•Ex-President, GABRIEL OLUTOLA’s 90th Birthday Interview
On Tuesday April 4th, the former President of The Apostolic Church Nigeria and Chairman, Lagos, Western and Northern Areas (LAWNA) Pastor Gabriel Oladele Olutola clocked 90.
It was a big celebration, and many family and friends gathered to celebrate this epitome of grace who doesn’t look his age a bit.
Just incase you are reading about him for the first time let us tell you who this great man is.
Pastor Olutola Gabriel Oladele was born on April 4th, 1933 in Oke-Ibode, Ilesa West Local Government Area of Osun State, Nigeria. He is a pastor and motivational speaker.
Olutola attended primary education at the St John Primary School, Oke-Ibode, Ilesa Osun State between 1948 and 1954. He underwent private studies for his General Certificate of Education (GCE) ‘O’ Level in 1968. He then attended The Apostolic Church International Bible College, Penygroes, UK from 1969 to 1970 where he obtained Higher Diploma in Theology. He also obtained a certificate in Effective Christian Religious Communication at the Department of Religious Studies, University of Ibadan, Oyo State 2003, and certificate in Theology Leadership from the Harvard University, Massachusetts, USA in 2006.
Pastor Olutola began his ministerial work as a Worker in The Apostolic Church on 1st of September 1965, and was ordained as a Pastor in 1967. He became an Apostle in 1978, and was the District Apostle at Oke Igbogi District, Ilesa till 1980. During this period, he was also the Ilesa Area Witness Leader (1979-1980). He previously served as a Senior Tutor at The Apostolic Bible College, Ilesa, later Vice Principal (1973-1975) and Principal (1975-1980).
He has held high positions in the church including; Ilesa Area Superintendent between 1980 and 1994, Ilorin Area Administrator (1981-1982), Abuja FCT Area Administrator 1982-1994, LAWNA Witnesses Leader (1990-1994) and LAWNA Convention Committee Chairman (1990-1996). He became the 4th LAWNA Administrative Secretary (1994-1999) following the appointment of Pastor S. S Jemigbon as the 3rd LAWNA Territorial Chairman.
Pastor Olutola was redeployed to Mushin as the Area Superintendent, 1999-2006, during which period he also served as the GEC Representative to Oke Ado Area. In 2006 our father in the Lord was appointed as Benin City Area Superintendent, the position he held breaking new frontiers and reestablishing the standing of the area within the territory, until the Lord deemed it fit to call him to lead His Church as the chief servant in LAWNA territory.
In over 40 years of his full-time ministry, Pastor Olutola has similarly served meritoriously in numerous Committees in the administration of the church and religious matters in the country both within and outside The Apostolic Church. Between June 1980 and October 1981, he served as the secretary of the then Nigeria Advisory Executive Council (The Apostolic Church Nigeria) which oversaw the transition from an European Missionary administered church to an autonomous Church in Nigeria.
He has been preserved for a definite purpose for the Church as a preacher of the gospel, a teacher of Pastors, a servant leader in the vineyard, a reverend gentleman in the body of Christ, as the LAWNA Territorial Chairman and Vice President of The Apostolic Church, Nigeria. He was inducted on November 22nd, 2009 as the National President of the Apostolic Church Nigeria at the International Convention Grounds, Olorunda, off Ojota, Lagos. From 2013 till date, he has served in The Apostolic Church National Executive Council and also serves as the Chancellor of Samuel Adegboyega University.
Pastor Olutola has been a mentor and role model to many pastors. He was married to Deaconess Dorcas Apeke Olanrewaju Olutola, now of blessed memory, and they are blessed with children and grandchildren.
He has been honoured as a Grand National Patron, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and Life Patron, Police/Community Relations Committee, Ilesa.
President of the Apostolic Church Nigeria and Chairman LAWNA Territory. Before the D Day of his birthday, CityPeople’s SUNDAY ADIGUN visited him and got him to talk about the story of his life @ 90, plus how he ran TACN for 7 years. Below are excerpts.
How do you feel celebrating your 90 birthday sir?
I thank God for his faithfulness, because he has been faithful to me in all his promises. I didn’t celebrate my birthday until I clocked 50.
Why? Because I was always afraid of death. My mother had 7 sons but since 1937, I h ave been the only one left. My mother used to pamper me though she was very instructive. Like I said I chose not to celebrate any birthday till I was 50. By then, I was sure I would have been married with children. So, if I die at least they will point to my children.
Thank God for the woman He gave me to marry too.
Though, we lived for 46 years, none of our parents settled any quarel between us, so I needed not remarry because of how good she was.
How did the work of God start for you?
I have faced lots of challenges in life. How many will I count? My parent told me how I was afflicted with strange illness when I was age of 3 months and I couldn’t eat for 4 days until my parents had an encounter with Evangelist Joseph Ayo Babalola. I was also afflicted with another strange attack on my leg when I was 11 years old. So many challenges.
I did lots of menial jobs, worked in different places. Worked as a farmer, (I am still a farmer though) before I finally received the call of God. And The Apostolic Church has always been my church right from the outset. I give God the glory because everybody in my family, including my parents gave their life to Christ through me by the grace of God.
You were the President of The Apostolic Church of Nigeria for 7 years. Can you give us an insight on some of your achievements then?
Nobody can do or achieve anything on his or her own except through God. If you are a child of God, you will know that it is the Lord who can do or achieve all things. But when He wants to do it, He can only do it through you and not by your power. Through His power, He will do it through you. So when we accept that, we can see what the Lord is doing in our time at His own given time.
What can you say about the establishment of the university of the church, that came up during your tenure?
Yes, it did. We had given up hope on the University but the Lord asked me to go and meet with the National Universities Commission at Abuja and I went. The very day I went, the Lord started the work. The executive secretary at NUC took interest. They gave us approval to run a university and they asked me for the intended name of the university. I told them to give me a week to consult with the elders of the church. I came back from Abuja and called the meeting of the executives. I told them about the approval. They were happy and I suggested that the university be named after one of the founding fathers of the church, late Pastor Samuel Adegboyega. They all agreed. So, I went back to NUC in Abuja to submit the memorandum for the name. That was how Samuel Adegboyega University was established in Ogwa, Edo State.
What challenges did you encounter and how were you able to surmount them?
I don’t see challenges as problems. The reason is that as a Christian, you must have it in mind that satan and all his emissaries will want to create problems so as to distract you and also deny you of all the goodness of God. But, with the power of the Lord within you and your belief that the Lord can do all things, you will have the confidence to overcome satan and his agents. So, if you rely on God and not men, God will help you to overcome any challenge.
What prompted your decision to step down then as the President of the Apostolic Church, despite the fact that you are not under obligation to do so?
I did not step down, it is just that I only retired. I noticed that retiring will give me the opportunity to take care of myself. It will also give me the opportunity to eat my breakfast, lunch and dinner as and when due. Also, age is no longer on my side. By the grace of God, I retired age of 85. At 85, I don’t remember things as I used to when I was 50 or 60 years. Now, I am beginning to forget some things which is not good enough for me or the church. Therefore, I must not wait till people start assisting or guiding me up to the pulpit or to where I will drop the offering before I retire. That is not decent for the church and neither does it honour me nor my children. The church has also moved forward. We have outlined the guidelines for pension and retirement related issues. This will enable us to make space for young and dynamic leaders who can meet up with today’s challenge. This would also help the church in the sense that our children will have a sense of belonging. Soon, their generation will be at the helm of affairs in the church and this will prevent them from going to other churches.
