Tagged: AOP Foundation
Purpose: To cater for retired Priests of Anglican Communion.

INTRODUCTION
Many foundations have been set up by various people for different purposes at different points in time. In the Anglican Communion, the peculiarity of administration provides that a Priest can serve up till 70 years of age. During his tenure, he is posted to different Parishes and sometimes transferred or translated to other Diocese as Bishop. Throughout his service in the priesthood, accommodation is provided for him and his family in the vicarage and this include the provision of beddings, furniture etc. In effect, when he gets transferred or retires, he together with his family vacates the apartment with ONLY their personal belongings.

Life after Retirement

Although priesthood is a vocation, think about these;
Who can employ a 70-year-old man? What employment can a 70-year-old man take up?
Going by the nature of man, we only recognize and respect people (priest) by virtue of
the relevant position they occupy. We tend to forget and abandon them once they are relieved of
that post. How often do we check on the welfare of the children of a dead relation? How much care do we show them? Even if we so much desire to see to their well-being, we often fail to discharge our responsibilities due to the pressure of work and other pressing issues. How much more a priest who would have served in various Parishes with so many church members. The responsibility to see to their upkeep becomes EVERYONE's, yet NO ONE takes it up! God's injunction to the congregation over His servant is for us to bless this priest with our substance, and we stand to reap a bountiful harvest by so doing. Who amongst us can stand on the pulpit to rebuke the evils, witches and enemies for the sake of others like these Priest do? Can we dedicate ourselves to fasting and prayers for the people like the priests do over the congregation? By the nature of their calling, they are usually the targets of the evil just as the captain of war is the target of the enemies. Most times, enemies target the children of men of God once they discover that these priests are spiritually strong, definitely their children will not be as strong.

Remember there is no specially discounted school or make for the family of the priest.
It will be a dishonor to God and a disservice to the priests if we sit back and feel unconcerned about their lots after serving us. When last did we visit or fellowship with our retired priests? Do we know how they survive after retirement?

Our Hymn says…
Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers, you do unto me. When I was hungry, you gave
me to eat. When I was thirsty, you gave me to drink; now enter into the home of your father and so like Jesus asked, WHAT DID YOU DO FOR ME? These Priests have sacrificed their active and
productive years for our sake yet we abandon them. We cannot compare their living standards with that of tier counterparts in Pentecostal churches. At retirement, they receive benefits that cannot build a Mini Self Contained Apartment.

AOP has therefore taken up the challenge; our conscience has challenged us, the Holy Spirit has
ministered to us to stir up the spirit in every Anglican member towards our duty to the retired men of God. We must stand up to be counted. We must do things that will open up doors of blessing for us, things that will gladden the heart of our father in Heaven. We cannot afford to abandon them just like that. And you then ask, Lord, when did I see you hungry and I did not give you to eat, nor when did I deny you water when you were thirsty? And He says as long as you did not do this to any of these ones, you have not done it for me. The foundation has a burning vision to cater for the welfare of retired priests in the Anglican Communion using Diocese of Lagos West as a pilot scheme/project and to encourage other societies to organize periods of fellowship with the retired priests, even if it involves travelling out of Lagos to where they reside in retirement. The AOP Ishaga has once more blazed the travelling in 2009, the society had fellowship with the retired Primate Papa Abiodun Adetiloye a recipient of Apostles of Peace Society Award at his residence. One cannot dare to quantify the splendor of such moments. List of the retired priests who have retired in Diocese of Lagos West is being compiled and similar gestures will be extended to them. We cannot afford to abandon our own.

The big picture is to cover all the Diocese in Nigeria sooner or later through unwavering cooperation with other societies in the Anglican Communion. Did I hear someone say the task will be enormous, or the cost implication overwhelming? BUT we say with God all things are possible. We discussed this idea with our Grand Patron the Lord Bishop of Lagos West Diocese, Rt. Rev. (Dr.) Peter Adebiyi during our annual Christmas dinner with him, the many revelations we had from him, made us realize it MUST start now. Enough of the suffering of our retired priest.

If God touches your heart, please issue your cheque in favour of APOSTLES OF PEACE SOCIETY,
Ishagatedo and at the back of the cheque, write AOP Foundation.
It is our prayer that our God, who sees in secret, will bless you in the open. (Amen)