The second semester, which began with the ‘get away’, ‘off campus’ one day retreat of NBTS Faculty and Senior Administrative staff, and continued with retreats for the intermediate and junior staff did not end there. There was also a three-day spiritual retreat for the whole community, which was held from 10 to 11 am daily concurrently in the Multiple Purpose Hall and the Chapel from Wednesday, February 5 to Friday, February 7, 2025. While the former venue had services in English, the latter held in Yoruba. It was a time of renewal and revival indeed as there was music, resounding and heartfelt messages, as well as prayers as God called the whole community to prayerfully examine our lives.

In the English retreat worship experience, Rev. Dr Ruth M. Oyeniyi led on Wednesday, February 5; Rev. Dr Kehinde Olusanya on Thursday, February 6; and Rev. Prof. Olusayo Oladejo on Friday, February 7. The topics were ‘Valuing God’s Labour Over the Vineyard,’ ‘The Disappointing Vineyard’ and ‘Divine Judgment’ respectively, all from Isaiah 5: 1 – 7 as the foundational passage. In the Yoruba worship experience, Rev. Dr. Gbenga Adebayo, Rev. Dr. Akinwale Oloyede and Rev.Prof. Olusola Ayo-Obiremi led the Yoruba equivalent sessions titled ‘Mimoyi Ise Olorun Lori Ogba Ajara Re’ (Isaiah 5:1–2a); ‘Ogba Ajara to Janikule’ (Isaiah 5:2b) and ‘Idajo Atokewa’ respectively.

Dr R. M Oyeniyi helped worshippers realize that the way to value God’s labour over the vineyard is to understand His labour over the vineyard, understand God’s expectation from the vineyard; and to understand the vineyard’s response to God’s expectation. She charged all Seminarians to note that where God has placed each of,us, is our own green grass (where he makes us lie down – Psalm 23:2) and as such, we should not covet the green grass of others; that God has intentionally done so much for each one and that our response should be positive and not contrary to the expectations of the One who owns His vineyard. Thereafter, Dr Raphael Oparinde led all to pray for others and for ourselves.

Dr Kehinde Olusanya, ministering from Isaiah 5: 4 following called worshippers’ attention that after all that the owner of the vineyard had done for it; it brought forth the wrong type of fruit. He made clear how extremely disappointing the fruit from the vine was – so disappointing that producing no fruit at all would have been better than the bitter, stinking fruit the vine produced. He exposed the marks of a disappointing vineyard and by extension, a disappointing child of God. He identified four out of many such marks – Mastery of materialism (Isaiah 5:8), “If material is higher than ministry, then you are on the way to becoming a disappointing servant (of God);” prioritising pleasure; confidence in corruption (Is 5:18 – 19) and judgment without justice (Is 5:20). Thereafter, he and Dr Sogo Adegoke led all to pray for themselves and for others.

Prof. Olusayo B. Oladejo reiterated on the last day of the revival that when we do not place value on the work the owner of the vineyard has done, we become disappointing vines and vineyards. He further reiterated that the Seminary is a place God has invested so much in. The Seminary can be likened to the vineyard. Just as God established Israel, He brought us together in the Seminary and He expects us to bear good fruits, the fruit of righteousness.

Prof. Oladejo highlighted three judgments pronounced by God on the disappointing vineyard: He will take away its hedge, it will be trampled down, and it will become a wasteland. However, repentance can restore God’s divine protection, as despite the pronouncement of the judgment, the vineyard’s owner still has a sense of ownership.

In the Yoruba worship, Prof. Ayo-Obiremi reviewed the extent of the disappointing nature of the fruit produced, thus warranting the gross disappointment of the owner of the vineyard. She graphically described the evil and rottenness of the fruit produced by the people of Judah from Isaiah 5, highlighting ten marks of the bad stinking fruit produced by the people of Judah. They produced grapes of bloodshed instead of justice (Is. 5:7a); fruits leading to cries of distress instead of righteousness (Is. 5:7b); self centredness, ostentation (Is. 5:6); pleasure priorities such as drinking (Is. 5: 11 – 12a &22); lack of regard for God (Owner) of the vineyard (Is. 5:12b); were mockers of God (Is 5:19); perpetual sinners (Is 5: 18 ); not trustworthy but given to personal aggrandizement; worship of money; taking money as bribes and in wrong ways; calling good evil and evil good Is 5:20 & 23 and were wise in their own eyes (Is. 5:6).

The judgment that would befall the vineyard is that of destruction, disgrace (through ridiculous annoying yields – Is 5:10); desolation (Is. 5:6, 24 – 25) as God would make the vineyard a wasteland and disorientation due to displacement through exile (Is 5:13a, 26 – 30). She then led those in the Yoruba service to thank God for His love which calls us to repentance, for our location; His investments in us, to confess every way we have disappointed God and to pray for mercy so we will not be destroyed, disgraced, desolate or disoriented.  

In all, the spiritual retreat was a great beginning, a step in the right direction for all in the community to build on through the semester and beyond – and build on it indeed people have through the daily chapel devotions and koinonia on Thursday evening.

The Chaplains presided alternately in English and Yoruba sections – Rev. Dr Olaide Ajeigbe and the assistant chaplains, Rev. Dr Oluwakemi Omotunde and Rev. Stephen Oyelowo.