Hundreds turn out for Reverend Esther Ajayi's Cherubim and Seraphim's church's 10th anniversary

HUNDREDS of Nigerians in the UK turned out yesterday to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Love of Christ Cherubim and Seraphim Church in south London in what was a carnival-like celebration that involved music and serious feasting.

At the event which took place at the church's headquarters in Clapham in southwest London, Nigerians from all over the country turned out to celebrate the event. There were also numerous guests from Nigeria and other parts of the world, including Chief Dele Momodu, the publisher of Ovation Magazine.

Attracted by the high public profile of the church's founder Reverend Mother Esther Ajayi, the huge crowd was treated to live music and an unbelievable array of Nigerian cuisine. Unlike other events that just serve jollof rice, moi-moi, pounded yam and fried rice this one served guests with traditional delicacies like tuwo shinkafa, amala and ikokore.

In her programme notes, Reverend Ajayi, who is renown for her charitable acts across the community, emphasised the need to give. She pointed out that God's plans for Christians is for them to be debt-free and enjoined her followers to be cheerful givers, as if they do, it will turn around their fortunes.

Reverend Ajayi said: "No matter how deep your debt, the Lord can free you from it but you have to give. My family and I used to be so broke that our slogan was give us this day our daily bread as we only knew what we will eat and where we would sleep today.

"We became debt-free when I understood the act of giving with expectation from the Lord and I started giving out the little I had and then the more I gave the more I got. The Lord wants you today to have faith in Him and let go of the little in your hands."

After her sermon, she prayed for the multitude of worshippers and then they all participated in a thanksgiving service that was characterised with offerings and dancing. To seal off the day, Biodun Paseda, the founder of the charity Focus on Disability Foundation UK and Chief Momodu presented a portrait of Reverend Ajayi to her on the night.