Tribute to a Beloved Father-in-Law

Thirty-eight (38) years ago, you formally welcomed me into the Olutola family as your first son-in-law with an open hand and prayer.

I remember my first close contact with you was around 1974. You came to our church then (TACN Ikoyi Assembly, Oke-Igbogi Area) for ministration when the then Assembly Pastor ( Late Apostle J.O. Banji) was not around. The way God used your ministration in my life made me knelt down after your departure to ask God for one thing. ” God, please touch the heart of the leaders so that any time Baba Banji will be transferred, let Pastor Olutola replace him as our Assembly Pastor.”

I thank God that my simple prayer was answered. Since that day, until your transition, there was no regret for this prayer.

A loving and caring father. An icon, a legend full of wisdom. An encyclopedia of The Apostolic Church. An unrepentant believer in LAWNA principle, a unifier, a teacher of the Word, is gone. You are a blessing to generations yet unborn.

I thank God for giving me the grace to fulfil my promise to you until the end. You demanded that I should release my children (your grandchildren) to you, though painful, but I promised that I would. To God be the glory, for the fulfilment of the promise. No wonder Ayokunle, my daughter (your first grand daughter), was by your side when it was time for you to go back home. You also showed your total love for your daughter (my wife) by waiting for her before your glorification.

We will greatly miss you. We will miss your kind words, we will miss your daily calls. (Your average calls of about ten times). You still called us around 9:00pm the night before your transition and you ended it with long prayers as usual.

Even though you are old but you still left when we least expect. Our hearts ache with your absence, but we celebrate the incredible person you are. You are a man of integrity and servant of God with honour and love. We will find the strength to move forward and keep your legacy alive. We will continue to honour your memory by living the values and principles you upheld. We love you, Daddy, but God, your Creator, love you more. Ayokunle, Ifedayo, Modupe and Oluwabiyi have started missing their grandpa already.

Adieu, the great General in Jesus Army. Rest in perfect peace till the resurrection day when we will meet and part no more.