the fear of God and they will do what is needful. The orthodox churches will continue to strive because God is in control, and nobody can lay hands on anything, anyhow.”
“You must prove your case beyond every reasonable doubt, before the members of the Church and the Ministers will agree that you should do something. But in other churches all you hear is that the Holy Spirit has directed and nobody can question the Holy Spirit. So, those are the differences that we have and that is why the orthodox churches are moving forward.”
We got the Bishop to also talk about his own career in the Methodist Church. How easy was it for him to decide to serve the Lord. Was it something that happened as a child or was it something that happened in school, “Wonderful. Good question. God called me at the age of 20 to be a Minister. And I went into the Ministry from Secondary School. And on August 17 this year, I was 55. And I have put in 35 years, into the Ministry of God.”
“That shows that God can call on anybody at any time. And once he calls, he will increase. I never regretted having God. And I don’t think there is anything any of my mate has achieved that I have not. In most of the cases I have been ahead of all of them. So, it is good to serve the Lord. So, once you are called by God, he will make provisions for you. And I say to young people, if God is calling you to be a full time Minister, why not? When I told my dad at that time that I wanted to be a full time Minister, he thought probably I was mad. But now, if you ask him, he will tell you, No, no, no. I thank God that you listened to God.”
“Because he said I should be a graduate before I join the Ministry but today, I am not an ordinary graduate, I can call myself over graduate. I have my Masters. I have my Phd. from a reputable University. The University of Ibadan for that matter. So, if God is calling, anyone at any age, surrender to him. You will never regret him.”
What was growing up like? Where was he born? “I was born in a small town called Fiditi in Oyo State. And I had my Primary School and my Secondary School education in the same town. It was after that I moved to Ibadan, in Oyo State where I attended the Seminary, for my Theological training and I went to the University of Ibadan for my 1st degree, Masters and of course, my Phd in the Department of Religious Studies.”
“So, all through, I have been in religious studies. But in religious studies, you have many branches. I studied Social Ethics, Comparative Ethics, and also Comparative religions. Those are my core areas. If you tap me any day, I can deliver any lecture in those areas.”
Was he born into Methodist Church? “Oh yes, I was born into Methodism. My grandfather was the Steward of the church for 35 years. So, we were born into Methodism right from birth. And from Primary school, I have been in the singing band. I joined the Brigade. There are many things we do in the church. So, we are part of it, despite the fact that growing up in our town, we go to parties a lot. But on Sunday mornings I will be in the church. And there is nothing that the Minister wants to read from the Order of Service, Book of Offices, that I don’t have in my head. I read everything from my head. When I was doing all that I never knew God was preparing me for something greater. That has assisted me. That is why today, when I read some of those things, I don’t look at the Book anymore.”
At a time like this, what is usually his message to people, generally as he Ministers? “My message is a message of HOPE, PEACE, RECONCILIATION and message of ASSURANCE. And a message of SALVATION, because without Salvation, it is meaningless, without Hope. We are wasting our time. Without Faith we cannot please God. So, we must tell people that God is alive. Jesus is alive. And Jesus is coming back. And when he comes the 2nd time, he is not going to be crucified, he is coming to judge the world. And let people have hope in God, He will deliver them and it shall be well with all of us.”
We got the Bishop to tell us about his recent title as the Bishop of the Metropolitan Diocese of Ikeja. “When you have a Cathedral in the Methodist Church, you have a choice or the liberty of giving a name to your Cathedral. When I came to Opebi, at the end of 2016, I came on December 1st, because we are the seat of government, and Lagos State is a State of Excellence, and if we are now sitting down on the seat of government, in Ikeja, then we absorb the Excellence from the Lagos State nomenclature. Why we decided to adopt Peace, is that the only thing you can do to record Progress is to have Peace. And it is in Romans Chapter 12: Vs 18. That if it is possible, live in Peace with all men. We prayed about it, and God gave us that name. And by the time we announced it the whole church and diocese accepted it and Methodist Church Nigeria, also accepted it. And we had a great inauguration. The Prelate added on the day of our inauguration, The Metropolitan Diocese of Ikeja. We are in a Metropolis. And it is not every Diocese that you call, a Metropolitan. It is the activities that goes into such diocese and the personality that occupies that position. That is why we have been given that exalted nomenclature”
We can see some expansion work going on at the Opebi Methodist Church premises. Is it part of the expansion of the Church? “Yes, it is. We are going to have accommodation for Ministers there, Children’s church, Youth church and the Offices that we harbour in abide now will move to that building so we can have something that can match the name of our diocese and also our location so that people can see it and know that yes, it is a real diocese that is going in leaps and bounds.”
Many people often make mistakes when they introduce you. What’s the proper way to introduce you sir? “I know. It is Rt. Rev. S.T.V Adegbite (Phd), The Bishop of the Metropolitan Diocese of Ikeja.”
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