I feel a deep sense of reverence when I think about this great man of God whom I have heard so much about. Though I was not opportune to be alive during his time, I got the privilege of growing up in Omuaran, a town less than 10 kilometres away from Odo-Owa, Joseph Babalola’s home town and place of birth. You can not but marvel and have the Spirit in you stirred up when you listen to great stories that characterised the ministry of this Apostle of God as well as that of the early days of our dear Church –Christ Apostolic Church. My grand uncle, Pastor Adi who established the first Christ Apostolic Church in Isanlu (My home town in Kogi State, Nigeria) had some close interactions with this great man of God. I remember feeling so proud of this great man of God while attending a programme organised at and by House on The Rock in Church Headquarters in Lagos, Nigeria in 2003. The event was a celebration on the life of great men of God who had impacted Nigeria and Africa. It was awesome to see the picture of our beloved Apostle in the centre of the gallery. As a keen student of church history, I have read books, articles and materials on the life of preachers like John Wesley, Martin Luther King, John Lake, Smith Wigglesworth, Kathryn Kuhlman, Kenneth Hagen (Snr), William Seymour and a lot more and I am confident to assert that Apostle Babalola's ministry, life, legacy, passion for souls and aggressive evangelism reinforced by signs of Apostle makes him a complete Apostle who deserves more reckoning and celebration than we project. A true Apostle is one whose ministry, message and legacy transcends denominational lines and blesses the body of Christ. In 2Corinthians 12:12 the bible asserts that an Apostle must exhibit patience in ministry and operate in the power of the Holy Spirit with attendant manifestation of signs and wonders and mighty deeds; 'Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.' Looking at the definition above, there is absolutely no doubt that Joseph Babalola fits perfectly in the class of Great Apostles. I cannot cease to be amazed by God’s magnanimity to humanity when I consider how God can pour so much of His power on a 24 years old, single and apparently not so educated young man! Babalola, born in 1904, received a profound call into ministry in 1928, and pioneered a nation-shaking revival that formally started in 1930 at the age of 26! This man was so evidently anointed that the great men of God who had been praying for revival long before Babalola’s call to ministry readily accepted him into the Faith Tabernacle Assembly. They also conducted baptism by immersion for him and unanimously endorsed him as the anchor evangelist for the revival and great move of God that started in 1930; they did not have a slight feeling of insecurity, competition or disaffection. One major modern day church characteristics this revival team lacked was ‘Church politics’. This was principally because they were all under the influence and leading of the Holy Ghost. The bible says those who compare themselves with other are not wise. A Christian character study is meant to help the student to gain applied understanding on the background, calling, strength, weaknesses, effect of the individuals life on others and relationship with God among other things. However, in doing such a study one will need not to study a character in isolation in other to identify common ministerial challenges in other to avoid pitfalls and learn lesson from their strength. In Africa, we have a major problem of record keeping. Documentation of events helps to transfer history from generations to generations. Documented history supersedes 'oral tradition' in several respects. The life and ministries of European and American evangelists and ministers are well documented and celebrated. In fact, African Christians are more aware of American preachers than their African contemporaries. This may be attributed to technological disparity. Nonetheless we need to celebrate our own and learn from their lives. William Branham started well in ministry but faltered in the end, he even veered off the part of sound doctrine in the name of revelations. Today, In Roberts Liardon's book "God's Generals" he mentioned that Branham even went further off by saying that polygamy was only forbidden for women and not for men and that women were the source of all evil on earth! Others like Alexander Dowie knew from the onset that he was a man on a mission but latter began to see himself as the second Elijah! Jack Coe was a man of rugged faith but in the end we see ministerial competition in his ministry. Kathryn Khulman's ministry enjoyed much publicity thus Christians around the globe are acquainted with the exploits in her ministry though at the later part she had flows around her marriage! In the next episode, I will attempt to relay some of the numerous stories of success, boldness, healings, the power of prayer and demonstrations of the Holy Spirit in the life of Apostle Babalola and in the early days of our Church. I must also point out that miracles, signs and wonder still happen in this ministry today. I also like to appreciate the effort and dedication of those who have compiled and written books about the ministry and life of one of God's best gift to Africa in human form- ApostleAyodele Babalola. Many thanks to Christ Apostolic Church for immortalizing him by naming the University after him. GLORY TO GOD.
DR. OLUJOBI VICTOR
CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH PRETORIA
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