Cele Prophet, KOLAWOLE OLAKANMI Talks About His Church

• Reveals The Story Of ONALA Parish

Prophet Kolawole Olakanmi is the shepherd in charge of the popular Onala Parish of the Celestial Church of Christ in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. Visiting Onala for the first time, especially with an aura of success written all over the place, one may not understand the level of commitments that have been put into the growth of the church by Olakanmi.

Who would ever believe that a church started under the tree in the forest, as the place used to be, by a ‘street guy’, some years back has become this big.

But how has Prophet Olakanmi been able to achieve this great feat? Why was the church named Onala? How did he become a Prophet? All these questions were properly answered by Olakanmi during an interview session with City People’s Correspondent, DARE ADENIRAN (08057639079), who recently visited Onala Parish at Ajibade area of Mokola in Ibadan. Prophet Olakanmi also talked about his new ongoing mega project, Onala Parish 2, at Adegbayi area of Ibadan. It is indeed a mega project. A church auditorium of over 5,000 sitting capacity. It is a two storey building; 2-floor church auditorium and a gallery at the top floor.

Apart from the new church project, several other prophets have been raised through Onala and over 6,000 people have been blessed with visas of different countries of the world, according to Prophet Olakanmi. Several people, including those working with him and some deserving members of the society, have been blessed with cars.

His grass to grace success story is such a must read one. Enjoy it.

CCC Onala Parish has become a mega church, how did you achieve this?

Whatever the church might have become today is nothing but the pure grace of God. Probably for the fact that it has been destined to be great right from the outset too. Because it was never in my agenda to be a Prophet. I was on the street, hustling to survive. In fact, I could best be described back then as a street guy. I had grown and even gotten married before revelations started coming in that I was going to be a prophet. Which I didn’t believe for obvious reasons.

What were you doing back then?

I was once an apprentice in iron bending vocation. I had also worked with a surveyor in this town before I ventured into auto business. People would give me money to buy them cars from Cotonou and Togo. That was what I was doing before revelations started coming. But the message was so specific, and it was revealed to me severally through different means. The message was that there were some people in bondage and that it is under my ministry they would be set free. I was always like whoever is in bondage should look elsewhere for his or her miracle. I couldn’t be bothered. I had three offices where I was selling cars and I was driving a corolla car. It was after I had made enough money from the auto business that I decided to go to America. In fact, I already had the visa. I had also dashed out all my things. I gave the car to my mechanic. All I had left was just three cloths. But the revelations persisted.

I was carrying my passport and ticket all about, to prevent anything that could stopped me from embarking on the journey. Interestingly four days to the trip armed robbers came to our house, broke down the door and went straight to the knickers that I used to wear underneath. They stole my passport which had America visa on it and ticket. It was like a dream. That was how people started making fun of me in that area. They started addressing as Americana and all sorts of other names. At that point I was left with nothing. Friends abandoned me like a plague.

Upon all that, revelations kept coming that I should be going to Celestial. I had to approach a friend to take me to Celestial Church where I could pray to get another means to America. The first day I went to the church someone went in spirit and said, welcome, the Lord’s Prophet. That was how the journey began unplanned.

Was there a kind of sign that really convinced you that God truly called you?

The first sign was that I was always seeing people in white garment teaching me celestial doctrines in my dreams. Nobody taught me to be a prophet. All the elderly servants of God are my fathers.

What is the name of the Celestial Church you attended then?

The church is called Iyanu.

Tell us about how the ministry really started?

It was after I had lost all that I had that I now decided to do the wish of God. So, a friend of mine took me to the Ministry of Agriculture at the Oyo State secretariat. The man we met there is called Mr. Ajao. He was the one who brought me to this place, Ajibade. He said, pastor be sitting under the tree here and be praying. It was under the tree that it all started. I was sitting all alone. I would ring the bell once it is 9’ O clock, I would do the 12 O’clock own, 3 O’clock and would be going home after  6’ O clock bell. I used to treck from this place to Yemetu every day. There was no transport fare. Another man later joined me, making it the two of us. His name is Ayo. From there we started growing till we became what we are today. All glory to God. So I later went to the number three man in Celestial, Baba Deji Jacob at Oke-Ado. He was the one who launched the pulpit of Onala Parish 1, after praying for me.

Why the name, Onala?

Interestingly I wasn’t the one who named the church Onala. Because I have never had it in my plan to have a church. It was while I was sitting under the tree that two prophets from Mokola came here. Before God that created heaven and earth, they came to meet me that they wanted to christen the church that day. One called himself Michael and the other Uriel. Uriel was saying he is an angel who carries blessings about while Michael said it is only the way he has cleared that Uriel can pass. I was in disbelief. So after so much of arguments they approached me and said, ‘’Prophet of God, we name this church today and it shall be called Onala’’. That anybody who enters this church and obey God’s commandments through you no matter how big the person’s problem might be, he shall be delivered.

What year was the church launched?

The church was officially launched about twenty-one years ago. But I got to this place twenty-five years ago.

Which was the first major miracle that God performed through you after the church was launched?

Someone came to me for prayer, and I told God that if truly He called me, He should solve the man’s problem. That He should surprise the man. It was the kind of covenant I had with God that, whoever He’s not ready to help should not come here.

So how easy or difficult has it been since you started the church?

Like I used to tell people, whoever wants to be a Prophet must be sure God truly called him. Once you hear go and bring 10,000/20,000 naira that person is not called. If truly you are called whoever sees miracle would bring money. You can see this project; it is the handwork of God and those who have been blessed under the ministration. We bought the land alone N33 million. We have spent almost 200 million naira, and we still have a long way to go. That is to show you how wonderful God has been to us. Putting up this kind of project without doing any launching to raise funds. The project is being sponsored by those who God has blessed through Onala. So, it is not the matter of speaking in tongues. I don’t speak in tongues. If you see me shake it means I am catching cold.

Has ever been a time you felt like quitting since you started?

There have been many trials and tribulations, but we have been able to stand firm for the fact that the ministry is a God’s project. We have seen and heard so many things. Some even said we planted something in the church. There is also the war of churches even within the celestial circle. Those who would always feel threatened. The ones who would say he met us here why would he want to grow more than us. There was a time that the gossips got to a point that I had to tell God that if truly He calls me, I must see miracle within seven days. The fifth day someone came here to dash me a pathfinder car.

The believe in some quarter is that most of celestial church prophets are fetish. What is your take on that? Does Onala do what they call “éto” too?

I don’t have anything hidden about me. Truly, there are some celestial prophets who are involved in black powers. Those are bad examples tarnishing celestial’s image. I believe solely in the name of God. If I call the name on your problems and you are not delivered, look elsewhere for your breakthrough. Is it candle that will solve problems that Jesus’ name can’t conquer? The Bible says: ‘The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe ( Prov. 28 vs 20). We now call that name upon your problems and God says He is not ready, am I the one that will now be fasting because of your problem? Am I the one to now be fasting and have ulcer because of your problem? And you are not ready to serve God. Nobody serves God in vain, and you are not ready to serve Him.

Prophets are blessed with different spiritual gifts, which is your own special area of calling?

I don’t sell candles; I don’t sell water because the power of God is already upon the ministry. The only time you can see us sell anything is during Bazaar.

Sometimes you invite circular musicians for anniversary or harvests of your church, don’t you see that as a kind of anti Christ?

We all have different ways of preaching the gospel. Some are local shepherds. I am not a local shepherd. I told you at the beginning of this conversation that I was on the street. You can’t compare me that I was on the street with somebody from the village. I have been to virtually all the 36 states of the country and  7 Africa countries before I finally surrendered to work for God. So, you can’t compare how I would win souls to somebody who is from the village. It is based on my experience from the street that I came up with such idea. The issue is simple. How do you appeal to those on the street to come to Jesus? We have had Yinka Ayefele play at our programs for seven or eight years. We have also had others like Megga ’99, Lanre Teriba and others. If you want to win the souls of those smoking indian hemps, would you call Mama Funmi Aragbaye or Mama Bola Are? The answer is no. it is only the music of the likes of Taye Currency that can attract such people. Besides it is not as if we are taking gate fee, and Taye must have been paid.