BY OLUSEGUN OLUWOLE
Attaining the age of 60 in this stressed and troubled world is an achievement that worth celebrating and thanking the Almighty God for. That is the reason I cannot but join the family, friends, associates and the entire members of the Redeemed Christian of God Church (RCCG) worldwide to felicitate with my Daddy and my Brother, Pastor Samuel Sunday Jegede, the Provincial Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God and Pastor in Charge, Abundant Grace Parish, Hamburg, Germany, who attains the age of 60 on 31 December 2022.
I could remember while granting an interview recently, Pastor Jegede said: “I do not see myself turning 60. I give glory to God for the good health. I am still very active, participating in sporting activities in this age. I can ride bicycle on a long ride. and I do walk a lot. I am not sluggish because I hate sluggish people. I am a youthful sixty.”
This describes the lifestyle of Pastor Jegede who is popularly called the ‘Smiling General’ by many who know him that there is no dull moment around this great man of God.
Samuel Sunday Jegede, the Pastor in charge of Abundant Grace Parish Hamburg, the Headquarters of RCCG in Germany, has been living in Seevetal, a German village for the past 30 years. This is where he has raised his family and lived most of his life home away from home.
“This village is part of me and I am part of the village. The moment I leave this village, I am going back home to retire in Nigeria,” he once told a group of interviewers recently.
His ancestral home is in Arigidi, Akoko Northwest Local Government Area in Ondo State, southwest Nigeria, a home to the late Pastor T.B. Joshua, leader and founder of Synagogue, Church of All Nations, Lagos.
God has been using Pastor Samuel Sunday Jegede at RCCG where he has been a vessel winning souls into the Kingdom.
Pastor Jegede grew up as an Anglican from a strict Christian home, nurtured by God fearing parents. He had a sister, Mrs Eunice Iyabode Adojutelegan who influenced the life of this great servant of God, so also did his mother, Mrs Felicia Jegede.
“I must confess, 75 percent of my characters and attitudes come from my mother. I learnt a lot from her.”
It is no wonder that all his three children were uniquely named. Felicia, the eldest (You are my pride), Joshua (You are my strength) and Eunice (You are my joy).
“These children are joy to me, and I am happy that God preserve my life till this moment,” he said.
He called on the youths across the world never to give up on their dreams as he is one of the good examples who they can look up to.
“We are in a dispensation where many things are possible, no room for failure. You can turn bad situation to good and succeed. That you do not go to school is not the end of the world, don’t lose hope as you can still succeed; only that you should not try to live another’s person life. Try not to be anybody, your life is your life.”
People around this great man of God called him the ‘Smiling General’. To him, he is just a simply human being, who sees life in its simplicity.
“People said they know it is me from far off through my smiling. In all situation, I smile. I am so happy for my life because I do not feel like I am 60, I strongly belief in the Lord that my life is full of life.”
The world is going to celebrate the Smiling General come Saturday, 31 December 2022. The place to be is Ibis Hotel on Toyin Street in the heart of Ikeja, the capital city of Lagos State where the 60th Birthday Thanksgiving will take place.
