the General Secretary and his wife, Pastor Emmanuel and Mrs. Fidelia Mapur (Left); Immediate Past Finance Director, Pastor J.F. Omitinde (right); PA to the CAC Missions Director, Pastor Ebenezer Adedigba (Third from Right); SA to the CAC President and his wife, Pastor Tunde and Mrs. Florence Asokeji (second from right).
By Rachael Oke
Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), All Saints Chapel, on Sunday, August 30, 2026, surprised the Assistant Missions Director, Pastor Daniel Seed Ibrasang, with a birthday celebration as he marked his 60th birthday.
The surprise celebration, organised by CAC All Saints Chapel under the leadership of the
President of CAC Nigeria and Overseas, Pastor Samuel O. Oladele and the Chaplain, Pastor Tunde Asokeji, brought together ministers, members, colleagues and family members who gathered to honour the celebrant and celebrate God's faithfulness over his life and ministry.
In their testimonies, members of Pastor Ibrasang's family highlighted his love, sacrifice and exemplary commitment to his family. His wife, Mrs. Ibrasang, testified to the significant role her husband had played in shaping her life, noting that he had groomed her into the person she is today.
The daughter of the celebrant, Purity Ibrasang, also acknowledged her father's sacrifices for the family, describing his life as an example worthy of emulation.
Ministers, members and colleagues at the celebration similarly testified to Pastor Ibrasang's life of discipline, devotion and dedication to God's work.
They also acknowledged his depth in the Word of God and the dramatic nature of his personality, which they noted is often reflected in his teachings and ministry.
Responding to the outpouring of love and the surprise celebration, Pastor Ibrasang recounted his journey from birth to age 60, attributing his survival and accomplishments entirely to the grace of God.
Reflecting on the various experiences and challenges he had encountered throughout his life, he likened his journey to a civil war, saying he had nevertheless continued to survive by God's grace.
He expressed his appreciation to those who organised the celebration, admitting that he had been completely taken by surprise.
"In fact, I don't know; I have been asking, who is behind this, who is behind it? But whoever it is, I just want to say thank you very much. You have really taken me by surprise," he said, expressing his gratitude.
CAC General Secretary, Pastor Emmanuel E. Mapur, who delivered a special exhortation titled "At Sixty: Grace, Gratitude and Greater Glory," anchored his message on Joshua 14:11–12.
Using the life of Caleb as a biblical reference, Pastor Mapur stressed that attaining the age of sixty should not be regarded as the end of a person's productive years. He recalled that Caleb was forty years when he went to spy out the Promised Land and was still strong enough at eighty-five to claim his mountain.
"It has not finished at sixty," Pastor Mapur emphasised, encouraging the celebrant to see the milestone as the beginning of another significant phase of his life.
According to him, biblical numbers carry significance, and the celebration was therefore not merely about attaining a particular age but about recognising God's grace, faithfulness and the impact made over the years.
He explained that, according to Jewish tradition, sixty represents an age associated with wisdom and eldership "where strength meets with wisdom."
While society may regard sixty as the period when life begins to wind down, he noted that Scripture presents a different perspective.
"The world says, at sixty, life is winding down; on the contrary, the Bible says otherwise - life is winding up," Pastor Mapur declared.
He further encouraged Pastor Ibrasang to measure his life not merely by the number of years he had lived but by purpose, fruitfulness and impact.
"God does not count years the way men count it. God counts purpose, fruitfulness and impact," he noted.
Drawing comparisons between Jesus and Methuselah, Pastor Mapur noted that Methuselah was remembered primarily for the length of his life, while Jesus Christ, despite living on earth for only thirty-three years, left an extraordinary impact on humanity.
He described sixty as a season when a person should find fulfilment in past labour while looking forward to greater fruitfulness, referring to it as "the evening of reaping and shining brighter."
The General Secretary also encouraged Pastor Ibrasang not merely to celebrate survival but to recognise and give thanks for God's faithfulness throughout his journey.
He challenged him to look beyond past difficulties and losses, admonishing him with the words, "At sixty, don't count your losses; rather count the grace that kept you."
Referencing Psalm 103:3 and other biblical passages, Pastor Mapur encouraged the celebrant to continually count his blessings and remain intentional about thanking God.
He further urged Pastor Ibrasang to approach the next phase of his life with a kingdom-focused mindset, asking not only, "What do I want to do?" but also, "What does God want me to still do?"
Pastor Mapur reminded him that there were still territories to conquer and mountains to claim. Referring again to Caleb's faith at eighty-five, he encouraged Pastor Ibrasang not to settle for the valley when God still had mountains ahead for him.
He also stressed that unfulfilled promises should not be interpreted as denials, encouraging the celebrant to remain confident in God's faithfulness.
"Delay is not denial. If there are promises concerning your life that have not been fulfilled, God is faithful to fulfil them. Your mountain is waiting," he said.
The General Secretary further cited the example of Apostle Paul, who continued his ministry and wrote portions of his epistles in his later years, stressing that advancing in age should not become a reason to abandon God's assignment.
He concluded by encouraging Pastor Ibrasang to embrace the new chapter of his life with gratitude for the grace that had brought him thus far and renewed determination to fulfil every remaining purpose and assignment entrusted to him by God.
The celebration, hosted by the Chaplain of All Saints Chapel, Pastor Tunde Asokeji, and his wife, Mrs. Florence Asokeji, was graced by the CAC General Secretary, Pastor Emmanuel Mapur, and his wife, Mrs. Fidelia Mapur; the CAC Missions Director, Pastor Caxton Segun Fasuyi, who was represented by his Personal Assistant, Pastor Ebenezer Adedigba; the Immediate Past CAC Finance Director, Pastor Johnson Folusho Omitinde; the CAC Administration Manager, Pastor Kolawole Oyerinde; and the CAC Assistant Director of Music, Pastor Paul Bankole, who was represented by his wife, Evangelist (Mrs.) Esther Bankole.
The celebration ended with thanksgiving to God for the life of Pastor Daniel Seed Ibrasang and his family, prayers for greater grace, strength, wisdom and fulfilment; as well as presentation of gifts.
