Challenges often make the bold better, especially when you carry the grace of God in your life. The decision by Pastor Idowu and Dr Siju Iluyomade to heed the call of God and start their own congregation after the long episode that played out last year leading to their forced exit from the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), City of David Parish.
Pastor Iluyomade passed through many challenges when he was, according to information, wrongly suspended as the head of the City of David Parish and allegations levied against him and his wife. Fortunately, he was cleared of all. However, for reasons shrouded in secrecy but clear to the inner caucus of the church, the Iluyomades were suspended and practically forced out by the RCCG’s parent body following his wife, Siju’s 60th birthday party a few weeks after the unfortunate death of a prominent member of the RCCG City of David Parish, Herbert Wigwe, wife and son in a helicopter crash in California.
Though the parish led by Pastor ID, as he is fondly called, held services in honour of the souls of the departed, the RCCG frowned at the couple’s decision to proceed with Siju’s birthday celebration. They were subsequently forced out of a parish they built from the scratch.
While on suspension, it was mixed feelings for the couple as outsiders analyzed the situation. While some claimed that the RCCG General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, planned to replace Pastor Iluyomade with his son due to the fame of the parish, others opined that the RCCG had the habit of frustrating influential pastors.
Meanwhile, what was meant to be a disgrace is gradually turning to an endearing grace as the newly berthed church of the Iluyomades, The Family Fellowship, is becoming one of the fastest growing Christian ministries in the world. The Church has just only secured a space at the Lagos Atlantic City, donated by a prominent member and friend of the family, while efforts to build a magnificent edifice, better in structure, outlook and size than the Trinity Towers they left, are ongoing.
The Family Fellowship every Sunday service has continued to experience full attendance at the Civic Centre Banquet hall where it currently occupies temporarily. Last week, the church made use of Banquet hall of Oriental Hotel for a special service which featured Pastor Tola Odutola from the United States and popular gospel music star, Mike Abdul, who made the atmosphere at the service gloriously satisfying.
It is evident that the congregation are very much in tune with Pastor Idowu and Dr Siju Iluyomade’s leadership in the Lord’s vineyard.
With Dr Siju’s weekly Handmaidens Women in Leadership (WiLs) programme resuming this week, the lovely couple are determined to succeed repeating the strategies, style, approach and high level influence they deployed successfully at the City of David which placed it in a class of its own.
One of the programmes that also place the City of David ahead was Siju Iluyomade’s annual Arise Women programme. Plans are in top gear to host the 16th edition this year at The Family Fellowship.
During the last service, Iluyomade urged the congregation to rededicate their lives to God and commemorate their spiritual rebirth as a “second birthday.”
The service, last Sunday, also featured praise-worship, as friends, families, and supporters joined them in celebration.
