FOREWORD
There is always the nced to have a record of a Society’s activities put together in order not to lose vital aspects of its history.
It was in view of this that it was decided that the Chairman of the 30th Anniversary Celebrations Committee, Bro. Segun Odunuga, be approached to compile a brief history of the Egbe Ifelodun so as to highlight important milestones since its founding in 1965.
When this assignment was communicated to him by phone hể willingly accepted despite the time factor and the pressure of other assignments. His efforts have resulted in the publication of this booklet which will serve as a reminder of those decisions we have taken to arrive at where we are today as a society within the fold of Christ in the Cathedral Church of Our Saviour. Italowajoda, ljasi, ljebu- Ode.
The booklet does not only show the interaction between members of the Egbe as individuals but between the Egbe as a body and other organisations within our church and outside it – the society at large.
As we celebrate our 30th Anniversary I do hope that we all will be reminded that our Ebenezer is a rejuvenation for further activities in the years ahead. With pravers and devotion we shall continue to move forward in our commitment to serve the Lord, spread the WORD and live examplary christian lives so as to be objects of inspirations to others and the beacon for those that will follow our footsteps.
The Egbe by the task it has chosen tor itself is like a city on the hill which cannot be hidden. This is why the Egbe must brace itself to meet new challenges and chart new paths to influence society to move in the way of Christ.
I do hooe that comments and pieces of advice and information that will come up after the reading of this brief history will lead to a bigger and revised edition next time.
I express the Egbe’s gratitude to Bro. Odunuga andI commend the booklet to all members, their families and friends who should know more about us. May the good Lord continue to bless us all. Amen.
Bro. Adeoye Fowora President.
The beginning
CITY ON THE HILL
On July 18, 1965, a group of people including some members of the Congregation of St. Saviour’s Church, Italowajoda, ljasi, Ijebu-Ode, who had been musing over the idea of organising a new society in the Church met after the morning service to formally discuss the issue. Since the group had convinced itself that a new society be formed, the Vicar, Venerable J.F.Akinrele, Archdeacon of ljebu, as it was then since it was under the Lagos Diocese, opened the meeting with a prayer. Thereafter, he took leave of the meeting to enable the group deliberate on the purpose of coming together.
Chief S.A. Olukoya was unanimously voted “to the chair” and Mr.E. Taiwo Ayanewu, who was the motivating force in putting the group together was made the Protem Secretary. As the convener of the meeting Mr. Ayanewu then introduced others present at this inaugural meeting: Mr. E.F. Elebute, Mr. Justice S.O.Oyemade, Messrs L.E.V. Adesanya, J.0.Olusoga, G.O.Sofowora, S.O.Awonusi, J.T. Okuneye, S.C. Aniemewa, G.Oludotun Olusoga, P.F. Alege. After the formal pleasantries, Mr. A yanewu then outlined the “aims and objects” of the meeting.
The Chairman, Chief S.A. Olukoya, then formally addressed the meeting wth “a very powerful and encouraging speech” in which he opined that since the meeting was “constitutionally constituted” the business of the day should proceed as earlier planned. Mr. Elebute, on a matter of procedure, however, insisted that the house must first resolve on the proposal to forma new society as outlined by the Protem Secretary. Mr. J.T. Okuneye then moved a motion that a new society within the Church be formed. The motion, which was seconded by Mr. Oludotun Olusoga, was unanimously passed. Once that step had been taken Mr.Elebute moved and Mr. L.E.VAdesanya supported, that Mr.Taiwo Ayanewu be formeriy appointed Secretary/Treasurer. This was unanimously adopted. Chief Olukoya and Mr. Ayanewu thus became the first officers of the society which hitherto had not been named for it was after this step had been taken that the Chairman, Chief Olukoya, proposed the name “Ifelodun” for the society. The subsequent debate brought out forcefully the naming of the new society as “Egbe Ifelodun” rather than Ifelodun Society. A three-man committee comprising Messrs E.F. Elebute, L.E.V Adesanya and E. Taiwo Ayanewu, was set up to prepare a constitution for the new Egbe.
Before rising it was decided that every last Sunday in the month be the day of the Egbe’s meeting but exception was made for the next meeting which was fixed for Sunday, August 15, 1965, to have the first reading of the draft constitution.
The new Egbe attached great inportance to the relationship between the Vi. in charge of the Church from the onset and this was reflected in the visit paid a6 the meeting to Venerable Akinrele who served them with light refreshments
It would be observed that the gathering was not made uP of only members of the Congregation of the Church. For instance, Mr. Justice S.0.Oyemade, one of the 11 people that attended the inaugural meeting was a member of the congregation of Emnmanuel Church, Italupe, ljebu-Ode when Mr. Ayenewu who met him at a social gathering promised to visit him to discuss a matter. It turned out that the “matter” was on the formation of a new society in St.Saviour’s Church which Mr.Justice Oyemade was not attending as a regular worshipper except on official occasions. However, since the High Court judge could not convince Mr. A yanewu to leave him out of the new society he bowed to the pressure and has been a member ever since.
Despite the fact that judges rarely mixed Mr. Justice Oyemade in retrospect says “I had my initial fears once I arrived to assume duties in ljebu-Ode in l1964 and because we had less of social interaction the company I enjoyed was that of the congregation of Emmanuel Church, Italupe. But once I yielded to Mr. A yanewu’s pressure and I became a member of the Egbe, I felt committed. Even after my transfer to lbadan in 1967, Mr. Ayanewu, as the Secretary continued to send me circulars every month and this was a reason for me to visit home at month ends. I became more involved that way.
“I must say that one of the convincing arguments of Mr. Ayanewu when he first approached me was that I was going into the company of friends who were very well-known to me. One of the names rolled out by him was that of Mr. E.A. Onabolu with whom we had lived in the same house in Lagos before. There were others also who were equally close andI really felt at home in their company.”
At its second meeting held on Sunday, August 15, 1965, new members- Messrs E.A. Onabolu, J.0.Onalaja, I.A. Mosuro, S.O.0 Alaka-Coker, Idowu Payne and S.0.Osifodunrin joined the Egbe. Not much could be achieved that day because members sought for time to study the draft constitution and this necessitated the postponement of the election of officers which had earlier been slated for the day.
The concern about the financial well-being of the Church was demonstrated rather early in the life of the Egbe because it was at the second meeting, while it was still finding its feet, that the following had to be recorded:
“General: Mr. Elebute reported that the financial position of the Church was sinking and that the Vicar and the Curate have not received their salaries since June. The report Was received with great alarm and it was suggested that the Vicar as early as possibie range a meeting with (it) on a Sunday afer the service to discuss it, thereby SOne members may generously donate something to avert the situation,”
What was intended was voluntary contributions to keep the Vicar and the Curate out of the financial problem the non-payment of salaries could have caused. The Egbe even contemplated raising a loan to bail out the Church.
Inaugural Service
The first monthly meeting as fixed by the July 18 meeting was preceded by an inaugural service on Sunday, August 29, 1965 during mattins in the Church. The Venerable J.F. Akinrele, Vicar and Archdeacon of ljebu, assisted by the Revds. J.B. Odo and S.A.Ogunsanya, officiated. The members of the Egbe had joined the procession of the choir and the clergy into the Church which signalled to the Congregation that a new society had been born in the Church. And in relating his sermon to the new name of the Egbe, Venerable Akinrele chose his theme from a passage from Romans 13:10:
“Love worketh no ill to his neighbour; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”
With the service over, members moved to the house of its Chairman, Chief S. A. Olukoya, to hold its meeting at which Venerable Akinrele was in attendance. There were 16 members present because new faces appeared: Messrs Adesina Odedina, W.A.Okunubi and S.A. Odukoya. The main business of the day was the forthcoming 1965 harvest. On a motion by Mr. Adesina Odedina which was seconded by Mr. Okuneye, it was unanimously resolved that the target for that year’s harvest should be 100 guineas which by the standard of the time was high.
Mr. Odedina, in planning ahead, suggested that the Egbe should aim at presenting at its first anniversary in 1966″stained glass for the Chancel. This was approved by acclamation. The Egbe was not to meet again until January 2, 1966 but it was very clear that it had arrived on the scene.
Constitution
At its sixth meeting held on Sunday, May 29, 1966 the Constitution was debated and adopted following some amendments in the draft. The Secretary. Mr. Ayenewu, was thereafter requested to present three clean copies before printing. But at this very stage the Egbe began to apply some articles in the Constitution because the Secretary was “empowered to write the Bishop of Lagos and Venerable J.F. Akinrele informing them of their appointments forthwith as Patron and Vice-Patron respectively.” Venerable Akinrele who was present at the meeting then addressed the members and referred to the familiar theme of love. He went on to suggest the rotational holding of meetings in members” houses so as to get closer to one another more especially with members of their families. Venerabie Akinrele emphasised that the Egbe “should be a model. showing the light to other societies in the Church.” There and then the Chairman and the Secretary Were empowered to prepare a roster with dates at which members would host the
meetings.
This meeting marked a turning point in the operations of the Egbe wih adoption of the Constitution, the appointment of the first Patron and Vice Patre the adoption of a rotational system of meetings and the selection of its first representatives to the Harvest Committee in response to the Parochial Committee letter of May 26, 1966 requesting the Egbe to make nominations and thus take ite place among the other societies in the Church. It was at this meeting thay Rev.Canon B.A. Adelaja and Mr. C.B. Ogunade were admitted into the Egbe and were thus regarded as foundation members. One other significance of this meeting was that towards its end the title “Mr” or “Chief” carlier used had changed to “Brother…
First Anniversary
The July 31, 1966 meeting decided that the first anniversary be marked in August, barely one month thereafter, with activities spanning two days. Since the Egbe had begun playing a prominent role in the affairs of the Church it felt comfortable to plan beyond its immediate environment. It had earlier on decided to nominate people, even those outside it, for chieftaincy titles within the Church- Chief S.A. Olukoya – Otun Balogun; Mr. D.0 Adebogun, Osi Balogun; Olori R.O. Adebonojo, Iyalode; and Mrs. Adesola Mafe, lyalaje, Chief Olukoya became the Balogun. The first anniversary of the Egbe was not to be strictly a religious affair because it was planned for two days – Saturday, August 27, and Sunday, August 28. The first day witnessed the organisation of a Civic Reception for the following:
The Re. Rev. S.I. Kale, Bishop of Lagos and Patron of the Egbe on the conferment of a Doctorate Degree by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. – The Rt. Rev. I.G.A. Jadesimi, on his consecration as the Assistant Bishop of Ibadan Diocese,
-Chief T. Adeola’Odutola, O.B.E, Hon. LL.D, the Ogbeni Oja of ljebu-0de, on his installation as Asiwaju of ljebu Christians.
Hon. Justice M.O.Oyemade, Judge of the High Court, Ijebu-Ode, on the Occasion of his 50th
The newly installed chry
anniversary.
chiefs of the Church.
- The second day was for a A Ihanksgiving service during mattins. Members were to appear in white dress (which became the uniform).
An AnniversaryCoee comprising the following was set up:
Bro. S.A Olukoya, Bro. J,0 Olusoga, Bro. S.A. Odukoya and the Secretary. Bro. E.T. Ayanewu. The events marking the first anniversary went well as the Secretary recorded them “…both civic reception and Thanksgiving Service were well attended by prominent invitees and various societies from other churches. The Revd. S.A, Odeneye, B.A.,of Odutola College, ljebuOde, in the course of his sermon reviewed the activities of the Egbe during the first year and kept the congregation spell bound.” The anniversary marked a milestone and having relished its successes in the first year members held two more routine meetings before turning another chapter in its history.
First Elections
Since its inception in July 1966, there were only two officers chosen- the Chairman (Bro. Olukoya) and the Secretary/Treasurer (Bro. Ayanewu). It was then decided that elections be held in conformity with the requirements of the Constitution which made provisions for an Executive Committee of 1l members. At its meeting of December 4, 1966 held at the official residence of the Hon. Justice M.O. Oyemade, the first set of officers for the year 1966/67 was elected as follows: eokoil outoug
Presidentolzm Bro. S.A Olukovaio bas drugu nu39 Vice Presidento DBro. E.F.Elebute
General Secretaryotsini Bro. E. Taiwo Ayanewuapota teso ado Assitant GeneralSecretary
Treasurer
Financial Secretary
Auditor
Welfare Officers
acO
Un-official Members
-Bro. S.A. Odukoya
Bro. E.A. Onabolu
Bro. C. Bolu Ogunadebw at zvEW tonbni Ahes. Bro. J.T.Okuneye - Bro. J.T. Okuneve (Tagose ohe Bro. J.0. Onalaia (iebu-0de)
Hon. Justice M.O. Oyemade Dr. J.A.Osikanlu
dheu
The post of Treasurer thus became separated from that of the Secretary as combined in the early days of the Egbe. The only person with two portfolios was Bro. J.T. Okuneye who was to add to the post of Auditor that of the Welfare Officer for Lagos.
The Egbe Ifelodun was thus firmly on the ground to the extent that the Church (Parish) Council requested it in November 1967 to represent the Church at that year’s Harvest Celebrations of the Anglican Church, Ibido. The Egbe’s delegation was led by the Vice President, Bro, E.F. Elebute. Other members were Bro. J.0. Onalaja and Bro. E.Taiwo Ayanewu, the General Secretary. This mission 1 was perceived by the Egbe as one of the duties it owed the Church in its efforts to maintain links with other churches especially outside ljebu-Ode. Since it was representing the Church it conveyed the message with a donation of £2.2/ h there at bido the Egbe added its own(one guinea) to that of the Church. The gesture was important in that the Egbe could supplement a donation of the Chureh with as much as 50% at that early stage of its establishment.
On Sunday, May 26, 1968 the Egbe was visited for the first time by its Patron the Rt. Rev. S.I. Kale, the Bishop of Lagos, during which he exchanged pleasantries with the members. That meeting, sadly enough, was to be the fires president’s last meeting with his brethren in the Egbe because he died shorly thereafter and the Egbe was not to meet until September 29. Though a memorial service was held for the late President on August 3, 1969, the office of President was not filled until the annual elections of November 30, 1969 – a sign of reverence to Bro. S.A. Olukoya.
Up till this point in its history the average attendance at meetings was 10 and members were mostly those who had the privilege of joining at the foundation or shortly thereafter. It was then felt that the infusion of young blood would be to the advantage of the Egbe and once again the indefatigable Secretary was on the move. By 1970 when Messrs T. Oba Ogunfuye, Eric A. Fowora, Adeoye Fowora, Segun Ogunba and others were admitted, an important milestone was reached in the life of the Egbe in that uncles and nephews could now sit together in the church organisation and discuss matters of common interests as far as their faith was concerned. Since then, in spite of occasional turbulence at meetings, which cannot be avoided in any human gathering. age and youth have been rubbing minds on ways in which the Egbe can continue to play its leading role within the Church, which became a Cathedral of the ljebu Diocese (Anglican Communion) in 1976 and the fold of Christ generally. The membership drive continued unabated in the decade that followed and it was while it was on that the first General Secretary, Bro. Taiwo Ayanewu. died suddenly on Monday, December 18, 1978. It marked the end of an era though members were resolved to honour hiS memorY with their steadfastness. Bro
Ayanewu was replaced as Secretary by Bro. I. Ola Odumosu who served till 1991 when he was placed by Bro. Abiodun Onasanya who in compliance wu the Revised Constitution of the Egbe left office in 1994.
The leadership turn-over between 1968 and 1972 when the first and seco presidents Bros. Olukoya and Elebute-died shook the Egbe a bit. But as Go would have it Bro. Adeleye Okuboyejo who had joined the Egbe on Marcn 1969 was elected in absentia as the third president at a meeting held in bi Abiodun Adebanjo’s residence on February 25, 1973 and he was to lead the Eg till 1991 when he was replaced by Ola Olasimbo.
o Under Bro. Okuboyejo’s leadership the Egbe made valuable contributions to the structural and financial development of the Cathedral. These included the donation of the Bishop’s Throne, carved doors and the mosaic cast of the name of the Cathedral on the outer wall fence on Folagbade Street. In spite of the formation of a new society, the Fountain of Hope Society, by some of the members of the Egbe, Bro. Okuboyejo was able to retain them through wise counsel as active members of his organi sation.
As time demanded, the 1966 Constitution was revised in 1986 and there were moves to register the Egbe under the Land Perpetual Succession Act for which the late Bro. Dele Dina promised to donate a plot of his at the Ikangba Estate. The registration was to give a legal existence to the Egbe and allow it to own land and partake in investment projects through nominated trustees acting on its behalf. Unfortunately, the application has not been given the attention it deserves by the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Abuja despite the fact that it was deposited there a long time ago.
Reflecting on his leadership of the Egbe, Bro. Okuboyejo reminisced thus: “When one tries to read between the lines one would discover that the secret of our success was predicated on the following philosophy:
“(1)
“(2)
“(3)
We believed that a church society should NOT be treated as a purely social club. The injunction of being one’s brother’s keeper isboth relevant inside as well as outside the church.
Finance
We did not introduce any innovation when the prevailing tune and circumstances were not ripe for it. So when we introduced an endowment fund in 1985 we set our target at such a luvel that was acceptable to all. If the target had been too high at that time the whole exercise might have collapsed. When the Fund was re- launched in 1994-95, the Egbe was ready to attain greater heights and the results proved to be so.
We saw the Constitution as a document drawn by members to regulate members’ interaction with one another. That is alright as long as we do not follow it too rigidly. This was why we have been reluctant to to a permanent removal of memhedsures that would lead from our list. We found it more beneficial to put defaulting members’ names in the cooler and to resuscitate them when they become financially bouyant again”.
That speaks volume for the 18 years of stewardship of the third and longest Serving president.
By 1979 the finances of the Egbe caused concern in shat its involvement in the Cathedral Church as well as its commitments to other bodies were demandi. much from its purse. It was at this point that it was thought that a Fund Raisino Panel should be set up under the chairmanship of Bro. Justice C.A.Abimbola wh was to be assisted by Bros. C. Bolu Ogunade, J. Omololu Onabanjo ană S Ogunba. Despite the importance attached to finance the committee wás not ah to achieve much in spite of the increasing number in membership which warranted the adoption of a meeting roster from 1979-1984.
The Panel was replaced in 1982 by an Investment Committee made up of Bros F.A. Adewumi, Abiodun Adebanjo, Adeoye Fowora, Afolabi Kuku, Olu Okuboyejo, A.G. Sangosanya and M.A. Kazeem. The work of the Committee was to drag on for a couple of years when the ideas and suggestions metamorphosed into an Endowment Fund with a category system – A, B and C. Members chose the category to belong to in order to generate funds annually for the Egbe thus- A – N250, B -MS0 and C – NO0. The experiment was not that successful and things were to remain as of old until Bro. Adeoye Fowora succeeded the late Bro. Ola Olasimbo as President in 1993 to re-assert the launching ofa new Endowment Fund with a minimum of N5,000 from every member. It has proved a successful effort.
Despite financial constraints the Egbe has found it difficult to resist supporting worthy causes. There has always been something token towards requests as demonstrated in 1979 when it gave N100 at the laying of the foundation of the new Erinlu Anglican Church on Imodi/ Imosan Road, ljebu-Ode.
Matters of finance are intricately linked with membership and one of the reasons for the Endowment Fund is that at a point in time when age takes its toll those members who are unable to pay levies and subscriptions should not become outcasts, neither should they be regarded as indigent members. This problem was discussed on Sunday January 31, 1982 and the decision then was that “indigent members should apply” to the Executive Committee of the Egbe for consideration tor a waiver of subscriptions and other financial contributions; the prevailin CIrcumstances would then apply. That decision which was carried by 40-7 vocs was recorded by the Secretary thus: “By this vital decision this aspect o finances was settled once for all.”
But history has it that the Egbe has always considered the financial positions of members and members have always tried to relieve those in need. Early in its operations the Egbe recognised the fact that not all its members s could contribute financially because some were pensioners. The first exemption was made for a member who had been out of job for years.” That particular member was a precedent, it laid the basis for h based in Lagos. While the exemption then was
attending meetings regularly though future considerations.
The Egbe and thc Cathedral
The primary aim of the Egbe is for the spiritual development of the Cathedral Church and for the promotion of the faith generally. Therefore, the Egbe has tried since its inception to take the centre stage of activities within the Church and has always involved itself in matters of concern to the Congregation which in the past two decades have reposed confidence in the Egbe that its representatives have always been elected into the Standing Committee while some have been serving as Synod delegates. The Bishops have also honoured some of the members by appointing them as Diocesan advisers in their various professions. While these appointments can be regarded as marks of honour for the individuals concerned, the Egbe prides itself with having such a collection of members from which these selections are made.
With regard to the physical development of the Cathedral, the Egbe at its meeting of Sunday, May 30, 1982 deliberated on the future expansion, if need be, or renovation of the Cathedral as the circumstances demanded. Members decided to examine the Cathedral against the background of its space, structure, aesthetics, parking facilities, the provision of an organ and other things that couid boost the morale of the choir as well as that of the Congregation. The significance of the discussion was demonstrated in the setting up of a special committee to look into the matter with all its ramifications. The Committee made up of Bros. Segun Adesina, Afolabi Kuku, Adeoye Fowora, Bisi Mabogunje and M.A Botu was set up. That was a manifestation of the concern of the Egbe on the development of the Church.
The matter continued to feature at meetings of the Egbe for a long time during which different ideas came up. It was even being suggested that a new site would be needed for a new Cathedral building but the Standing Committee of the Church in 1986 took a decision that a new building would be the responsibility of the Diocese though the site would be within the present premises. It was on that explanation as given by the then Provost, The Very Rev. S.B. Talabi, that the Egbe decided to adopt “a wait and see” position until the Diocese finally decides on future development.
The Motto
Though the Egbe was founded in 1966 it did not adopt a motto until May 31, 1981, almost two years after Bro. T. Fola Ogunmefun raised the issue on June 20, 1979 when he proposed that the mnotto should be Faith and Charity. Other members who were apparently caught unawares could only react by calling on the house to bring suggestions at a later date. When finally the decision was taken four proposals were voted on:
God First- 18 votes
Let brotherly love prevail – 18 votes
Hope, Faith and Charity – 0ohte
Charity and Progress – 1
The mover of the third proposal was absent hence the loSs of a vote for it.
The Gavel
At a meeting of the Egbe on Sunday, December 26, 1982, at the Makalee residence of Bro. Adeoye Fowora, the host who must have thought that the Egbe needed a gavel to enable the president call members to order, presented the Fohe with one.
The Secretary, Bro. I. Ola Odumosu, was very appreciative of it that he made this entry in the Minutes Book: “I am saying a big thank you to Mr. Fowora who incidentally, is going to be one of the beneficiaries of the so much needed gift”.
Some 12 years after this entry, Bro. Fowora had indeed become a beneficiary as he in his capacity as president controls, meetings with his “needed gift”. The Log0
For a long time the Egbe thought of a logo and when one was eventually presented at a meeting in Bro. S.A. Oiukoya’s Folagbade Street residence on July 27, 1986 it was felt the issue would be resolved. But on a motion by Bro. M.A. Nuga the house by 21-10 votes rejected it thus thwarting the hope of having one for the 21st anniversary. A couple of years later however, the present logo was approved unanimously.
The Egbe and Society at Large
The activities of the Egbe have not been confined to the Cathedral alone. In May, 1981, for example, there was a letter from the Management Committee ot the ljebu-ode Local Government School for the Handicapped requesting for a representative of the Egbe at the inaugural meeting of the Committee. This was a recognition of the Egbe’s role in the society at large and the nominateu representative, Bro. Adeoye Oworu, portrayed the Egbe very well.
The Egbe Ifelodun, it is true, is not a social organisation but all the sameit has never shied away from contributing its little quota to societal develope whenever organisations, be they social or cultural, appeal to it for assi stance. a religious organisation to be so singled out is a recognition of its commitment church and society whose activities should be complimentary, This is a path Egbe has trodden for years and it will continue to tread in order to improve society by touching people’s lives in a truly christian manner.
The Egbe and Spiritual Activities
There is no gainsaying the fact that the Egbe cannot divorce itself from spiritual endcavours that are regularly organised by the Church or other organisations be they through revivals, fellowships, Bible study or other aspects of evangelism.
Since January, 1993 when in Bro. Segun Odunuga’s residence meditation becamea fcature of the monthly mcetings members have come to recognise the importance of that aspect as a compulsory part of devotion that should proceed the deliberations. Efforts have been made by some members to write their reflections down so as to circulate them among members. Some of them form part of this compilation becausc of their historical significance and inspiration.
Thirty ycars of existence have enabled the Egbe to weather many storms and overcome series of turbulence. These are experiences of life that have conspired LO make the Egbe a very virile organi sation that waxes stronger cach new day.
As it enters another decade the motto shall continue to bind brothers together and promote love among people. The Egbe will continue to glorify God for its Success by beinga strong and tirelcss worker in the Lord’s vineyard.