Seraph Farinuola Emmanuel is the current president of the Cherubim and Seraphim Church, Unification Campus fellowship, University of Ibadan chapter. In an interview with Seraph Oladimeji Ayodeji, he reflects on his capacity as the fellowship leader. Excerpts…

Can we meet you?

My name is Farinuola Emmanuel. I am the president of the C&S Church Unification Campus Fellowship University of Ibadan chapter. A 400 level student of Agriculture. I hail from Kwara state.

How long have you been functioning in this office?

By the grace of God, this is currently my second term as the president of the chapter.

A campus fellowship president in most cases has a tenure to serve, but you are serving twice, how have you been able to cope?

Well, in most chapters that are universities, it’s not unusual for a president to serve more than a tenure. It most times has to do with the duration of the person’s course in line with when he got enlisted in the office. And I’ve been coping principally by God’s grace and help coupled with good understanding of management principles, how to manage myself with the assignment in my hand.

What were the major achievements of your first tenure?

When I set out in my first tenure, my principal goal was Human Development. To build men of relevance in all walks of life at least in this level. This we achieved alongside other minor needful projects carried out, as evident in the reports and testimonies obtained. That’s chief of my heart desire achieved. Let me stop there.

Definitely, there would have been some challenges in the tenure, how did you handle them sir?

There were a lot of challenges – a whole lot. How I handle them is first, I recognise and admit that there is a challenge and I set my heart to tackle it. I then go to meet my Father God, because the assignment is spiritual and every challenge must be confronted first from that perspective. Once i get the wisdom and comfort from there, I sit down and now strategize and get pragmatic steps to tackle them. Many times too, I consult my mentors and elders that have gone ahead and passed through this system before. And before I know it, and as expected, the challenge becomes a leap to yet another victory.

With the current industrial action embarked on by the Academic staff Union and the Govt, how do you run the fellowship and reach out to your members?

Seeing that we are dispersed physically which affects our physical gatherings, we leverage on the platforms afforded by the social media. Like for this ASUU strike period, we still hold a kind of meeting online, we call it ichurch – a two-hour Bible study that holds on our WhatsApp group page. It got a good reception from our members and it really helped us reach them and still minister in their needs even though they’re not in school, the work of God must not be hindered. And then it’s the primary obligation of all Executive Members to reach apportioned people personally via whatever means required.

What advice will you give to students about this strike?

My admonition is from the scriptures, sixteenth verse of Ephesians chapter five urges us to redeem the time because the days ahead are filled with uncertainties. One of the most plaguing fears of youths is the fear of the future. And fear is a revelation of lack of sufficient light and knowledge. Every student that’s affected by the strike should try as much as possible to utilise this strike opportunity to equip himself or herself with adequate relevant knowledge that will give a rest assured hope of the future. That’s one of the ways to redeem the time. Invest in your knowledge bank so that you can make profitable withdrawal at the needed time. It will pay off. Read books, visit people and places that can impart such knowledge on you, engage in activities that can be of help too. In one sentence: Enlarge your Capacity.

What are the major programmes proposed for this new tenure?

 The first major programme is our prayer conference, a 36hrs pure incense service. Last year was when we had the maiden edition, it was massive. This year will be more intense. Another major programme would be incorporated in our 35th anniversary event and it’s something that has to do with government, economy and politics. Though, the exact blueprint of how this would go is not ready yet but I can guarantee that it will be very mighty. I think this are the two major programmes I can speak on for now. Others are there too. Although, there are no major and minor programmes before God, every programme is an opportunity for Him to show is mighty strength. So watch out for the ‘minor’ programmes too.

Do you have any word for other Unification chapters?

Yes, thank you sir. To all other unification chapters, let’s know that we still remain the future of this heavenly ordained fold. We should therefore give diligence to make it great.

Being more like a second chance for you sir, is there anything you discovered in your first tenure and wishes to correct this second tenure?

Yes. A lot of things but most importantly is my understanding and grasp of the church’s financial system. My first tenure was more or less like guess work in this area but affliction shall not rise again the second time.

What can you say about how devoted students are to the things of God while on campus sir?

People are most devoted to God while on campus compared to any other time of their life. This is due to the fact that you are really exposed and your scope of realities gets enlarged by being part of the diverse nature of campus Christian life, so you get fired up every time even when you are getting weak. People really serve God on campus. And one of the things we labour on in our fellowship time is how to help people gain mastery of that kind of life so that it won’t stop on campus but it will also be with them even afterwards. Though there’s the other camp too that live free on campus due to euphoria of having bring liberated from the tyranny of jamb and the ‘troubles’ of their parent. But majorly, young people are yielded to God while on campus.

Seraph Oladimeji Ayodeji

Seraph Oladimeji Ayodeji. He is a Fitness tutor/Health consultant. He loves travelling and reading
Favourite Hymn: 891 (3rd Edition) Baba olori sun ibukun gbogbo