Archives | Deji Okegbile's Blog

Christmas and John Wesley’s idea of Watchnight.

Posted by Deji Okegbile | Dec 31, 2025 | General and Ecumenism, Missions and Evangelism |

As we come to the end of the 2025 Advent Retreat, I want to thank everyone for your prayers. We give God the glory for the last day of the year 2025. John Wesley, co-founder of Methodism, started a tradition of spending New Year’s Eve together in prayer and reflection. Beyond keeping his parishioners out of the bars and streets on New Year’s Eve, Wesley’s idea about Watchnight is to reflect on the past year, think about the next one, and focus on our relationship with God and God’s love to us. Christmas is sufficient proof that God loves...

CELEBRATING PROFESSOR DEBO ADEYEMI, Healthcare Professional Legend @83: Overcoming Global Disparities in Paediatric Surgical Care.

Posted by Deji Okegbile | Dec 21, 2025 | Events, Nations |

Prof Stephen Debo Adeyemi (CON) remains not just a Prince but a human being of a different level, something you do not find in regular people, especially in the healthcare profession. Celebrating Professor Debo Stephen Adeyemi, a giant Paediatric surgeon, calls the global and local attention to some challenges facing paediatric surgery and healthcare, from complex anatomy to unequal access to care. Professor Adeyemi’s legacy is about advancing paediatric surgical practice despite challenges and encouraging surgeons to practice in a safe space. Professor Adeyemi’s career and legacy strongly endorse the value of the patient-centred family physician needed within today’s...

Witnessing ‘for Eschatology, not Escapology.’

Posted by Deji Okegbile | Dec 19, 2025 | General and Ecumenism |

Witnesses for the Advent Light are called to a waiting experience. Henri Nouwen said, “Waiting is a period of learning. The longer we wait, the more we hear about him for whom we are waiting.” Witnesses for the Advent Light engage in a ‘time of waiting – when we learn more about Jesus who came to set us free from slavery to sin.’ Our waiting and watching in this context is called eschatology. According to Gordon Giles, Canon Chancellor of Rochester Cathedral, ‘escapology is the opposite of eschatology. Escapology, or rather escapism, is what Christmas has become, whereas eschatology...

Redemption ONLY for the Repentant!

Posted by Deji Okegbile | Dec 14, 2025 | General and Ecumenism |

“Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near” (Matt. 3:2) Matthew, like the other Gospels, identifies the beginning of Jesus’ ministry with His baptism by John (Matt 3). John, Jesus’ cousin, paved the way for Jesus Christ. The wilderness experience of Jesus after His baptism models for us the importance of purification, preparation and reliance on God for spiritual health and growth. Jesus Christ, without sin, is baptised to fulfil righteousness and identify with humanity (Matthew 3:15). John’s core message was “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near,” meaning redemption is conditional upon genuine repentance. John confronted leaders who...

Celebrating Bishop John Adeleke Bamgboye: Portrait and Model of a Bishop and a Christian.

Posted by Deji Okegbile | Dec 10, 2025 | Methodism, Ministry and Prayer, Missions and Evangelism |

What I am for you terrifies me; what I am with you consoles me. For you, I am a bishop, but with you, I am a Christian. The former is a duty, the latter a grace. The former is a danger; the latter salvation – St Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD) St Augustine of Hippo’s famous words, “For you I am a bishop, but with you I am a Christian,’ aptly described Bishop John Adeleke Bamgboye, who was both a bishop and a Christian to people who encountered him throughout his earthly ministry. St Augustine exemplified the leadership role...