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By Adebowale Johnson
Reverend Canon Asoliye Douglas-West celebrated his 60th birthday on March 8 with a deeply spiritual and memorable communal worship and thanksgiving. Rather than a lavish social gathering, the milestone was commemorated with a special Community Hymn Singing service at Our Saviour’s Church, Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, under the Diocese of Lagos (Anglican Communion).
The event brought together clergy, church members, family, and friends who gathered to honour the cleric through praise and reflection.
The evening was filled with reverent worship as the congregation lifted their voices in a rich selection of timeless Christian hymns that resonated through the historic church auditorium. For nearly two hours, worshippers sang beloved classics such as “My Faith Looks Up to Thee,” “The Lord’s My Shepherd, I’ll Not Want,” “Be Thou My Vision, O Lord of My Heart,” “I Need Thee Every Hour,” and “All Creatures of Our God and King.” Other hymns included “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” “Dear Lord and Father of Mankind,” “All for Jesus,” and “Now Thank We All Our God.”
The opening hymn, “O Worship the King, All Glorious Above,” set the tone for the evening, drawing the congregation into a reflective atmosphere of gratitude and devotion. The carefully selected hymns underscored themes of faith, divine guidance, and thanksgiving, reflecting the celebrant’s lifelong dedication to Christian ministry and service.
Several prominent clergy members and dignitaries attended the event to honour the celebrant. Among them were the Diocesan Bishop of Lagos, The Rt. Revd. Ifedola Okupevi; The Ven. Folorunsho OreOluwa Agbelusi, Vicar and Archdeacon of Ikoyi; The Revd. Uchenna Nwanonyoba; The Revd. Canon Akintunde Idowu; The Ven. Bola Osinupebi; and The Ven. Samuel Adurofagbaje. Others present included The Ven. Segun Agbetuyi and Alfred Alagoa, alongside numerous clergy and parishioners who came to celebrate the milestone with the respected cleric.
During the service, prayers were offered for the celebrant, acknowledging his years of faithful service to the church and praying for continued grace and strength in the years ahead. Clergy members expressed gratitude for his dedication to the work of the ministry, noting that his impact within the church community had been both meaningful and enduring.
In one of the prayers, the officiating minister thanked God for the life and ministry of Canon Douglas-West and for the peace and joy that comes through salvation. He prayed that God’s divine presence would fill the gathering and grant the congregation the grace to join the heavenly hosts in joyful worship.
“May the Spirit divine fall fresh upon us,” the minister prayed. “May the Lord be gracious to you and bless you, and let His face shine upon you. Let all the people praise you; let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the people with integrity and govern the nations upon earth.”
The prayer also called for God’s continued blessings upon the celebrant’s life, family, and ministry, asking that the earth would yield its fruitfulness and that God’s favour would remain with His people.
The highlight of the evening came when Canon Douglas-West delivered an emotional testimony, reflecting on recent experiences that he described as clear evidence of God’s protection and grace in his life.
Overwhelmed by the love and support shown by those in attendance, he expressed heartfelt gratitude to the clergy, church leadership, friends, family members, and congregants who gathered to celebrate with him.
“There is no better gift than this,” he said warmly. “I am truly overwhelmed and overjoyed.”
He then recounted two incidents that occurred shortly before his birthday which he described as powerful testimonies of divine intervention.
The first incident happened about two weeks before February 23, 2026. As he was about to begin a church service, he missed two steps while descending a staircase and crashed to the floor.
“You can imagine how a 95-kilogram man crashing to the floor,” he said humorously, recalling the moment. According to him, members of the choir who witnessed the fall were unsure whether to laugh or rush to help because of the suddenness of the incident.
Clergy members immediately came to his aid and helped him to his feet. Remarkably, despite the heavy fall, he suffered no injuries and was able to proceed with the service as scheduled.
“Ordinarily, you would expect that something would have happened, perhaps a sprained ankle or worse,” he noted. “But I stood up and officiated the service, and after everything, I was completely fine.”
The second incident occurred on February 22 while he was travelling to church for an early morning service. His vehicle hit a deep pothole, what he described as more of a crater than a pothole, causing two tyres to burst instantly.
Travelling at about 60 kilometres per hour, the sudden tyre damage left them stranded and running late for the 7 a.m. service. Concerned that he might not make it on time, he contacted the Provost to request that another minister stand in for him.
However, the response he received was reassuring: “Don’t worry, you will make it.”
As they tried to resolve the situation around 5:30 a.m., local youths in the area offered assistance, helping them search for a vulcaniser. Just as uncertainty grew, a church bus arrived with two drivers to pick them up. One driver stayed behind with the damaged vehicle while the other rushed the celebrant to church.
Despite the unexpected setback, Canon Douglas-West arrived only slightly late and was able to continue with the service without disruption.
Reflecting on the experiences, he described them as reminders of God’s protection and the supportive community around him.
For many in attendance, the evening’s celebration was not just a birthday event but a powerful expression of faith, gratitude, and communal fellowship, fitting tributes to a life devoted to service in the vineyard of God.
