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| Prof Olubodun Ayeni at residence at Redemption City, July 7 2023 |
We received with gratitude to God for a life very-well lived, the news of the transition to glory of our esteemed Mentor and Father-in-the-Lord, Professor Olubodun Olarewaju. Ayeni. Peacefully and surrounded by family, Prof Ayeni crossed over to eternity in Winnipeg, Canada on Wednesday November 20, 2024, at the ripe age of 83.
Prof Ayeni not only provided
inspiration and exemplary Christian lifestyle, he literally dragged me into formal
and active Christian ministry. I found
myself within his sphere of influence and tutelage on joining the Full Gospel
Business Men’s Fellowship International, at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife
around 1996; whereupon he graciously adopted me as disciple and continually
poked me with questions of how I intended to discharge God’s deposit in my life
into the Kingdom – beyond serving as a Pastor in the local Church, as I then was I did not find the exchanges too comfortable
at that time.
The turning point came when he invited me to the 1997 God’s
Endtime Army Conference, organized by the Sword of the Spirit Ministry, where
he was Chairman of the Board of Trustees. There, by the grace of God, I caught
a clear vision for the work of the Church
Arise! LivingWater Ministries, which with Prof Ayeni’s active
encouragement, took off with the publication of our then bi-monthly newsletter on
January 1, 1998. Three years later, Prof
Ayeni further insisted on not only the establishment of proper structures, but
also a formal spiritual commissioning of the Work. Ignoring my terror-stricken protests at the
idea, he subsequently facilitated the personal presence of Bishop Francis Wale
Oke at the commissioning at Ile-Ife, on April 7, 2001. Prof Ayeni who graciously served on the three-man
Board of Trustees for Church Arise! continued to provide guidance, direction,
and inspiration till he had to relocate abroad to spend more time with his family
and execute other kingdom assignments. Church Arise! (and her special Outreach
to the scientific community – the LivingScience
Foundation) has continued to forge ahead by God’s grace, as members of God’s
valiant End-Time Army.
My family was blessed to be able to share warm fellowship
with Prof Olubodun Ayeni again in his last four months spent in Nigeria during
his last (and as it now turns out the final) visit to Nigeria. We
condole with our beloved Mummy Esther Aduke Ayeni, and pray that the memory of
our cherished Prof O.O. Ayeni will continue to be sweet, and be a blessing to
the Kingdom of God.
Joshua Ojo
Ile-Ife, 26th November, 2024