The Fellowship of the Cross began the year 2025 with joyful anticipation, having concluded the 2024 activities with a mini-Christmas celebration and prayer session. This event was held on December 1, 2024, concurrent with the last Fellowship Group meeting of the year, providing a fitting spiritual conclusion to the period.
Annual Lenten Retreat
The first of the events for the Fellowship Group as always was the Annual Lenten retreat which held on Saturday 15th of March. The retreat was graciously hosted by The Akeju Family at the Chapel of the Healing Cross with our very own Chaplain- Rev. Okey Okonkwo delivering the word. He eloquently delved into the theme, “Bearing Your Cross with the Power of the Holy Spirit ” breaking it down to its barest essentials. Immediately after the retreat, the fellowship group made home visits to Mama Awokoya and the Awere family who had been absent from the Chapel for a long while. The time of visitation was described as emotionally and spiritually enriching as we listened to challenges and experiences of both families. Nevertheless, the entire day was a refreshing and spiritually enriching time of fellowship.
The Food Kitchen Initiative
Our Food Kitchen initiative is a part of our ongoing commitment to spreading love and hope within our Chapel community and the Idi-araba neighborhood. This initiative involves the distribution of essential food items to underprivileged members of our congregation on a quarterly basis. Throughout the year 2025, we conducted five Food Kitchen events, one for each quarter. Notably, in Q2, we organized the event twice in collaboration with AREF (The African Refugees Foundation) to commemorate World Refugees Day in June.As a group, we provided essential food items such as rice, yam, beans, garri, vegetable oil, palm oil, noodles, salt, tomato paste, etc., supporting at least 80 families each quarter.In commemoration of the Fellowship Group’s 45th Anniversary in September, the food kitchen initiative was significantly scaled up, resulting in an increase in both the number of families served and the quantity of food items distributed. For Q3 2025, the initiative was strategically broadened to include indigent students of the College of Medicine, ensuring they also benefitted from the food packages prepared for the needy members of the community. The students expressed profound appreciation for the timely support.Looking ahead to 2026, we anticipate that this vital initiative will become more regular and larger in scope, aligning with the Fellowship Group’s long-term aspirations for deepening its community impact.
Annual Chapel Seminar
The annual Chapel seminar, organized by The Fellowship of the Cross, took place on Sunday, 31st August 2025, with the theme, “The Church as a Moral Compass and Unifying Force in tackling Corruption and Economic Challenges- The Role of the Laity and Clergy” We were privileged to have Engr. Bayo Ibirogba and Ven. Olusegun Onafeso as speakers. They extensively discussed and explored practical solutions to economic challenges and shared strategies on how the church could unite to tackle corruption and ensure our spirituality translates into a more just and fair society. The seminar was marked by robust interaction and enlightening insights.
Inter-Fellowship Bible Quiz and Breakfast Fellowship
On Saturday, September 6th, we hosted the annual Inter-Fellowship Bible Quiz, with Very. Rev. Segun Aiyedero serving as the Quiz Master. The study book for the Quiz was the book of Revelation. The Fellowship groups participated enthusiastically, making it a keenly contested event. After several rounds of rigorous competition, the winners emerged: Fellowship of Hope and Anchor took third place, Fellowship of Faith and the Good Shepherd secured the second place, and Fellowship of Light claimed the first-place position. The quiz was a rigorous and impactful experience.
Anniversary Thanksgiving Service
Our Anniversary Thanksgiving service took place on Sunday, September 21st, and featured the Chairman of the BOT- Most Rev. Segun Adeyemi as the select Guest preacher. He delivered a spiritually enriching message on the theme, “The Enemies of the Cross,” based on Phil 3:14:21. This year, to mark our 45th Anniversary, we also donated a giant-sized bible for use at the Chapel for bible readings by the Laity.After three years of observing quiet anniversary celebrations out of respect for the passage of beloved Fellowship group members, the Fellowship decided to host a reception this year to mark the significant 45th milestone. The reception was necessarily solemn, as the group had also lost a beloved member during the current year. Nevertheless, the reception was a beautiful time of fellowship, honored by the presence of Very. Rev Morounfolu and Dame Omolara Euler-Ajayi who graciously served as chairpersons.
Milestone Celebrations
This year, we joyfully celebrated Mama. O. Ogunniya’s 80th birthday and Mama. B. Malomo Efunkoya’s 90th Birthday, giving thanks to God for His grace in allowing them to enjoy these special milestones.
In Memoriam
Regrettably, we mourned the loss of our beloved member- Mrs. Bamidele Awere in the course of the year. News of her passing was received with profound sorrow. However, we are grateful to God for the gift of her presence in our fellowship. We pray that her gentle soul rests in peace and that her memory remains forever blessed.
Conclusion
As we reflect on the events and accomplishments of the year 2025, we are filled with gratitude. We have every reason to give thanks, and our prayer is that in 2025, we will have even greater cause for celebration, thanking God for His boundless mercies and the perfect sacrifice made for us on the Cross of Calvary. May our thanksgiving never cease, and may our praises never end, to the glory of God the Father. Amen!
Titilola Sanni
Leader, Fellowship of the Cross