By Fr. Anthony Adetayo

Since the unprecedented arrival of the COVID 19 PANDEMIC, the entertainment industry has experienced drastically low involvement of personnel in its activities due to inability of large number of people to gather anywhere. Likewise the Church has only been ministering to people via online platforms. In order to keep encouraging the people as they wait for the end of this pandemic lockdown, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Ijebu Ode, Most Rev. Dr. Francis Obafemi Adesina prompted the priests of the Diocese to console the people in some musical forms.

On the 15th May 2020, the Parish Priest of St. Michael Catholic Church, Ago Iwoye Fr. Patrick Balogun hosted the priests to record the song titled “Renew us Lord”.

The song which is an adaptation from Keith Getty and Stuart Townend’s “IN CHRIST ALONE” features various verses. The vocalists were Fr. Michael Elogie, Fr. Anthony Adetayo, Fr. Stephen Osinkoya and Fr. James Oluka. Other singer was Fr. Daniel Ogunsanya. Fr. Peter Owolabi played the Sax, Fr. Olanrewaju handled the violin and Fr. John Igwe was on the keyboard. Fr. Alfred Nworie was on the guitar. Fr. John Aruleba and Fr. Anthony Abdulahi handled other percussion instruments.

The song was produced by Fr. Joseph Ogunnupebi and directed by Fr. Leo Awojinrin, the Social Communication Director.

The song has since been trending on YouTube and has gone viral. The clearest feedback is that people want more of this. The song can be seen on Ijebu Ode Diocese YouTube channel.

The wordings of the song are so deeply appreciated by everyone who listened to it.

In you alone we put our trust
You never forsake your children.
The world is sick in need of help
In this time of pain and distress
Come heal us from this pandemic
Great physician, Mighty healer
Open for us the door of faith
You alone can restore our joy

What now becomes of empty purse
Questions to ask in time of chaos
The world broke down, down to the dawn
Darkness seems to win over light
Despite the pain that grips our vain
The heathen say, where is our faith
Christ is the place our faith remains
Whether good or bad he’s our gain

Your promises for us are sure
Your love for us is evermore
In this crisis strengthen our faith
Our efforts alone cannot help
Come with your all powerful hand
We have nowhere to run but you
Renew us Lord we pray to you
Renew the face of all the earth

Baba orun, gba iyin wa
Fun oore ofe re julo
B’esu ba de, ni idanwo
Gbe agbelebu wa fun wa
K’ama subu ni ona re
T’a ba subu, gbe wa dide
B’ojo ba ro, b’orun ba ran
Jesu tire l’a o ma se