Prophet Oluwatayo Ayodele is one minister of God with thorough mentorship under some great servants of God including the late Prophet Elijah Akinade of Christ Apostolic Church ( C.A.CLion of Judah) where the dynamic Ayodele served before stepping out to start Christ Apostolic Church (Mount Zion); a prayer and prophetic church widely reputed for her popular ‘Operation Change My Story (CMS)” prayer programme. The vibrant minister explains to Christian Benefits why he planned joining a secret cult on the campus before he was arrested by God to serve Him.
Please, can we have a look at your background and your salvation encounter?
I was born into a Christian home from Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti state. My mum was formerly a Muslim before she accepted Christ and always took us his children out for regular evangelism. I schooled at Folorunsho Primary School Oshodi, Oshodi Comprehensive High School, Oshodi and the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUAA) where I graduated in 2000. As a child from a Christian home I was religious and loved going to church. I was in the drama group and the evangelism team of C.A.C Oke Ayeni Mafoluku, Lagos, under the leadership of the legendary Prophet Abraham Ale (a.k.a Baba Woli funfun).
Aside being raised in a Christian home how did you personally accept Christ?
I had a particular experience in 1993 that led to my accepting Christ. I was religious at home but mingled outside with some friends that had girl friends. Due to the pressure from that set of friends I was tempted to also have a girl friend. I mingled with those friends until 1993 when something happened that led me to give my life to Christ.
Tell us more about your lifestyle before accepting Christ into your life in 1993
The foundation of most of the issues I had experienced in life started from my childhood. I used to have nightmares until I accepted Christ. One particular day, while sitting the spirit of the Lord came to me and said I had been pleasing myself for the past two years. He then struck a bargain with me to follow him for the next two years with a proviso that I could go back if I didn’t find any joy following him. Fortunately in these two years of the bargain, the Holy Spirit, with the fears of my parents helped me to do the right things. Now, on more about my lifestyle before I accepted Christ, I planned to become a don of a secret cult on campus when I gain admission into university in order to fight oppression because I hate oppression. I see joining a secret cult the only way to counter the bullies on the campus. But after my encounter with Christ I decided to walk with him. I surrendered my life entirely to him. That was the beginning of my walk with Christ since1993. That two years bargain to walk with Christ is not yet complete these 31 years after.
So, how will you describe your walk with the Lord these past 31 years?
I must admit that it has not been a bed of roses. On this journey I have had some terrible past I cannot boast of in Christendom and ministry. I have faced diverse issues but the grace of God keeps moving me forward on the journey. Anytime I stumble or get distracted on the journey he always appears to help me to move on.
Now, share with us how you received the call to ministry along the journey
My paternal family is the Olori Awo of Ekiti. But there was a prophecy that I would become a servant of God. My parents were religious but not spiritually-inclined. As I said while growing I used to have nightmares. In 1991 when I joined the evangelism team of C.A.C Oke Ayeni I started learning how to pray. I often saw myself in a white robe with a scepter in my hand. I started warring against those things that used to beat me. In 1993 I got baptized in the Holy Spirit in the dream. I started speaking in tongues in the dream. I used to have revelations. While seeking admission into university I always failed the English language exams. I went somewhere to pray with my mum where a certain woman gave a prophecy on what I would be. After awhile I told God I was ready to answer the call if he truly called me. But I felt if I didn’t go to university people would think that my parents couldn’t afford to train me or that I’m a dullard. So, I prayed to God to give me the grace to go to university and promised to serve him after obtaining my university certificate. If I knew I wouldn’t use my university certificate to work, I would have done theology or religious studies. Initially I got admission into the University of Lagos (UNILAG) to study pharmacology. But due to some factors, I ended up at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta where I studied food technology.
You were one-time a pastor at C.A.C Lion of Judah. Tell us how your path crossed with the now late founder of the church, Prophet Elijah Akinade.
While I was in the university I started having some profound personal revelations and encounters. One particular day while I was under the ministration of the now late Prophet Elijah Akinade the heaven opened up and I saw the image of the late Apostle Ayodele Babalola standing and he was staring at me. He (Babalola) asked me to raise my hands. As I raised my hands his cloak fell upon me. I told him his cloak was too big for me. As I said that the cloak adjusted to my size. I had this particular strange encounter twice in two different years; in 2002 and 2005. Aside, a particular old man usually visited me in dream; took me round and talked to me. With the series of other strange encounters I was having in dreams, especially in my second year in the university I almost dropped out of school to start a ministry. I was no longer concentrating on my studies. I attended vigils when I would have exams the next day. I attended programmes during exam periods. So, as should be expected, I had some carry-overs. My elder sister once told me if God didn’t want me to have a university degree, he wouldn’t have opened the door for me. I was impressed by my friends who were already in ministry. I desired to be like them. Later I began to face my studies and to apply wisdom until I graduated. I had my first encounter with Baba Akinade when I came to Lion of Judah through my brother. While he was ministering he gave a prophecy that I would become a pastor. which I already knew. After my NYSC service year I went into the banking industry. After awhile I tendered my resignation letter when my mum got a better offer for me. Eventually, I left all and heeded to the call to full-time ministry.
What is the specific mandate of your call into the ministry?
God gave me Isaiah 61:1 as the mandate of my ministry; for liberation and transformation; to set people free from the kingdom of darkness and mediocrity; to transform people to becoming captains of industries and giants in Christ.
What are the gifts God endowed you to fulfill this mandate?
I am called, gifted and anointed by grace. I am an evangelist with an apostolic grace. In 1998, the spirit of God asked me to ask for a prophetic gift but I didn’t like it. After nudging me twice, I asked for it. The prophetic grace that I received makes people to see me as a prophet. When I got to Lion of Judah, there was a major prophet in the house. I didn’t have knowledge when I got there, so I had a rough time with the prophet. I had to go back to my mother’s church to see one of my seniors in the evangelism team. I explained to him the struggles I faced concerning receiving revelations and visions. He then told me that I couldn’t operate under the pastor I was working with because he was also a prophet. So, I became a teacher in Lion of Judah until I was transferred in 2006 to pioneer the church branch at Abeokuta. I was ordained as pastor in 2010. I have the grace of teaching, dramatizing, publishing and more. I also compose and sing songs.
What are some of the church programmes in line with this mandate?
There are three major programmes for now. Two of them are monthly and one is yearly. One of the monthly programmes is “Night of Parenthood.” Parents come around to pray. Children also come around to receive salvation. Before we started this programme the Lord showed me a vision of children dying spiritually. We also have “Operation Change My Story (CMS).”While I was praying on a particular day, asking the Lord for a vision that would showcase who he is in my life to the world a voice came and directed me to Exodus 3. This was how “Operation CMS” came into been. We hold the programme every third Wednesday of the month.
Can you share with us some of the testimonies from these programmes?
When we had the first Operation CMS I received a word of knowledge for a couple who were seeking the fruit of the womb. I prayed for them and they gave birth to twins. Another couple who heard the testimony from America also came and they were also blessed with twins. My wife and I got married in 2002. We lost our first pregnancy after waiting four years for the fruit of the womb. We were getting testimonies of childbearing but we didn’t have a child of our own. My wife challenged me. God heard and answered us according to the years of our affliction. God also healed many sicknesses. God has also changed the story of many people.
Who are some of the people you look as your mentors in the ministry?
Prophet Abraham Ale (Baba Woli Funfun) built the foundation of my life and ministry. I also look up to Apostle Bolaji Akinyemi. He was my teacher when I was at Lion of Judah. I learnt persistency in prayers from him. I also learnt lot from Prophet Peter Adeniyi Olowoporoku.
What is your relationship now with your former church, Lion of Judah?”
I didn’t want to leave Lion of Judah until God told me to leave. Before I joined Lion of Judah I knew God called me. I also knew what he called me for. Before I left I went to see my father in C.A.C, told him about it and we both prayed about it.