You make known to me the path of life; in your presence, there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Ps 16:11

Today, we are glad as we rejoice with Dame Susan Isonken Solanke, the pioneer Lay President, Nigeria Methodist Mission, UK, and Ireland, on her seventieth birthday. We join her in celebrating this special day in her life as one who is alive and full of life to the glory of God, a blessing to the church, and service to humanity. The most well-known Scripture reference to the age of seventy is to be found in the ninetieth psalm (verse 10): “The days of our years are threescore years and ten, and if by reason of strength, they are fourscore years yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.” That is the poetic King James Version. The Message says more bluntly: “We live for seventy years or so (with luck, we might make it to eighty), And what do we have to show for it? Trouble. Toil and trouble and a marker in the graveyard.” Our earthly time is short, translating into an increased sense of urgency in fulfilling our purpose here on earth in the active service of Jesus. However, rather than feeling downcast about having perhaps only ten more years on this earth, God calls us to feel positively elated to have reached this milestone. We thank God that He has preserved Dame Solanke thus far, and we are grateful for every single one of her years despite their many challenges and testimonies. 

Looking at Dame Solanke today, we pray that we will be with her to mark her fourscore in another ten years in Jesus’ name, for we all know that Dame Solanke is a blessed and robust woman. Yes, she is lively, fun-loving, cheerful, and ever smiling, but she is also strong-willed and determined.

Since her appointment and investiture as the pioneer lay president of Nigeria Methodist Mission, UK and Ireland, Dame Solanke worked tirelessly for the success of the launching of the Mission’s Fundraising in May 2023. As one of the Mission’s trustees and a member of the Methodist Central Hall, Westminster, London, Dame Solanke continues to provide collaborative leadership for the growth and expansion of the Mission.

On what is Nigeria Methodist Mission in the United Kingdom and Ireland, Dame Solanke explained during the Mission awareness held on Sunday, 19th March 2023 at Walworth Methodist Church, London, that, “Nigeria Methodist Mission, simply put – We are “THE NEW SEED OF EVANGELISM” that has evolved from our partnership with the British Methodist Conference (BMC) in 2013 as a Chaplaincy. BMC has been supporting us morally, physically, and financially. Helping us grow in our faith, mode of worship, and discipleship for the past 9 years.” According to her, ‘in 2022 in a letter to the Chaplaincy, unfortunately, that support ends in this connexional year 2023. BMC has told us where to get off the bus, so to speak, and find our feet to continue our faith journey. We are very grateful to BMC for nurturing us this far and, in a way, telling us that we are now grown up and mature to be on our own. Methodist Church Nigeria (MCN) took up the challenge. This is the point we are now – to create an awareness of the CHANGEOVER. We are transitioning to being on our own in this Christian journey of faith of our fathers in the UK/Ireland. In other words, “Transition to Mission. “

On what the Nigeria Methodist Mission means for you and me, Dame Solanke said, “You and I are the investment officers to plant this seed of faith in the UK/IRELAND. Even if? It might not be us sitting under the shade of that tree in years to come. We are all our co-founders and heirs of NMM. Be a part of this history of those who worked and laboured to establish and stabilise this vision of the Methodist Church Nigeria in the biennial Conference 2022. Come as you are! Bring in your raw talents to develop NMM. God has called each one of us to be the tent maker. Be the rock of NMM; Be frontline leaders in your various churches to spread the word and galvanise other Nigerians and friends of Nigeria to key into this Mission; Disseminate information to other Nigerians in the Diaspora. In conclusion, leave good footprints on the sand of the UK and Ireland’s shores for posterity. Let your name be on the historical roll call of those here. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart; it is for the Lord.” Celebrating Dame Solanke at 70 is a call to support the Mission by her families, friends and loved ones as we corporately spread scriptural holiness across the land.

The number 70 appears several times in the Bible, but not concerning birthdays. In the book of Exodus, we read about how Moses went up to Mount Sinai accompanied by seventy elders of Israel. ‘[The Lord] said to Moses, “Come up to the Lord, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel.” The elders were gathered with Moses before the Mountain of the Lord, the dwelling place of God in worship at the place where Moses would receive the commandments. Today, Dame Solanke comes to the House of God – gathered with us, her family, and friends – to worship the God who made her and gave her life. She comes to give thanks for that life and all the blessings she has received, and we pray that God will continue to bless her.

Worthy is the Lamb!