HAPPINESS IN PLACE OF REGRET
Special greetings to you all in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; the giver of live and the originator of all wisdom.
I am glad to be alive to witness this very important occasion to send me and my colleagues forth into the favour world by the group and gathering that has contributed immensely to my development in the course of my 5 years stay on campus; The Chapel Of Grace Choir, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta. A gathering of beautiful people across different ethnics and cultural divides. A place where love abounds and our common aim is to raise an undiluted and true worship to He that dwells in the heavenly, the most high, the only true, immortal and wise God.
If you are searching for a unit that has both an earthly and eternal relevance, it is the Choir Unit. As much as the role of song singing in any church cannot be easily underestimated so is the relevance of the choir unit to the church of God. Our usefulness does not end here. It transcends the realm of the natural to the supernatural. When we all get to heaven, our assignment as singers continues as that is the only thing creatures in heaven does including the saints, 24 elders and all the angels. What a day of rejoicing this will be for me and you to be part of this great heavenly voices.
The Choir Unit; an organised company of singers is a highly sensitive unit in the church of God as it plays a vital role similar to that of the pastors in the church. The pastor as a minister preaches the word but we sing the word. We carry the congregation to the throne of grace through our worship and praises. We invoke God’s presence through our service and many lives through our ministrations are blessed.
The Chapel of Grace Choir is not an exemption. It is a family of true worshippers, believers, great people with countless talents musically, academically, spiritually and in all regards. It is a place where giants are raised, a place where the king in everyone finds expression; it is a fertile ground for the discovery and development of talents. I am a living witness and I must confess, it is a great privilege and honour to be part of this great family.
Indeed, we are a product of every decision we make in life. Today, In place of regret, i am thanking God for the decision I made 5 years ago to be a member of the Choir Unit. The Unit through the help of God had impacted my life positively. In the Unit, I have learnt a lot about quality service, how to relate with people, tolerance, leadership, obedience, boldness, public speaking, discipline and the act of managing people.
As a committed member of the Choir, I got involved in active service right from my first year as an instrumentalist (Piano) and a tenor singer and got more commitment in my second year as the assistant music director. Towards the tail end of my third year I became the music director of the Chapel Choir and was awarded the most committed male in the Choir. Acted as a member of several committees in the choir and remained very active and vibrant for God and the work of the choir even during my Industrial Training (IT) days outside the University milieu. Coming back from my IT, I was appointed again as the music director under the leadership of a great leader and mentor; Master Oginni Taiwo, the immediate past Choir Cordinator. The appointment as the Music Director was something I never imagined again but it came and with the help of God I made an unforgettable positive impact on the choir musically to the point that the news of the choir’s dexterity in music became the talk of the town on campus. To God be the glory.
The journey was not all rosy. There were tough times when I feel like quitting. There were times when scoring songs and teaching the choir songs was a challenge. There were times when I have to go through rains and sun all to be in a rehearsal. There were times when I have to miss my comfort zone all because of night rehearsals. There were times when I had to contribute towards the success of a choir project and also spend my resources on ensuring that things are done as the music director. But I bless God for the grace to keep the faith then and to tell the story now.
With my experience as a leader in this great Unit, I have seen that there is blessing, peace and contentment in serving the Lord but it still remain shocking while it is only few that are tapping into this divine blessings attached to serving the Lord in singing of praises and worship, cleaning of the choir chairs, maintenance of the instruments, respect for elders, punctuality to choir meetings and lot more. You might be wondering while they are few and who these few people are. The few that are beneficiaries of these blessings are those that do it as unto God and not unto men. When you do it unto men you have gotten your reward already but as unto God the divine bounties. A lot of guys join the choir because of a lady; attend choir rehearsals just for attending sake; join the choir because their friends are there; sing to show-off, and to win the praises of people. But for how long will you continue to deceive yourself and stop this aimless venture and start getting things right because such reasons do not attract any meaningful blessing. And to the ladies, for how long will you continue to fall victim of the plots of these guys?
Some allow fear to stop the king and the talents in them from finding expression and by so doing are deprived of their blessings. There are a lot of choristers that can sing praises and are good at leading worship but reject or shy away from such opportunity to serve anytime they are called. Often times I wonder what could have been the reason for this childish behaviour and I was flabbergasted at the response of people. Some say, I am shy and I can’t face the crowd. Some say, I don’t know how to sing. Some say, I am afraid of making mistakes and others allow inferiority complex to weigh them down. No doubt all these factors do exist, but if they were the deciding factor, nobody would ever succeed.
Donnie McClurkin would not have known by many for his great work in the gospel music world, same is Travis Grene, John.P.Kee and other great gospel musicians. If I had allowed fear to dominate my heart the first time I was appointed as the music director, by now my story would have been that of regret thinking back to lives I should have affected positively and music that should have been ministered but I bless my case today is different. I need to say this, for every reason why it’s not possible, there are hundreds of people who have faced the same circumstances and succeeded.
Lots of people overcome these so-called limiting factors, so it can’t be the limiting factors that limit you. It is not the external conditions and circumstances that stop you- it is YOU! We stop ourselves! We think limiting thoughts and engage in self-defeating behaviours. We defend our self-destructive habits with indefensible logic. We ignore useful feedbacks, fail to continuously educate ourselves, pray, rehearse, practice and learn new skills, waste time on the trivial aspect of our lives, engage in idle gossip, eat unhealthy food as a singer, fail to exercise and observe some vocal warm-ups. Instead of allowing these circumstances to weigh you down why not weigh it down by doing the needful?
Are you still in the choir because your friends are there? Why not have a rethink and be there because it is your duty and that of every creature to worship God and start going to every rehearsal with a definiteness of purpose from now? A lot have spent more than 4 years in a choir and yet their lives are still not a proof of the positive effect of such a sacred group. I would advise you to be focused. Stop coming late for rehearsals and Sunday service. Punctuality is the sole of all business.
The funniest and painful thing I have observed these days in the choir is the rate at which the membership strength is reduced anytime there is a change of power from one person to the other. Some run-away members tend to return and start displaying some uncommon and an unparalleled commitment that they never exercise in the previous administration. Majority that falls in this category do this often because they don’t like the previous leaders but are we not commanded to love one another irrespective of the offence? Love covers all offences. Such an attitude is a threat to our unity because if it persists, division, factions is not far away from us. Some said they are for Paul and some they are for Apollo but are both not a co-worker in the vineyard of God? Let us wise up.
Let us encourage one another in love; visit any choir member that you didn’t see in the church service; be kind and good to all. Be a good representative of Christ and the choir anywhere you go. Let it no be said of you that you are involved in any form of ungodly activity. Flee youthful lust and any sin that can pollute your body. Remember, your body is the temple of God. Support the leader by obeying every instruction from him, encouraging him with a smile and in discharging of his duties.
If you want to be successful in this ministry, you have to take 100% responsibility for your life. I see some that want to be the best gospel vocalist in the choir but yet read no book on singing and its paraphernalia’s, have no gospel musician as mentor rather a secular musician whose life contradicts the gospel. Of what gain is such a mentor? Some fail woefully in their academics and claims it is as a result of their commitment in the choir. Some even go to the extent of leaving the choir but still no changes. Some didn’t play the piano well, some singers sing off-key and is either giving excuses or blaming one person or the other for this. Why not take the responsibility and the best at what you do?
Finally, take actions.
John Ruskin an English author says “what we think or what we know or what we believe is, in the end, of little consequence. The only consequence is what we do”. The world doesn’t pay you for what you know; it pays you for what you do. There’s an enduring axiom of success that says, “The universe rewards action.” Yet as simple and as true as this principle is, it’s surprising how many people get bogged down in analysing, planning, and organising when what they really need to do is take action. Some took years arranging the song, took years dreaming of singing at the MTN project fame but never took any action. It doesn’t work that way. Things work for those who take action.
When you take action, you trigger all kinds of things that will inevitably catapult you to success. You let those around you know that you are serious in your intention. People wake up and start paying attention. People with similar goals become aligned with you. You begin to learn things from your experience that cannot be learned by listening to others or from reading books. You begin to get feedbacks about how to do it better, more efficiently and more quickly. Things that once seemed confusing begin to become clear. Things that once appeared difficult begin to be easier. You begin to attract others who will support and encourage you. All manner of good things begin to flow in your direction once you begin to take action. Stop thinking about that song, start taking action. Stop waiting for the perfect time to lead the praises and worship, start now because that perfect time you are waiting for might not come or does not even exist.
Yes, I know we have a lot of resources and talents here but we need to take some positive actions to ignite those talents from their inertia and lentic state. Do not live the campus without allowing the talent in you to find expression. Do not leave the campus without contributing your quota to the development of this great family. If you have not started, it is not too late, take the bold step and start now. You must be known for something. My dream picture of the Chapel of Grace Choir is a choir that will be the best in the whole world, a choir where all its members will be bubbling for Christ musically and spiritually, a choir where all her human resources will be effectively utilised, a choir with a functioning blog and website, a choir with a good social network skills and internationally recognition and a lot of great achievements.
I believe it is possible. I believe we can do it. I believe we can achieve it with God on our sides.
Let me seize this medium to appreciate the organisers of this ceremony and the leadership of the Choir for this great privilege to give my last word to the Choir that God has used to bless my life. I won’t fail to appreciate each and every one of you that God has used to transform my life. Especially Professor Mrs Oluwatosin, my beloved school mother for her support and encouragement. May the good Lord bless you all.
I will miss you.
It pays to serve Jesus, I speak from my heart.
He will always be with us if we do our part.
There is nothing in this wide world can pleasure afford.
There is peace and contentment in serving the Lord.
Long live Chapel of Grace Choir!
Long live Chapel Of Grace!
Long Live Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokta.
Signed;
Master Ogunyemi Olakunle Joshua.
Pka: Prof Kay.
Former MD, COG-FUNAAB Choir.
Master Ogunyemi Olakunle Joshua.
Pka: Prof Kay.
Former MD, COG-FUNAAB Choir.
