Hi,
The 5th of December makes it exactly 13 years that my father Rev. Joshua Olukunle Akintayo left this earth to be with the Lord. If he was here a day before HLBC was inaugurated, he would say that was moving from Glory to Glory. As the day unveiled for the past 12 years, I see as my siblings, cousins, nephews, neighbors and others keep flashing my father’s picture in my face, on Facebook, emails and other means as a way of remembering the part he played in their lives and the memories they had with my “Daddy”.
One of those pictures has been uploaded on my family’s page so early today but I am yet to make a comment. It has become more important for me to celebrate what the man gave to me than what he took from me. He is no longer here, but, he essentially did the following in my life:
- Taught me the fear of God
- Taught me tithing
- Taught me to pray
- Taught me to forgive
- Taught me to listen to God
- Taught me to dress better
- Taught me to love people no matter what
Each of the act above are not ambiguous statements made up after his death – No, all of his children would tell you the same as this man made a cautious effort to tell us why he did what he did the way he did them. When you ask him, “why are you buying food for other families every month?”, he had an answer and would refer to something God told him. When you ask him why he prayed to much everyday, he had an answer for it. When you are beaten with strange strokes, he also had a lesson to teach you and help you heal your wound.
This man was in no way a perfect man and could possibly do with a lot more in his decision making and going for more – But, If I was to sum the life my father lived, I would sum it to – He walked with God.
He and God was at no time separable. He was a strange man at his civil servant job. Working at the Head Quarters of the NITEL (Equivalent of BT), this man would often show up at work in his Pastoral collar. He was called Rev. Pastor at work and he was not ashamed to be.
What really does it mean to walk with God?
Does all that I have described of my father represent the main criteria for walking with God? I don’t think so.
There is more!!! That is why for the next few weeks, HLBC family both in Milton Keynes and London would be going on a long adventure of learning to walk with God. The world we live in must feel the difference that we are here, people at your work place must know that He Lives in you.
Invite your friends, your colleagues and relatives to this new teaching series – Doing Business with God.
I look forward to seeing you on Sunday with a heart of worship as we celebrate Jesus together.
The order of your life is Glory.
It is working
Pastor Abraham Great
