- Olafare Michael Oluwabukola
- May 27, 2025
- Olafare Michael Oluwabukola
“I have fought a good fight of faith.” This is a well-known quote from the Apostle Paul in 2nd Timothy chapter four verse seven (4:7).
This is part of his final letter to his disciple, Timothy! It signifies the culmination of a life lived in faith, characterized by perseverance and endurance in the face of challenges.
Apostle Paul uses the phrase to describe his own life and ministry. He had faced various trials and persecutions but remained steadfast in his faith. The phrase emphasizes the active and ongoing nature of faith. It is not just a passive belief but a struggle, a battle, perseverance against the obstacles and temptations that life throws at believers.
Aworiland is well known for idolatry. Igbagbo oni ni kin ma se oro ile me. Meaning, “No matter my Christian belief, I must practice my traditional religion”. History has it that Ota, the cradle of Awori, is the source of Ifa and other idols. The late Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Adeyemi, confirmed this, that, Ifa corpus was brought from Ota to Oyo.
Hence, when the Missionaries came in 1842, the Aworis intended to use them for sacrifice, even though Ifa had already foretold that strangers were coming to the town to bring enlightenment that would showcase the town to the world. Yet, they gave the missionaries the idol forest (Igbo Oro), which later changed to Ipate Oyinbo (the gathering of the whites); their thinking was, the missionaries would die. Truly, many of them died, but the seed later germinated and sprang forth till today.
The forth-telling of the Ifa corpus later came to fulfillment, the town is known globally today because the largest Church and best University in the world are situated in the town, Ota, the cradle of Aworiland.
The seed planted by Henry Townsend and his team, St. James Anglican Church, grew and metamorphosed into a Cathedral today. Many thanks to the former Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Most Revd. Peter Jasper Akinola(Rtd), who, on 29th of May 2008, inaugurated the area as a Missionary Diocese and installed the Rt. Revd. Dr. Johnson Akinwamide Atere as the pioneer Bishop of the Diocese.
The inauguration day was so colourful, full of spirituality, with a high mass service. It was a day of joy on Thursday, May 29th, 2008, when all the crème de la crème across all the walks of life, especially the leaders and prelates of the Anglican Communion, gathered at St. James Cathedral, Ipate Oyinbo, Ota, Ogun State, for the inauguration of the Missionary Diocese of Awori.
Bishop Atere, a man called by God, a spirit-filled man who does nothing without seeking the face of God. He accepted the job joyfully, and thus, he set the ball rolling. Awori Missionary Diocese took up with just seven priests and a few churches (St. James-Cathedral), St. Timothy’s Sango-Ota, St. Jude’s, Ajibode, St. Peter’s Konifewo, Christ Church, Owode, Anglican Church, Iyana-Iyesi, and Anglican Church, Iju.
The first Church Council meeting was organized with a theme “Small Beginning, Prosperous Future”. Indeed, it was a small beginning! The diocese took off with less than 5 million naira, a rented apartment as the Bishop’s house, and a fairly used red Highlander jeep as the Bishop’s official car, while the Cathedral house was converted into the Bishop’s office.
It was a small beginning experience. Yet, Bishop Atere was not distracted a bit nor his faith shaken in pursuit of God’s business, vision, and mission for the world and Aworiland in particular.
In order for the work to be a bit easier and encouraging, his beautiful wife, Mrs. Foluso Atere, worked her transfer from Ondo State to Lagos State, where she finally retired a few years back.
In his early ministry, Revd. Atere now, Bishop faced many persecutions, intimidations, and harassment from Church leaders, fathers, etc. He was once alleged of poisoned the drink of the retired primate of the church, late Archbishop Abiodun Adetiloye. He was accused of many scandals, all to prevent him from fulfilling his destiny. But destiny and fate have a way of working out for those who diligently seek God and do His will.
Bishop Atere has never planned to be a preacher. He was a teacher by profession. Though, he was working for God in capacity as Church Warden. Not knowing his maternal grandmother has already dedicated him to God and vow that he will work for God as a priest.
His admission into the seminary was wonderful. Students have been admitted, lectures were about to start when his then Vicar, Ven. Ayejoto, the father of Ven. Christopher Ayejoto gave him a rough form to fill out, asking him to take the form to Stephen’s Cathedral, Ikare-Akoko, for the Bishop to sign.
The Bishop had wanted to reject the form, but when he heard, it was from Ven. Ayejoto consented to sign. He took the form to Ibadan Seminary; the authority honored Ven. Ayejoto, lo! Bishop Atere was admitted into the Seminary.
His challenges began immediately after his ordination as he became the choice of Baba Adetiloye. Many schemes were planned against him by the Senior Priests, and they succeeded. He was transferred to Ikoga Sebe in the Bagadry area, where a vehicle goes out once a week. In all these, Revd. Atere was not discouraged, but rather, he concentrated on his calling and purpose.
When all tactics of sending him out of the ministry finally failed, he was sent to Archbishop Vinning College of Theology, Akure, with the hope that Bishop Atere would be a forgotten person.
In the year 2008, God revealed his supremacy, and the forgotten person became a Bishop. Teu Deu Laudamus!
In his “See” Awori, he faced many spiritual challenges, but in all, God wins!
May 29th, 2025, Awori Diocese will clock 17 years, God’s name be praised.
Baba Atere is a replica of Apostle Paul; they have confronted many challenges, persecutions, yet they persevered, endured, and they remain resolute and dogmatic in their calling both in Awori Diocese and in the Church of Nigeria Ministry.
Indeed, “Bishop and Mama Atere have fought a good fight of faith, they are continuing their course and kept the faith, henceforth, there is the crown of righteousness which the righteous Judge shall give them at that day and not only to them but unto all who love his appearing.”
Congratulations to the good people of Awori Diocese, our small beginning is growing and getting bigger every day. Congratulations to Baba and Mama Awori Diocese.
Long may we live and the church grow!
Written by
Damilola Moses Oladele
Awori Diocesan Communicator
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