The Couple: Dotun and Ada
It was indeed a very joyful
moment, when the former Miss Ada Catherine Oduah, a young, vibrant and
committed member of the St. Luke’s Cathedral Anglican Church, Jos Plateau State,
and a renowned, celebrated and humble Teens instructor, Master Dotun Benson
Fasanya, aka Mr. Dot, or Uncle Beautiful feet, of the St. Piran’s Anglican
Church, also in Plateau State, exchanged marital vows, amidst support from the
two families, friends and well-wishers, who thronged the event to share in the
joy of the two heartthrobs, as they said “I do, I do”, at the St Luke’s
Cathedral, Anglican Church, Jos.
The special Church service was conducted
by an array of notable Ministers of God with the Cathedral Priest, Bishop of
Jos Anglican Diocese and Dean St. Luke’s Cathedral – Arch Bishop Benjamin Argak
Kwashi as the lead. Others were: Prof. Pic Owochei, Cathedral of St. Luke’s, Dr.
Ephraim Gongden, Emmanuel Church, and Dr. Austin Eboh, St. Pirans Church, all Venerable
and Vicars of their respective Churches. Reverends Canon Tim. Olonade,
Akinsulire Ayo, Namnman Donzhi, Joshua Madaki, Jerome Tarbee were the other Anglican
Priests, in Jos that graced the event.
The first Bible reading, taken at
exactly 10am, from the book of Colosssians 3:12–17, preceded the bridal march
that ushered in the beautiful bride, beaming with smiles as she gracefully walked
down the aisle, with her charming and elegantly dressed bridal train. Shortly after,
the Groom and his men followed. There was also introduction and declaration by
Master Dotun and Miss Ada, who swore to take each other as wedded partners, and
went on to exchange marital vows and rings. The presiding Priest thereafter called
on the congregation to support the newly wedded with prayers. They equally, promised
not to be a source of distraction to the home. After this, the Priest prayed
for the couple.
The Couple, Best man and Chief bridesmaid
Ven. Prof. Pic Owochei, who conducted
the wedding event, gave his sermon, based on the reading from Genesis 24:62-67,
and used Isaac and Rebekah as a case study for a Godly couple. On the basis of
this, he educated the newly wedded couple on what constitutes a Christian
marriage, and therefore charged them to be responsible and worthy examples of
the Christian faith by keeping to their marital vows, and to be a symbol of
honour to the marriage institution, their families, friends and the church as
an institution. The priest pointed out clearly that a Christian marriage comes
with its own challenges and a lot of responsibilities. He emphasized that it is
only those who depend wholly in Christ that overcome the challenges. He then
enjoined the couple to make the Holy Book, the Bible an inseparable companion, in
good and bad times, and therefore, urged them to use it as their guide always.
Speaking further to the newly
wedded, the clergy noted that in a Christian marriage, the woman goes to be
with her husband and not the other way round. This according to the Priest, includes,
going to worship with him in his church. It also entails that she accepts his
vision for life and is willing to work towards achieving it. A wise wife like
Rebekah, the Priest pointed out, does not come into a family to destroy the
relationship that has been built for many years. Like Rebekah, the Christian wife
descends from the horse to meet her husband. Elaborating this further, the
Priest noted very clearly that the horse might be a luxurious and comfortable
lifestyle of the wife’s parents, in her former home, or the now trending philosophies
of women liberation. The Priest also admonished her on the need to always encourage her husband (Dotun) to be close to his family and to take good care of them, as well as relate closely with them.
The Bride and few of her bridal train
Done with the side of the woman (Ada),
it was now the turn of the Man, Mr. Dotun. The clergy was emphatic when he said
“the man must know what his vision, calling, philosophy of life and purpose is,
and understand them properly before he can be helped/assisted by his wife. Drawing
attention to the Bible, he observed “when God created Adam, He (God) gave him
(Adam) a job and created the woman (Eve), to assist him in carrying out the
task. The Priest did not mince words, when he noted that the Man (Dotun), also
has the responsibility of developing his wife spiritually, and bringing her
closer to God. He must ensure she does not miss the way of righteousness and
that she has a better relationship with God, always, the Priest admonished. Still
on the Man, the Priest pointed out that he is expected to wash any dirt or Sin in
her with the Word of God. According to the Priest, God has a purpose for every
couple. As the Man, he has to identify the purpose and drive his family towards
achieving it. If the Man decides to copy the pattern his father used, in order
to raise a replica of his father’s family, he has failed. A man like Isaac, who
will raise a successful home must feed his soul consistently with the word of
God. He must have a personal relationship with God, reduce his sleeping time,
and meditate more on the word of God, and importantly, should have three
alters: personal, couple’s and family. Bringing his voice to a sonorous one, as
if to allow the words simmer very deep, the Priest told the Man (Dotun) “must
put his wife first in his heart and make her the closest person to him.
