My memory of Pastor G. O. Olutola

My memory of Pastor G.O. Olutola.

I called Baba Olutola a day before his passing on to Glory. I called him on the 13th of February around 1:15 p.m., which was around 7:15 pm. in Nigeria. We had family discussions, being an older brother to me. He asked about my children one after the other like he usually did. I asked him to pray for me. Baba prayed for me. During our discussion and his subsequent prayer for me, I did not notice any sign of distress on his part. He prayed, blessed me, and he said the benediction, and we both said the motto. I did not know I was getting the last blessing from him. The next day, I received a call that Baba had passed on. I was confused, I did not know what to do; whether to cry or to rejoice. It was shocking news, but I am glad that he blessed me once more before his final departure.
Apart from the fact that Baba and I were family, we also worked together as Sunday school teachers. Baba was the leader/ superintendent at Ilesha, and I was blessed to be one of the Sunday school teachers under his leadership. I experienced his skills and organizational abilities, which later propelled him to be one if not the most successful leaders in the Apostolic Church history.
Baba Olutola was a great family man.  He loved taking care of family and checking on families’ well-being. Since I lost my husband, Baba Olutola has always been supportive. He would ask for my children one by one, asked how far they were in their education, and prayed for them. When my son was getting married in the Eastern part of Nigeria, he told me that people in the East cherish having a lot of people on the in-law side, and he organized our church in Enugu to go along with me, and the superintendent in Enugu came with a bus full of church members to support me.
Baba was a real man of God, always seeking family welfare. There was no issue you took to him; he would listen to you attentively and tackle the problem.
Baba, you are going to be missed by me, my family, and the church.
The Scripture says, “Then I heard a voice from heaven saying [a]to me, Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.” Rev. 14:13 (NKJV).

Baba, you have fought a good fight of faith and have laid your sword at the feet of the Lord Jesus. Rest in the bosom of your Lord and God until the dawn of resurrection when we shall meet to part no more.

Deaconess Rachel Anike Fatunase.
North Carolina, USA