Flamboyant 80th birthday party of Pa Jonathan Adebamiji Iyanda (PHOTOS)
Femi OGUNLANA
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The 80th birthday of Pa Deacon Jonathan Adebamiji Iyanda marked with a flamboyant party Saturday April 20 at Cecil Event Centre Kinnira Ogbomoso was truly remarkable.
Radiant in a splendid ofi attire and majestically seated on the podium with his adorable wife, Madam Lydia Eniola, it was truly a great day of celebration of unmatched fatherly love and a life of faith.
Children, family, friends, brethren all gathered to partake in giving him a befitting ceremony at joining the Club of Octogenarians.
The children gave him a special award of “Best Father in the World,” at the occasion.
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The Royal Ambassadors of Bethel Baptist Association to whom he is adviser, also conferred on him, a service award.
But he also unveiled his heart of gold as his children instituted a foundation in his name and wife’s, tagged, “Adebamiji Eniola Iyanda Foundation.”
It’s an occasion to remember in good taste.
Rev’d Gabs Awolola founder and pastor of New Era Baptist Church, where Dn. Iyanda worships, delving into Psalms 116: 12 – 14, asked the celebrant and the congregation as a whole to always be conscious of a theme of the passage – “What shall l render unto the Lord for all His blessings?”
Rev’d Awolola emphasized the “Birthday Boy” received rare grace to have clocked 80 asserting God who kept him to clock 80 is the one that should be appreciated.
“It is not Baba that should be appreciated but the one who kept him till 80.”
Underlining the celebrant’s exceeding faith in God, the cleric declared, “In our church Baba is a man of faith. I have not seen someone of Baba’s age that has his kind of faith. If anything happens Baba will say ‘have you taken it to Jesus?”
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He maintained Pa Iyanda despite his age is always ready to work in the House of God, noting “He is never discouraged by a thing. He sees himself as a young boy not young man. He is ready to do any work. He is not ashamed of taking a broom to sweep the church auditorium. Baba even registered at our Bible Life Institute with Mama though he did not graduate perhaps because of Mama.”
The man of God added, “He loves God when our youths are running away from God today. It is God who has kept Baba alive we are celebrating, not Baba.”
His children and others poured tributes.
His children, five of seven who are pastors or married to pastors, in their separate remarks passed down through a documentary on the life of Baba,, celebrated his fatherly love, caring attitude and God -fearing disposition.
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They described him as an epitome of humility, very strong in faith, never showing his pains and a family man per excellence, who is committed to God and as an exemplary Christian leader.
Also, he is portrayed as best father of all time, a prophet, a man of covenant, a man of prayer, a man of peace and of grace and a father whose faith inspired them to move close to God.
Furthermore, Rev’d Oguntoye who lived in Ghana with him in the 1950s says he is a disciplinarian and abhors cheating.
Pastor Osuolale Onireti affirms “Baba walks upright with God and embraces the extended family.”
This is just as Pa Ezekiel Oyediji who identifies Dn. Iyanda as his late brother’s friend describes him as a man who urges prayer in the face of challenges.
It’s a shower of eulogies that the celebrant and the children and all who witnessed it will savour for a long time.
Insight Celebrity wishes him many more years
on earth. May he prosper in all fronts.
