An authority in church history, Revd (Prof) Akin Omoyajowo, in the publication: ‘Churchmakers in Nigeria’ traced the evolution and phenomenal growth of Christianity and asserted that “a new era in Christianity was introduced with the emergence of the Independent Churches from the second decade of the last century”. He submits that “the First World War had just ended and the economic depression which accompanied it was telling on everybody. Then came the terrible influenza epidemic which in Lagos alone claimed thousands of lives”. Having mixed with white priests and gaining the understanding that they were not superior in terms of forging relationships with God, the native priests “prayed fervently after receiving visions from God to call the church to a life of prayers as early as 1918, through an Anglican Church in Isonyin, Ijebu area of Ogun State of Nigeria” He continues: “These were followed by the birth of Faith Tabernacle in 1923, and which later became the Apostolic Church, which also later metamorphosed in 1930, into the Christ Apostolic Church. The Cherubim and Seraphim Church which was founded by Apostle Moses Orimolade Tunolase and Christianah Abiodun Akinsowon, and came alive in 1925, while the Church of the Lord (Aladura) came into existence in 1930. “All these churches have made remarkable contributions to the exponential growth of Christianity in Nigeria.”
The ferocious prayers in the 1920s and 1930s evidently laid the groundwork for the work of God and the increasing tidal waves of evangelism, rolling from Nigeria to other nations of the world, across the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Arguably, Nigerian priests have done serious intercessions for the whole world, taking extra-ordinary bold moves to liberate humanity for Christ. Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo, one of the leading lights of the gospel in Nigeria asserts that ‘’God has chosen and positioned Nigeria strategically for the second coming of Christ.’’ Of note is Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo’s declaration in the publication: NIGERIA’s LEADING LIGHTS OF THE GOSPEL: Revolutionaries in Worldwide Christianity’ authored by Femi Adelegan that the waves of revivals in Nigeria could be clearly divided into three parts. These, according to him are “the revivals of the 1930s engineered by the ‘Aladura Churches’ and which brought about salvation and spontaneous explosion of Christianity; the end of Nigeria’s civil war in 1970, which gave birth to the ‘born-again generation’ and increased tracts distribution; and the latter part of the 1970s which opened the doors to Word of Faith and Christian publications of renowned servants of God like Kenneth E.Hagins and Kenneth Copeland; accompanied by preaching of practicalities of Pentecostal beliefs. ‘’These beliefs radically changed the understanding of many Christians about the preaching of the word of God, particularly the application of faith”. The fire of revival in Nigeria has continued to glow intensely and aggressively as the rapture approaches. Such is the intensity and vibrant nature of the service rendered in God’s vineyard by Nigeria’s leading lights of the gospel that many have claimed that Jesus Christ may return through Nigeria.
END TIME
Relating his experience in his publication, ‘I Believe in Visions’, Kenneth Erwin Hagin, an American charismatic preacher said the world has seen and experienced many healings, but will now witness amazing miracles not yet seen before. In a revelation, Jesus Christ told Hagin that “all the gifts of the Spirit will be in operation in the Church in these last days and the Church will do greater things than what the Early Church did. It will have greater power, signs, and wonders than were recorded in the Acts of the Apostles.” He quoted the Lord as revealing to him the fact that “We have seen and experienced many healings, but we will now behold amazing miracles that have not been seen before”. Jesus continued: “More and more miracles will be performed in the last days which are just ahead, for it is time for the gift of the working of miracles to be more in prominence. We now have entered into the era of the miraculous. “Many of my people will not accept the moving of my Spirit and will turn back and will not be ready to meet me at my coming. Many will be deceived by false prophets and miracles of satanic origin. ‘’But follow the word of God, the Spirit of God, and me and you will not be deceived. I am gathering my own together and I am preparing them, for the time is short.”
The exploits of God, through notable Nigerian servants of God are legendary. Many of them have joined the Saints Triumphant are treated in Part Three. These include Bishop Ajayi-Crowther, Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola, Prophet Moses Orimolade Tunolase, Elder Jacob Kehinde Coker of the African Church, Revd Moses Ladejo Stone of the Baptist Church, Revd. (Dr) Emmanuel Dahunsi of the Baptist Convention, Prophet Josiah Ositelu of the Aladura Movement, Revd Josiah Olufemi Akindayomi, founder of the Redeemed Christian Church of God; Revd Samuel Granville Elton; Evangelist Timothy Aremu Iyanda of Go Ye Evangelical Ministry whose sonorous voice rang on the electronic media in the 1970s, and Archbishop Benson Andrew Idahosa, a charismatic tele-evangelist who together with Timothy Iyanda, revolutionalized the face of electronic media evangelism; Revd James Abayomi Boyejo of the Foursquare Gospel Church, and Pastor Bilewu Oschoffa, founder of the Celestial Church of Christ. They are considered as notable workers who served God whole-heartedly while they sojourned on planet earth. There were others like Prophet Durojaiye, Revd J.K. Solomon and Rev. Sydney Graham Elton a British missionary that was ordered by God to relocate from the United Kingdom to Ilesa in the 1930s and was part of the great move of God at that period.
THE PLACE OF OSUN STATE
Let us examine how God has impacted the whole world through Osun State in particular, and Nigeria in general. We cannot ignore the fact that men like Pastor E. A. Adeboye, Pastor W. F. Kumuyi, Bishop Francis Wale Oke, Bishop David Oyedepo, Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, Brother Gbile Akanni, Dr. Daniel Olukoya and Prophet S.K. Abiara, to mention a few, have been positive influences in this move in Nigeria. Examining the preponderance of leading lights of the gospel in Osun State of Nigeria, one of the 36 federating units in the country, Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo says it is a product of the Great Revival of the 1930s. Asimolowo says “this is a product of the great revivals of the 1930s and asserts that “every time there is an earthquake, it sends reverberations far. Take for instance notable servants of God like Enoch Adeboye, William Kumuyi, Gabriel Olubunmi Fakeye, Samuel Kayode Abiara, Timothy Obadare and several others. Is this a design by God? All the people come from no more than 10 miles radius to Ilesha. There are others like Mike Oye.
Because in 1928-30, when Joseph Ayo Babalola rose, the magnitude of prayer and anointing that broke out is what is still creating a reverberation. It is a sure sign that God has a way of birthing spiritual things.
An interesting assertion by Ashimolowo is that ‘’None of these church leaders got saved in the same circumstance. None of them had connections to their salvation in the same circumstance. I have sat with Pastor Adeboye; his testimony is so different from that of Baba Abiara. I am so close to Baba Abiara and his testimony is so different from that of Pastor William Kumuyi. So, Ilesha was more like the centre point of the spiritual earthquake that exploded in Nigeria. So
we are like the first off-shoot to experience the earthquake and then it spread on to other places. Of course, when it affects you, you now take it and your own grace is added, your own calling is added and everything is mixed and a better coming forth takes place. So, that is one of the key reasons and the beauty of Nigeria is that every 40 years, there is a testing and Nigeria has continued to experience a blessing at the end of the testing. 1930, the revival broke out. 1970, the civil war ended in Nigeria, 40 years later. At the end of the Civil War in any nation, you either have a revolution, riots or a revival. Another revival broke out in 1970 in Nigeria, touching all the corners. Most of us got saved just after 1970. And then every 10 years, there is a like a renewal of something fresh in the land”.
It is possible that these foremost priests must have prayed for their generations yet unborn and God honoured their prayers.From the foregoing, one could assert that prayer is a very potent weapon. And you can pray for even generations yet unborn. Now let’s examine how God has been tremendously kind to Osun State.
God moved mightily through the Great Revivals of the 1930s to use His priest, Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola to impact humanity. The arena for tremendous miracles, signs and wonders was Ilesa. Ayo Babalola, an indigene of Kwara State was at the time God called him a caterpillar operator resident in Ipetu-Ijesha and was called in Ikeji, a settlement three kilometres from Ipetu-Ijesha. He ended his assignment on earth in Ede, Osun
Apostle D.O. Babajide, who succeeded Apostle Babalola in 1959 was a non-indigene, but lived the greater part of his life in Ilesa where he founded a thriving School of Evangelists & Prophets. He also ended his terrestrial journey in Ilesa, Osun State at the age of 110 years
Prophet G.A. Oyelami of CAC Ori Oke Alasepe, one of the aides of Apostle Ayo Babalola operated in Osun State until his death
Apostle/Prophet Timothy Obadare hailed from Ilesa
Prophet Samuel Akande of of Ori Oke Baba Abiye, Ede was one of the prominent aides of Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola
God sent a British missionary, Rev. Sydney Graham Elton specifically to Ilesa from the United Kingdom in the 1930s. He was part of the move of God at that period. He lived and died in Ilesa, and succeeded in impacting his generation.
Rev. Timothy Aremu Iyanda, an indigene of Kwara State was born in Orile-Owu, Osun State and spent his childhood years in that location.
Rev. Sydney Graham Elton, a British missionary was directed by God to proceed to Ilesa in the 1930s for a divine assignment
Bishop David Olaniyi Oyedepo lived briefly in Osogbo with his parents during his formative years. He had his first memorable encounter with God during a 72-hour marathon prayer session in Ilesa
Pastor E. A. Adeboye hails from Ifewara
Pastor W. F. Kumuyi, is from Erin-Ijesa
Prophet S.K. Abiara is from Erinmo near
Rev. (Dr) Mike Oye is from Inisa
Pastor (Mrs) Folu Adeboye is from Ilesa
Pastor Gabriel Oladele Olutola is from Ilesha
Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo, is from Ode-Omu, near OsogboApostle/Prophet Gabriel Olubunmi Fakeye is from Imesi-Ile in Ijeshaland Rev. Joe Olaiya is from OsogboBishop Felix Remi Adejumo is from Ororuwo near Ikirun
Bishop Matthew Ayoola Olubusuyi is from Ijesaland, Rev. (Mrs) Victoria Olatokunbo Oke is from Erin-Ijesha,
For fuller information, purchase your copy on NIGERIA’S LEADING LIGHTS OF THE GOSPEL today at the following locations:
The Bookstores, RCCG, Redemtion Camp; Mowe, Ogun State
Dunamis International Ministries, Area, Abuja
The Sword of the Spirit Ministries, Olaogun, Ibadan
Mountain of Fire & Miracles, Utako Regional Headquarters, Abuja