The patriarch of the Oyegunle family of Abeokuta, Ogun State, Pa Elijah Atanda Oyegunle, last year December 31, 2022 celebrated his 85th birthday with a special thanksgiving service at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG Rivers of Living Waters), Ayobo Ipaja, Lagos.
The Octogenarian celebrant fondly called “International” led his beautiful wife, Mama Anike Oyegunle, children, grandchildren, relations, friends, associates, neighbours, church members and other well-wishers to the altar of God at the RCCG Rivers of Living waters in offering thanksgiving and praises to the Lord for his fruitful and accomplished life at 85.
Pa. Oyegunle at the thanksgiving service heartily expressed profound gratitude to God, and also appreciated his amiable wife, children, grandchildren, siblings, relations, the church pastorates and members and other well-wishers who had joined him in the thanksgiving to the Lord for clocking 85 years old. He prayed for all the well-wishers at the service.
“I’m grateful to the Lord that today I clocked 85 years old. I’m indeed greatly grateful to God, and also appreciate everyone here who have come to join me in offering thanksgiving to the Lord. May God prosper your ways and homes,” Pa. Oyegunle expressed.
The celebrant’s younger brother, Pastor Israel Akanji Oyegunle, described Pa Oyegunle as a leader, mentor and a good-hearted person. “I want to say something about my brother and father, Pa Elijah Atanda Oyegunle. I have known him for the past 72 years since I was a year old. We lived and ate together in the same house. We are still together till now. He is indeed a brother, a leader and a mentor.
“He is a love giver. He gives his younger ones and everyone lots of things. He is worthy of emulation. He has done many good things for us his juniors up to this present time. My brother is a good-hearted person. He knows how to look after people. He looks after our parents and all his siblings, including me.
“When he lived in Lagos while I lived in Abeokuta I visited him every three months to collect money and clothes from him. This shows the extent of his care for his siblings.
“My brother is now aged at 85 years old. He is now my father. He is the head of the Oyegunle family. He is the first fruit of Pa Daniel Obadimu Oyegunle. I pray he will live very long and see us become what he wants us to be in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
“I hail you my brother and father. I thank the Lord that I have you as a brother. I pray it shall be well with you,” Pastor Oyegunle prayed.
Texas-based Lanre Oyegunle and one of the sons of the celebrant, says, “Every man’s first super hero is his father. It is same for me. My father is my super hero and super father.
“Papa is a man of love. He’s a great man. He wants everyone to be useful. He sees delay as very dangerous. He raised us his children to love one another. He shows love to the entire Oyegunle family members as the first child and the patriarch of the larger Oyegunle family.
“He encourages us to be more useful to ourselves and to one another. We really appreciate and celebrate our father, Pa. Elijah Atanda Oyegunle, on this auspicious occasion of his 85th birthday celebration. We really say “Thank You” to him.
Kemi Oyegunle, Pa Oyegunle’s daughter and last born says that her father is kind, patience and jovial. Her words: “Pa Elijah Oyegunle is very kind and patient. He is easy going. He is very jovial and hilarious. Most times when he talks people laugh. He is a very loving man. He is very good to all his children,” Kemi remarked.
PAPA ELIJAH & MAMA ANIKE OYEGUNLE AT HIS 85TH THANKSGIVING AT RCCG RIVERS OF LIVING WATERS, IPAJA AYOBO LAGOS
Min. John Oyegunle, the first child of the celebrant, minister-in-charge of Root of Grace ministry (Texas) and CEO of JAFBIS Logistics Int’l Inc (Texas) penned a short biography of his amiable octogenarian father and patriarch of the Oyegunle family of Abeokuta, Ogun state, with loving tributes.
“He’s strong and healthy to the glory of God. Pa. Elijah Atanda Oyegunle has given his life to Jesus Christ. He loves God, and is always looking forward to serving in any capacity to expand God’s kingdom.” Min. John Oyegunle wrote in his short biography of Pa Elijah ATanda Oyegunle excerpted below.
SHORT BIOGRAPHY OF PA ELIJAH ATANDA OYEGUNLE
Pa. Elijah Oyegunle was born on December 31st, 1937 to the family of Lay Leader Daniel Oyegunle & Mrs. Patience Adedoyin Oyegunle (of blessed memory) at Abeokuta at the time of Sir Bernard Henry Bourdillon as governor of the colonial Nigeria under the rule of the British Empire before Nigeria’s independence in1960.
Pa. Elijah Atanda Oyegunle is the first born of three other siblings that include Pastor Israel Oyegunle (General overseer of God’s Love C.A.C London), Pastor Ezekiel Oyegunle Senior Pastor in C.A.C) and Lady Evangelist Toyin Oyegunle.
Pa. Elijah Oyegunle relocated to Lagos from Abeokuta in 1959 and completed his training as Logistics truck specialist after obtaining a standard six certificate in 1955. He settled down and joined John Holt Engineering Company. Subsequently, he found and married his lovely wife, Mama Anike Oyegunle in 1966.
Papa Elijah & Mama Anike Oyegunle’s highly successful marriage is happily blessed with five children as follows:Minister John Oyegunle, Mr. Dare Oyegunle, Mr. Lanre Oyegunle, Mr. Gbenga Oyegunle and Ms. Kemi Oyegunle. They are also blessed with grandchildren.
Our father has traveled all over the 36 states in Nigeria, and also outside Nigeria to the following countries, Ghana, Cameroon and the United States of America on patriarchal visits to his children and their wives and grandchildren living in Texas.
Grandpa Oyegunle aka International is strong and healthy to the glory of God. Pa. Elijah Atanda Oyegunle has given his life to Jesus Christ. He loves God, and is always looking forward to serving in any capacity to expand God’s kingdom.
Thanks for celebrating with us our father and grandfather on this great occasion of his 85th birthday anniversary today December 31, 2022.
God bless.
Minister John Oyegunle
On behalf of Pa Elijah Oyegunle’s children