…that I, by all means may save some.
In the scriptures – from the book
of Genesis – we know how God Almighty seeks ‘the true worshippers’. For
instance, we do not have to travel too far to find the classical case of Cain
and Abel in the context of worship. This call for worshippers was sought for by
God throughout the Bible.
Focus in this current edition is on
the Archbishop of the Pentecostal Movements in Nigeria and beyond – Pastor E. A.
Adeboye of The Redeemed Christian Church of God. Having personally observed him
critically and with keen interest - the secret of his successes both in
personal life and ministry - I was able to discover two things that made him
still standing out, from what we have read and heard about his past, up to his
appointment as the General Overseer of the world’s fastest growing denomination
– The Redeemed Christian Church of God. Though, I might be young then, I was
old enough to recall activities spanning his appointment as the General
Overseer to date. His obvious secret is found in OBEDIENCE and aggressive true
WORSHIPPING!
Reminiscence into the recollection
past, it is no longer news, the history of the Church – The Redeemed Christian
Church of God – how it all started in 1952. How the founder, ‘an illiterate’ –
Pa Josiah Akindayomi was called by God from a poor family background out of the
Cherubim & Seraphim Church (Aladura). But from that unlikely situation came
the one mission that is now in almost every home all over the world today! The
focus here however, is on the very unique man whom carnally speaking, was not
expected to succeed the founder, but as a divine mandate would have it, succeeded
him. More so, he has successfully matched both the old and young generation
together in the spirit of worship, using all forms of music types.
From inception, at the mission - The
Redeemed Christian Church of God - there was some different ways for which music
was perceived and used before the advent of Pastor E A Adeboye. Clearly, contemporary
music was totally unacceptable. The church during its start-up would never use
musical instruments. Clapping - where it was ever allowed to be used - was done
with moderation. Dancing was a taboo! Joyful noise was like a case of
manifesting worldliness! In time, the use of Organ and other orchestral musical
instruments such as Accordion, Violin were acceptable for its soothing solemn
tonations. The church first organist - Pastor Stephen Ayodele - was well
trained and tutored in classics and hymnals. Hymns and spiritual songs were
about the only musical focus of the mission. Songs like ‘mba niye bi adaba, mba folo s’ile mi l’oke mba niye bi adaba, mba fo lo
si Jerusalem’ (oh have I gotten wings like a dove, I would have flown to my
home above, have I gotten wings like a dove I would have flown to Jerusalem),
Iwo to nfe ba Jesu lo, gba Jesu kosi bosinu ayo re (Thou who want to go with
Jesus, accept Jesus and enter into His joy). Primitive as the options of
music type was, there was clear manifestation of the power of God. At that
time, prominent amongst the few worship leaders was Pastor P.O. Ojo - a chronic
stammer,
yet would lead praise and worship for hours even in an out-door crusade
without a single obstruction to the rhythm. That was God’s own power! Or how do
you explain a total stammer to lead a congregation in worship? Such was the
intensity of power of God during worship. The now retired clergy was even noted
for one particular inspirational line ‘Oro
re iye ni, Oro re Igbala ni o, je k’oro re le maa gbe ‘nu mi ki nle se rere’ (Thy
word is life, thy word is salvation, let Thy word dwell in me that I may
prosper). For this, his was fondly called by his fans ‘Oro re’ (Thy word).
Pastor P.O. Ojo, who recently turned 70-years old, remembered the good old days
and still by the power of God sang praises to God during his birthday
anniversary. I personally still cannot comprehend how a stunned Stammer sings
God’s praise but that was it in the Redeemed Christian church of God - the
power of God! Very little was any involvement with contemporary music. The
founder had a strong belief in a myth, that when you play certain instruments
such as ‘akuba’ (a local wooden small drum, carved musical instrument covered
with animal skin, where musical sound is produced from by slapping its surface
rhythmically), that the sounds produced from such instrument attracts spirits! Such
spirits he believed would be dancing back-front in the direction of the sound.
So, for Pa Akindayomi who was formally part of the C & S (Aladura) church,
it was such music that enhances the different manifestations during fellowships
in the Aladura churches. He believed then that music only attracts evil
spirits. (But in the actual sense, music inspired by the spirit of God
regardless of its forms and musical instrument type will always attract SPIRIT
- the spirit of God). And for what God had called him to do, music, if ever
will be included in his missionary activities, has to be the solemn type! The
first choir master then was late Pastor Fayombo a.k.a ‘Ki ngbe nu re?’ (What is
it that is resident in you?). Others had their feel of the move of God using
their choice of music type then. But then, God told Pa Josiah Akindayomi to
pass the baton of the church leadership unto another man - Enoch Adejare
Adeboye - an incurable worshipper of God! Meanwhile, let me say here that the
mission under the leadership of the founder, though an illiterate, attracted a
sizeable number of educated personalities including foreigners. Basically, Pa
Josiah Akindayomi’s position with respect to music was not a result of his
limited education, but simply his point of view on the subject of music.
Consequently, that became part of the church’s doctrines at that time and not a
doctrine of ‘The Bible’!
Like what could be referred to as a
total turn around, came the leadership of the second advent of the mission who ironically
was so hooked-on to music in every modern sense of it. Music is being totally
part of him. In his few years of assuming office as the General Overseer, he as
a talented poet, practically released a musical album, with the hit song track titled:
Halleluyah Ogo ni f’Olorun (Halleluyah
glory to God). Having inherited lots of issues that needed be regularized, he
was quick to make his position known to the church on the concept of good and
spiritual Bible-based-music, as against the then position of the church’s
doctrine. I remember very well in 1983 as the church prepares for its first
loud open air crusade which was held at the Roll-park – (a State’s owned sport
centre in Lagos) - for the first time ever a live band played during the
crusade. This new musical position expedited the development of the church and
attracted more true worshippers. The
musical band was personally sponsored by Pastor E A Adeboye. Contemporary
musical instruments were acquired for the band (The Regenerated Singers) – a
name given by Brother Kunle Ajayi who was a music student that major in lead-guitar
at that time, now a Pastor and the 4th national music director of
the mission. According to Pastor Kunle Ajayi,
‘the General Overseer, Pastor E A
Adeboye discovered the musical talent in me; this prompted him to buy me my
first Saxophone ever’. This took place when it does not look to the
undiscerning ordinary-man, that Pastor Kunle Ajayi would ever become prominent
with the musical instrument in the nearest future. In the same vein, I remember
well enough that the now leader for the national praise team of the Redeemed
Christian church of God mission, Pastor Olatunji Raphael was the first drummer
of the first live band approved by Pastor E A Adeboye for the Redeemed
Christian church of God’s mission then-‘Regenerated Singers’ band. Pastor E A Adeboye’s
love for Fela Anikulapo-Kuti‘s soul saw him winning quite a number of Fela
Anikulapo-Kuti‘s followers for Christ. Prominent of them then was John Omewah who
became a national praise leader in the mission, but now a Pastor with some
other pastoral assignment in United State of America for the mission. The trend
got Obey’s lead guitarist - Paul Tao turned to Christ, today he is amongst the
music Pastors of the mission. Notable musicians and stars are more and more
turning to Christ as a result of Pastor Adeboye’s kind gesture and love for
music! We believe that before the great passion of Pastor E A Adeboye to win
souls at all cost, he was a chorister, a musical artist, with special gift in
the use of language. Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye – A true man of God - a poet,
a writer, an orator, a musical mentor with lots of protégés both within and
outside the immediate mission of The Redeemed Christian Church of God, is a
great composer, with so many compositions of praise songs and worship lyrics.
In recent times, he seems now more of elder’s feels, and he does more of hymn
compositions. His recent birthday was celebrated in style, with 71-hour ‘marathonic’
worship and praise, when he turned 71 in March, 2013.
 |
| Worship leader at the Non-stop 71hrs Praise session in Celebration of the General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God |
 |
| KSA on Duty at Redemption Camp |
 |
| Participant during the Marathon praise celebration |
 |
| Socked in Worship! |
 |
| Vine Song from Great Britain |
 |
| Children Celebrating Daddy G.O in Praise! |
 |
| KSA doing at his Element |
 |
| Daddy G.O Blesses the Children after an exceptional performance |
From inception, at the mission - The
Redeemed Christian Church of God - there was some different ways for which music
was perceived and used before the advent of Pastor E A Adeboye. Clearly, contemporary
music was totally unacceptable. The church during its start-up would never use
musical instruments. Clapping - where it was ever allowed to be used - was done
with moderation. Dancing was a taboo! Joyful noise was like a case of
manifesting worldliness! In time, the use of Organ and other orchestral musical
instruments such as Accordion, Violin were acceptable for its soothing solemn
tonations. The church first organist - Pastor Stephen Ayodele - was well
trained and tutored in classics and hymnals. Hymns and spiritual songs were
about the only musical focus of the mission. Songs like ‘mba niye bi adaba, mba folo s’ile mi l’oke mba niye bi adaba, mba fo lo
si Jerusalem’ (oh have I gotten wings like a dove, I would have flown to my
home above, have I gotten wings like a dove I would have flown to Jerusalem),
Iwo to nfe ba Jesu lo, gba Jesu kosi bosinu ayo re (Thou who want to go with
Jesus, accept Jesus and enter into His joy). Primitive as the options of
music type was, there was clear manifestation of the power of God. At that
time, prominent amongst the few worship leaders was Pastor P.O. Ojo - a chronic
stammer, 
Like what could be referred to as a
total turn around, came the leadership of the second advent of the mission who ironically
was so hooked-on to music in every modern sense of it. Music is being totally
part of him. In his few years of assuming office as the General Overseer, he as
a talented poet, practically released a musical album, with the hit song track titled:
Halleluyah Ogo ni f’Olorun (Halleluyah
glory to God). Having inherited lots of issues that needed be regularized, he
was quick to make his position known to the church on the concept of good and
spiritual Bible-based-music, as against the then position of the church’s
doctrine. I remember very well in 1983 as the church prepares for its first
loud open air crusade which was held at the Roll-park – (a State’s owned sport
centre in Lagos) - for the first time ever a live band played during the
crusade. This new musical position expedited the development of the church and
attracted more true worshippers. The
musical band was personally sponsored by Pastor E A Adeboye. Contemporary
musical instruments were acquired for the band (The Regenerated Singers) – a
name given by Brother Kunle Ajayi who was a music student that major in lead-guitar
at that time, now a Pastor and the 4th national music director of
the mission. According to Pastor Kunle Ajayi,
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