Francis Wale Oke, Mike Bamiloye, Ademola Ishola, others grace dedication of multimillion naira auditorium in Ogbomoso

Francis Wale Oke, Mike Bamiloye, Ademola Ishola, others grace dedication of multimillion naira auditorium in Ogbomoso

Yinka ADETUNJI

Bishop (Dr) Francis Wale Oke (national president of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN), Evangelist Mike Bamiloye (president, the Mount Zion Faith Ministry International), Rev’d Dr Ademola Ishola (a former general secretary of the Nigeria Baptist Convention, NBC) and Rev’d Professor S. Ola Ayankeye (president of the Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary, NBTS, Ogbomoso) were among the ministers of God who graced the dedication of the newly completed auditorium of the headquarters of the True Worshippers Church & Evangelical Alliance Nigeria. The complex is nicknamed Amazing Grace Gardens.

Bishop Francis Wale Oke cutting the tape to commission the auditorium

The historical event which held Friday, January 12, also had in attendance Rev’d Professor Emiola Nihinlola (immediate past president of NBTS, Ogbomoso), Rev’d Dr.Thomas Niyi-Ojo (president of Ogbomoso Baptist Conference), Pastor Prof Adeolu Afolabi (lDepatment of Computer Science Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, LAUTECH and founder of Revealed Word of God Global Ministry), Rev’d Dr Victor Oyelowo (pastor First Baptist Church, Okelerin), The Venerable Dr J.S. Adegoke (chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Ogbomoso Zone), The Rev’d Dr.Titus Olayinka (Bishop Anglican Diocese Ogbomoso) represented, Venerable Poju Adebayo (St. Mary’s Anglican Church, Oluyole Ibadan), among others.

Traditional rulers also graced the occasion including the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye represented; the Onpetu of Ijeru, Oba Sunday Oladapo Oyediran, represented; Aale Okelerin Oba Samuel Babatunde Oyebamiji Amao and his wife, Olori Deborah Ojuolape Amao; wife of Alapa of Okin-Apa, Oba Professor John Akintola, Olori Oluwakemi; and Alaaje of Aaje Ologo, HRH Reuben Adesina Amao.

This is as politicians who included the late Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala family represented by his wives, Pastor Mrs Florence Alao-Akala, Chief Mrs Oluwakemi Alao-Akala, and Hon Lamiju Alao-Akala as well as Senator Fatai Buhari, also attended.

Bishop Wale Oke delivered the sermon taking the text from Exodus 40: 33-34. Bishop Oke, who is also president and founder of The Sword of the Spirit Ministries International Ibadan, expressed thanks to God for the completion of the project drawing parallel with how Moses finished the construction of the tabernacle of God as narrated in the passage read. “So, Moses finished the work. We are giving thanks to God today for finishing the work. Today, we can say Niyi finished the work. He is the executor of the vision of God. It is a good thing to give thanks to the Lord so we give thanks to the Lord, it is good we give thanks to the Lord so He can do more for us. Don’t forget to give thanks to the Lord,” he stated.

The revered cleric emphasized the glory of the Lord must always fill the “tabernacle,” quoting verse 34 of the text, as he asserted, “If the presence of God is not in a building the place is empty though it may have all things.”

Bishop Oke prayed the glory of the Lord will fill the house, saying, “it is always the desire of God to fill his house with glory always. Moses was the first man in the Bible to erect a place of worship for the Lord. And the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.”

Rev’d Dr Thomas Niyi Ojo (left) with Rev’d Prof Emiola Nihinlola

He consequently prayed “the glory of the Lord will fill the True Worshipers Church auditorium night and day.”

This is just as the man of God prayed earnestly for the founder and lead pastor of the ministry, Rev’d Niyi Adebayo and his wife and the congregation as a whole.
Rev’d Niyi Adebayo was all thanks to God saying as a vessel unto God he was not qualified or worthy but that God lifted him with mercy just as he recounted how God used people to provide financial aid for the treatment of his wife, Pastor Grace Adebayo, during a terrible sickness he disclosed almost claim her life.

Evangelist Mike Bamiloye presents an award to Oba Samuel Amao Aale Okelerin and his wife Olori Deborah Ojuolape

The event also featured prayer for the family of the former Oyo state governor, Chief Alao-Akala, as the day coincided with the second anniversary of his passage.

Chief Alao-Akala, it was revealed, donated the land for the auditorium.

Rev’d Dr Victor Oyelowo, pastor, First Baptist Church Okelerin Ogbomoso (second left)

Aale of Okelerin Oba Amao congratulated Niyi Adebayo and his wife as well as members of the church for the landmark event .Also, the monarch felicitated Oba Ghandi Olaoye, the Soun, praying God will guide the path of the new Oba of Ogbomoso.
Other speakers at the event expressed appreciation to God for the grace to initiate and complete the auditorium project, while eulogizing the members for their doggedness.

Alaaje of Aaje Ologo HRH Reuben Adesina Amao Osunbiyi I

In an interview with newsmen, Rev’d Adebayo thanking the guests, recalled the many challenges faced in the journey to the accomplishment. “It was not easy getting this far. We faced many challenges. In my childhood, I was confronted by many vicissitudes of life, I was a note copy writer, a farm labourer, tipper boy, bread seller, water vendor, I engaged in so many things that will be considered degrading, I couldn’t pay school fees. But thank God for where he has taken us today,” he said.

Pastor Mrs Florence and Chief Mrs Kemi Akala receive a posthumous award for the late former governor Chief Adebayo Akala from Evangelist Mike Bamiloye

On how the construction of the multi-million naira building project was accomplished he enthused, “It is God.” He further said, “His Excellency, Chief Akala gave us the land, but I must say we didn’t beg people for money to execute the project, it’s God that did it,” while encouraging the upcoming ones “to rely on God.” He then added, “Grace is my secret. I am not rich, I am not educated, but I received grace.”