Celebrating Valentine’s Day

. . . God’s way

TOPE ORIOLA STAFF

Where were you on the evening of Wednesday, Feb, 14, 2007? I bet that question would conjure some not-so-distant memories. Of course, restaurants, pubs, clubs, movie theatres, cozy apartments, and, I dare say, cars, must have been among the favourite places to be. But for youth and young adults of Immanuel Fellowship and their guests, nowhere could replace the alluring invitation of God’s presence.

Hence, on Feb. 14, that scintillatingly magical date, Immanuel Fellowship hosted a dinner for those who wished to understand the essence of the season of love. With candle-lit tables arranged to suit the occasion and sonorous gospel music in abundance, the event supplied the much-needed warmth on a typically cold night in Winnipeg.
A brain-teasing quiz among three contestants tested participants’ knowledge of music, movies, geography and the Holy Bible. The Spirit of David dazzled and mesmerized the audience with telepathic dance steps and carefully selected songs.

The songbird simply known as Jane who had earlier sang a duet with UY (both students of the U of M) took the song “Jesus, lover of my soul” to an unfathomable level. The song was a consolation to people (like myself) without a valentine. At least Jesus loves my soul.

A buffet followed and sumptuous meals were provided. The group THX took the stage while dinner went on concurrently. THX’s delightful performance was followed by Dupe and TJ’s duet, “I sing because I’m happy.”

I was curious to know the idea behind Valentine’s Day at Immanuel Fellowship. My answer came from the church’s youth pastor, Andrew Bawa. Engaging as always, Pastor Bawa asked, “Who is love?” He argued that God himself was love and hence “it is not out of place” for the church to celebrate Valentine’s Day. I asked him about the increasingly generic opinion about “the church becoming too worldly and the world becoming too churchly.” Bawa agreed with this assertion, but added that “the world is copying the church.” He argued that music and well-known musicians all started in the church. He emphasized that the church’s policy was to guide everyone about careers, relationships, marriage and so forth.

Speaking about relationships, the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Winnipeg, hosted the monthly “Thank God It’s Friday” with the theme “Knowing the will of God” on Feb. 23, 2007. After a soul-lifting praise and worship session led by Rachael Olukayode, senior pastor of RCCG Winnipeg, Tokunbo Okunnu preached on how to know God’s will. Pastor Okunnu emphasized doing things “God’s own way in order to get God’s own result.” Afterwards, an incredibly well-scripted and -acted drama by the youth group thrilled as well as enlightened the audience on the challenges young adults face in choosing a partner. The drama was unique in its participatory procedure. Each scene was preceded by questions from compère extraordinaire Tunde Akindipe, and his partner Tolu.

It was an avenue for young adults to learn from the experiences of the married pastors and other ministers present at the event. The highlight of the occasion was the poem rendered by Rumbi, another member of the church, who shared her experience of motherhood and clearly brought home the need for young adults to seek Godly counsel in relationships.

The discussions were followed by another award-winning performance by the Spirit of David, a group that is fast becoming a household name in gospel music and dance circles in Winnipeg, nay, Manitoba.

These events in two of Winnipeg’s leading churches will be remembered for some time to come. First, for clearly showing that Valentine’s Day is not about celebration of transient affections, rather about ruminating on the love of God towards humanity and extending that love in its agape and ethereal form to all around us; and secondly, for vividly explaining why there is such a high divorce rate in our society today. It is easy to confuse “lust” for “love” in our post-structuralist, post-modernist and nearly post-God world. The secret lies in “doing it God’s own way.” Let the people say amen.