The Nigerian Pentecostal Family has just been hit hard within a week as Pastor E.O. Abina of The Gospel Faith Mission International (Gofamint), lost his first son, Emmanuel F. Abina, the Pastor of the church in Abuja. Pastor Emmanuel passed on in the early hours of Wednesday, 28 April, 2021
Pastor Abina married Felicia Abina (née Akinremi), on March 30, 1961. Together, they have six children. Their children are Folorunsho, Olabisi, Funmilayo, Ebunoluwa, Gbenga and Femi.
His wife, Matron Felicia Abina, passed on in June 2014. In 2016, Papa Dr. E. O Abina transfered lifetime ministry-legacy to his son, Pastor Emmanuel Folorunsho Abina.
On the commissioning day, the G.O said, “I feel fulfilled today as Emmanuel finally bows to the Pulpit, he becomes pioneer pastor of GOFAMINT KINGDOM HOUSE”.
Under an environment described by a wordsmith, Pastor Dr Idowu Jinadu as atmosphere saturated with Wi-Fi anointing, Emmanuel Folorunsho Oluwagbemiro Abina was installed the pioneer Pastor of GOFAMINT KINGDOM HOUSE, Festac by Apple Junction, Lagos on Sunday, 4th of September, 2016. It was a great moment for Pastor Dr Abina seeing his first son take up pastoral work after several years of manifesting grace for ministry at different fora, both at home and international forum.
Elijah Oludele Abina is the General Overseer of The Gospel Faith Mission International (GOFAMINT) and one of the founding fathers of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria. It was founded by Reuben Akinwalere George in Iwaya Yaba in 1956
Pa Elijah Ogundele Abina is one of the founding members of The Gospel Faith Mission International (GOFAMINT), alongside Pastor Reuben George and wife, Dupe George, David Akinremi, Meshack Akinola, Iwaku Bagere, Daniel Aluko, Olusegun George, Elkanah Obideyi, Solomon Kudoro, Richard Akapo, Dorcas Adeyemi, Mary Kudoro, Felicia Akinremi (who later became his wife), Janet Oke, Dupe Akapo. This fellowship later grew to become the movement that it is today.
Pastor Abina became a full-time minister with the Gospel Faith Mission International in October 1962, resigning from his secular job at Arbico Limited, Apapa, Lagos after a clear conviction from the Spirit of God. He was first, the Pastor-in-Charge of the GOFAMINT Iwaya Church in 1963, then pastor-in-charge of the GOFAMINT Mushin church in 1966 and later promoted to become the District Overseer. Pastor Reuben George, the then General Overseer later appointed him his deputy, a position he faithfully served in until Pastor George passed on to glory in 1987.
After Pastor George passed on, Pastor Abina, who was the Deputy General Overseer assumed the leadership of the church after a unanimous agreement by the members of the Church’s Executive Council. He was installed on January 8, 1988, at the GOFAMINT International Gospel Centre, Ojoo, Ibadan, Oyo State.
