The Cherubim & Seraphim Movement in Lagos trooped out last week as the remains of Special Apostle (Dr.) Engr. Dickson Adekunle Awode was laid to nest. He was the Chairman/General Leader of the Cherubim & Seraphim Movement Church (Victory District) at 50 Ajose Street, Owutu, Agric, area in Ikorodu. He was aged 81.
His 8 days rite of passage began on Friday, 25th January, 2018, with a well attended Night of Hyms & Praise held at the Divine Blessing Cathedral. It was an all-nite service, attended by a lot of top Gospel singers. On Monday 28th January, 2018, a Service of Songs was held in his honour by the Children Ministry, Youth Fellowship Group, Brigade & Women Fellowship. It was held at the late Dr. Awode’s residence in Ikorodu. And on the next day, Tuesday, 29th January, 2019, another Service of Songs was held by the Soldiers of Christ, Council of Prophets, Pastors and 7 Evangelists. It was also held at the late Dr. Awode’s residence in Ikorodu. On Wednesday, 30th January, 2018, the 3rd Services of Songs was held by the various districts in Lagos/Osun. It was held at the Victory District headquarters. On Thursday, 31st, January 2018, the Christian Wake Service/Lying in State was held at the Lagos Government Park, beside Dangote Industries, Ebate in Ikorodu. The lying in state was at Dr. Awode’s residence in the Agric area of Ikorodu. The main funeral was held on Friday, 1st February, 2019, at the Victory District headquarters at Owutu Agric area in Ikorodu. Interment was at Ikoyi Vaults & Gardens Entertainment of guests was at Yard 158 Event Centre, at Oregun. It was a well-attended event. On Sunday, 3rd February, 2019 an outing service was held at the Divine Blessing Cathedral, at Kollington Alagbado area of Lagos.
The grand finale of the 8-day programme will be held this Sunday, 10th February, 2019. It is the Final Thanksgiving Service at Victory District Headquarters. The deceased is survived by very accomplished children, one of whom is Dr. Remi Awode, the MD of Fine Coat Paint.
Lets tell you more about the deceased Special Apostle, Dr. Dickson Awode, who was born on Saturday 27 November, 1937, had his last breath on Dec 18, 2018. A few weeks back, Dr. Remi Awode announced the transition to heavenly glory of his dad with a humble call to all and sundry to come, join and celebrate a rare gem who lived a good life filled with love for God and humanity.
City People gathered that Pa Dickson Awode, truly lived a selfless, worthy life, to be emulated by those he left behind. Papa bade the world farewell on Tuesday, December 18, 2018. Special Apostle Dickson Adekunle Awode was born 81 years ago, precisely on the 27th November, 1937, at Catholic Mission Street in the Lagos Central Senatorial District of Lagos to Papa and Mama Awode.
He started his educational career at Saint David Anglican school, Lafiaji in Lagos from 1944 to 1951. At the completion of his primary education, he proceeded to CMS Grammar School, Broad Street in Lagos from 1952 to 1956 for his secondary education.
He had a brief stint with the Customs and Excise based in Marina Lagos from January 1957 to September 1957 before joining the then Electricity Corporation of Nigeria (ECN) now known as Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) as Engineering student. His brilliance at work earned him sponsorship to Yaba Technical Institute now Yaba College of Technology for National Certificate and Full Technology Certificate Programmes.
Awode was sponsored on overseas training for a Specialist Course at the Electric Construction Company (ECC) based in Wolverhampton, England and also attended a Higher Diploma Course at the British Institute of Engineering Technology. He worked as an attaché at the Naiper, Liverpool and Lister of Stanford all based in the United Kingdom.
WORKING CAREER
Special Apostle Awode’s working career was exemplary. From being an Assistant Shift Charge Engineer from October 1960 to May 1961 at Ijora, several transfers took him from Lagos to Gusau, Kaduna, Kafanchan, Funtua, Jos, Maiduguri, Makurdi, Benin City, Ibadan and back to Lagos for the spanned 35 years of meritorious services.
On his return from the United Kingdom in May 1965, he was posted to ECN now PHCN Kaduna to inculcate in others, the knowledge he had gained from his Overseas Courses as Touring Maintenance Superintendent, it was to his credit that he was the only officer maintaining all ECN Power Stations in the North during the Nigerian Civil war between 1967 and 1970.
Awode’s Spiritual Source
Special Apostle (Dr) Awode was not a work, work, work kind of personality. He was a dedicated worker, who never forgot his source of inspiration, wisdom; intelligence and good health that made him achieve tremendous success, while in service.
He gave God (who is his eternal source) adequate attention in terms of worshipping Him, contributing his wealth of experience, energy and financial resources to the growth of the church and body of Christ. As he put in his best to ensure that NEPA customers enjoyed uninterrupted power supply, so also he was putting in his utmost best to ensure that the body of Christ grows and the good news is preached unhindered. A detailed look at his spiritual activities while traversing the country will reveal so many good deeds to you about the man, Awode, who apart from being a seasoned Engineer, also a devoted man of God per excellence.
SPIRITUAL EXPLOIT
Special Apostle Awode was, an accomplished minister of God at every location he found himself throughout his service years at ECN and later at NEPA.
•Awode was the Organist and Assistant Parish Secretary of Saint Emmanuel UNA Church in Gusua, Zamfara State between May 1961 and September 1964.
•From May 1965 to June 1970 and July 1991 to November 1992, Awode was the Church Organist of Cherubim and Seraphim Church Movement Headquarters in Kaduna. He was responsible for the electrification of the Church’s Mount Horeb Prayer Camp in Kaduna
•While serving at NEPA Maiduguri between June 1970 and November 1973, Awode worshiped at the Maiduguri branch of C & S Movement church. Apart from being an organist, he worked assiduously as the financial secretary of the Church Building Committee and was very instrumental to the building of the Church’s Cathedral.
•Between November 1973 and February 1978, while working in Benin on transfer, he did not relent on his spiritual activities. He worshipped devotedly at the C & S Movement Church, Benin where he was the Church Organist. It appeared that Awode had a penchant for supporting construction of Church Cathedral. This explains why he was also involved, as the Secretary of the Building Committee of the Church in Benin.
•Between February 1978 and November 1981, while working in Makurdi, Awode rescued the C & S Church, Makurdi from total closure and disintegration that almost ruined the church. He was appointed the Church Financial Secretary and later Financial Secretary of the Church Building Committee.
He spearheaded acquisition of six plots of land on which the present cathedral of the church was erected.
He was unanimously nominated the head of the Executive Committee of the Church to bring sanity to the church in compliance with directives of the then Spiritual Father, His Grace S.O Kalejaiye. On many occasions, he assumed the leadership role of the church.
To the glory of God, the church has continued to grow and intact.
•Awode was an indefatigable member of the Leaders – In – Council of the C & S Church Movement, Ibadan Number 2 Branch. He also played an active role in the efficient running of the church.
•When Special Apostle Awode returned to Lagos in September 1985, he continued his service to God at C & S Movement Church, Sabo, Yaba.
He was the Church’s Organist, Choirmaster and Choir Administrator. He was very active and dedicated to the growth of the church. He worshipped at Sabo, Yaba till July 1991, when he was transferred to Kaduna again.
After his retirement in November 1992, he returned to the church, contributing to its growth as usual.
Retired But Not Tired:
The retirement of Special Apostle Awode has given a fresh impetus to his contributive and supportive roles, he has been playing from day – one, to the sustenance and growth of the Body of Christ.
Special Apostle Awode to the glory of God was installed on February 5th, 2012, the District Chairman and General Leader of C & S Movement Church Victory District, Ikorodu. A Special and Outstanding District with 15 Churches under it. That was the position he occupied until he rested in the Lord. He is a patron and grand patron of many societies in the Body of Christ.
Hobbies
Despite Special Apostle Awode’s tight schedule, he still had time for his hobbies – which is include: Football, Lawn Tennis and Table Tennis.Special Apostle Engineer (Dr) Dickson Adekunle Awode is happily married to Special Mother – In – Israel (Prophetess) Delphine Modupe Awode. They are blessed with children who have equally recorded tremendous successes in their chosen careers.
