Literature and Publications Committee

INTRODUCTION

To God be the glory for sparing our lives to see the New Year.

PREAMBLE

In Year 2023, a number of us were asked to work as part of the Literature Committee of the Church by the then Vicar, now our Lord Bishop, The Rt. Revd. Ifedola Senasu Gabriel Okupevi.

This was after then Chairman, Mr. Azuka Onwuka relocated outside the country. Hence, a new Chairman in person of Mr. Toyin Leo-Olagbaiye was appointed to take the lead.

We were saddled with the responsibility to ensure that the Church Magazine, Good Tidings, continues to be produced and we are to do all other duties assigned to us by the Church.

Hence, I present an account of our Stewardship till present.

MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMITTEE

Our Committee started off with nine (9) members but two new members have been co-opted due to the need for more people, especially from the media team.

THE YEAR 2023 ACTIVITIES

A. Church Calendar 2023: Members of the Committee met to work out modalities along with the then Vicar to ensure that a table- top calendar was produced for Year 2023 and distributed to all congregants. It included notable dates of the church, scriptures for each month, pictures of our priests and various activities in the Church and a list of the committee members.

B. The Goodtidings Magazine: After much struggle and numerous meetings to source for articles, brainstorm, edit articles, source for adverts and also source for sponsorship, the Committee was finally able to launch and sell copies of the magazine at an affordable price on Sunday the 6th of August, 2023.

The Magazine is rich in articles and pictures which include some stories like:

• Domestic Violence, The Way Forward
• Baba and Mama Okupevi’s Profile
• In Memorium of Archbishop Olumakaiye
• Investing in an Inflationary Environment
• Sports
• Folktales and lots more

OUR PASSION

We are passionate readers for Christ and implore everyone to be same with the church bulletins and magazines.

Despite the lack of reading enthusiasm in today’s youths, there is still a good number of people who truly know the value of reading to acquire more knowledge for themselves and for others. Though, online reading and e-learning is popular today, we cannot over- emphasize the need to read hard copies of these texts, hence the Committee has set out with a passion to ensure that the reading of our bibles and Christian literatures is rekindled and encouraged. It is also good to have copies of our church magazines in homes, offices and business areas to further spread the gospel and spread knowledge.

OUR CHALLENGES

To get writers and articles has really become a herculean task for us as a committee. Over the months, we call for articles from congregants and other writers but do not have regular responses. This has weakened our drive a bit and has led us to stop our anticipated December publication.

However, we still look forward to a time when we can have quarterly publications of this magazine to project activities within out church to the general public.

The committee had also been called to work on the LED display boards but we are yet to do so due to various constraints.

OUR MEETING DAYS

We meet every month on Saturdays and meet weekly once its time for publication.

A CLARION CALL FOR ARTICLES

As often as possible, we call for writers to submit inspiring and original articles for publication in the next edition of Good Tidings Magazine. These could be Essays, Short Stories, Poems, Puzzles, Jokes, Or Comics, Articles on Health, Marriage, Youth, Business, Education, Legal Matters, Sports, Entrepreneurship, Christianity, Language, History, Parenting, Career, It, Children and Other Spheres of Life.

It is never too late to start off now to write. We are delighted to report that at her “very young” age, Our Consultant still writes articles for publication so we have no excuses.

ADVERTS

Though the church sponsors the production of the magazine, the cost of production has reason drastically. Hence, all members and friends of the church are often urged in the church bulletin, to advertise their business or services in this well-read magazine at affordable prices.

CELEBRATIONS

We congratulate our brother and friend, Mr. Chukwudifu Onianwa for his new        born baby.

We celebrate with Our Mama and Consultant for her 93rd birthday.

PRESENT MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE

Chairman/Editor-in-Chief: Mr. Toyin Leo- Olagbaiye
General Secretary: Miss Afolake Adeboyejo
Assistant Secretary: Miss Victoria Nmadu
Consultant: Mrs. Anne Oseni
Chaplain: Postulant Yinka Ogunleye
Member: Mr. Chukwudifu Onianwa
Member: Dame Princess Karenate- Egbuson
Member: Mr. Mike Ipadeola
Member: Miss Jennifer Jubril
Member: Mr. Owodolu Olayiwola
Member: Mr. Abraham Egahi

APPRECIATION

We are sincerely grateful to God who put us in this position to serve. We sincerely appreciate The Rt. Revd. Ifedola Okupevi for his immense advice and support.

We also appreciate our new Vicar, The Ven. Folorunso Agbelusi for urging us on to keep the fire burning in our committee.

We cannot forget to thank our outgone Chaplain, The Revd. Emmauel Mordi who never missed a meeting and was there for us through and through.

To our amazing writers of articles, we say, “ You are the best!”

Thanks a million, to all those who has advertised in the church magazine.

Our indefatigable Consultant, Mrs. Anne Oseni has been simply amazing with her doggedness, consistency and mentorship as the best early bird in all our meetings.

Unmeasured thanks go to all our supporters who helped to launch the magazine in 2023.

Everyone who encouraged us by purchasing a copy and more of the Church Magazine has also been wonderful.

All in all, we say “Thank you.”