The personality behind THE GREAT OKE OYE 1930 REVIVAL, THE FOUNDER AND THE FIRST GENERAL EVANGELIST OF C.A.C turns 117 today.

Joseph Ayo Babalola (25 April 1904 – 26 July 1959) was the first General Evangelist of the
Christ Apostolic Church , popularly called CAC in
Nigeria . He was credited with healing powers.

Early life
Babalola was born of Yoruba parents at Odo-Owa, Kwara State, Nigeria. He was brought up as an Anglican. He was registered at an elementary school at Oto-Awori on Badagry Road, Lagos State, in 1914. He got to standard four, before he became a blacksmith's apprentice and he learned it for two years, before he became a steamroller operator under the PWD (Public Works Department) , then under the control of Great Britain , learning to become a steamroller driver. After 15 days of learning to drive the caterpillar, he was able to drive it without any assistance. After nine months; he became a master in his class. A steamroller was first given to him on 1 April 1928 to work on the Osogbo – Ilesha road. On June 14, 1928, he was transferred to Akure – Ilesha road. Babalola was baptized in Lagos lagoon in December 1929.

Ministry and healing
In 1931 Faith Tabernacle affiliated with The Apostolic Church with general headquarters in the United Kingdom (and not British Apostolic Church, as erroneously called by some authors). Then following a schism in The Apostolic Church about 1940, Babalola went with a group led by Pastors J.B. Akinyele and D.O. Odubanjo to form a new independent church, Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), where he continued his healing and revivalistic activities until his death. The CAC regards Babalola as an apostle, while in actual sense by real church ordination he was not at any time historically ordained into that office. A CAC retreat center was built at Ipo Arakeji, Osun State where Babalola was first called in 1928. However, Babalola was not the sole founder of CAC as many claims today but one of the trio of CAC Founding Fathers.

The Christ Apostolic Church has not died along with Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola in 1959. In fact, it has grown rapidly over the years, with many churches under the Christ Apostolic Church name but each church with a specific branch name. The Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU) a private Nigerian university located in Ipo Arakeji and Ikeji-Arakeji, two neighbouring communities in Osun State, established by the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) Worldwide is named after him, located at the place where he says he was called by God in 1928. He was buried at Erekesan street at the Mausoleum in Efon Alaaye town in Ekiti state.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org./wiki/Joseph_Ayo_Babalola

Now, I am sure I know what Jesus Christ meant when He said, "Let the dead bury their dead"

Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and .... an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.

Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.

Modified;
Thank you mod.

Wow...

He was a Titan in the Christian faith..

Saint Joseph Babalola... God rest his soul

God's General...

God please raise men again

Great apostle of faith.

From all of us @[/b] :
HAPPY 117th Posthumous Birthday Joseph Ayo Babalola

[b]TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN.
The Day Joseph Ayo Babalola Died.
Eye witness account.....

Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola was the founder of Christ Apostolic Church (C.A.C) along side with Pastors J.B. Akinyele and D.O. Odubanjo. He was a notable minister of God before his death with spiritual gifts of healing and working of miracles. He was born on the 25 April 1904 and died on 26 July 1959.

Although he lived shortly (55 years) but he made a great impact in life and he will forever be remembered for the signs and wonders God did through him.

I read the story told by the late Prophet Samson Oladeji Akande (also known as Baba Abiye at Ede), in whose bedroom Apostle Babalola slept in the Lord on Sunday, July 26, 1959, about 58 years ago. In order to preserve the valuable information contained in that story as told by Baba Abiye, I had to republish the article that would be useful to so many people in the future, giving credit to him as the source. I believe the narrative will give you an hint on how the minister was called to glory.

Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola showed no sign of sickness until his unforeseen call to glory on Sunday, 26th July, 1959. On Friday 24th July, he returned to Ibadan to attend the general council’s meeting slated for that day. On Saturday morning, 25th July, Apostle Babalola conducted the morning prayer for ministers and members living within the parsonage of C.A.C. Olugbode, Ibadan, and prayed for everyone.

The same day (Saturday 25th July, 1959), he sent two of his followers, Michael and another fellow to me at Ede that I should prepare a place for him to sleep. I never knew he was talking of his final sleep. Apostle Ayo Babalola arrived Ede around 6:30 in the evening that Saturday and he was gladly received. Before his arrival, I had prepared my bedroom ready for him. We ensured that nobody was allowed to rush into the bedroom with him; for it was Apostle Babalola’s habit that he never turned away anybody who came to him for prayer and counselling, no matter how weary he might be. After prayer, I informed him that his meal was ready. He declined to take any meal but requested to be allowed to have some sleep, because he had been holding series of meetings since the past nine days with little or no rest. He woke up three hours later and took some tea and slept off again.

At 4a.m. on Sunday 26th, he woke up, took his bath, took some tea and had his morning meditation without any disturbance. At 6 o’clock, I went to him in the bedroom and he began to talk about a great convention which will soon be held at his hometown, Odo-Owa. He was speaking in parables, so I did not suspect that he was talking about his approaching death. He directed me to call in Prophet Babajide who was in the adjacent room. Both of us knelt down beside his bed and he began to narrate to us how he began his ministry. It was such a sublime experience. Both of us just listened; we did not utter a single word during the course of his narration.

After this, we knelt down for prayer. The three of us prayed. I took the lead. Prophet Babajide followed. When it was his turn to pray, he prayed for a very long time, praying for the church, the leaders and for us too. After the special service, people came to Apostle Babalola in my bedroom and bid him farewell before leaving for their various destinations with joy and humour. He bid everyone farewell and prayed for them. Nobody suspected through his speech or action that death was lurking in the corners. We left him alone to attend to those who were waiting to see him.

Meanwhile, Michael Osabi and Samuel Oluwatosin, the two young men who used to wait on him, remained with him as he took a nap. When he woke up, he called me and returned my covering-cloth to me. His action surprised me and I asked, “Baba, why are you doing this?” He replied, “A man should sleep with his own clothes.”

It failed to occur to me that he was speaking of his close to occur death. He advised me to go and have some sleep myself. By then, everybody else had gone to church for the evening service. Around 5p.m. as he lay on the bed, Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola breathed heavily three times, saying after, “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” His breathing was like the rumbling of a rain-storm and there was a great vibration in the bedroom. As this was happening, his personal attendants (Michael and Samuel) ran to call me to his bedside before he gave up the ghost. We began to pray and quickly sent for the church leaders who had gone to church for the evening service. We all prayed for his restoration. But while this prayer was on, the Lord opened my spiritual eyes to see what was happening in the heavenlies. The heavenly hosts had come to meet this great prophet and joyfully admitted him into the glory above. He had laid down his sword at Jesus’ feet. So he could not return to earth again.
Apostle Babalola’s corpse was arranged and taken EFON ALAAYE that same night by the church leaders and the elders who were present

Bloomeverywhere:
I always love your comments. God bless you all

Thank you so much for the compliment.
God bless you and yours also.
May God's blessing follow you all the rest of your life.
Have a blessed Week ahead sir.

SefunmiHookups:

Mmmm.. Thanks for this write-up. What an account of the last moments of a great man of God. I personally enjoyed reading it and actually learning how he died. I had asked this back in late 2010, but I wasn't given a precised answer with details. That was when I was a year one new student at the a C.A.C owned university names after Him. Thanks for giving us the gist. It builds ones Faith as well o.

We are are glad this makes you happy.
It shows in your comment how excited you are.
We all learn everyday.
God bless the Man of God.
God bless you.
Have a blessed Week ahead.

taiwotimitt:
God's General...

God please raise men again

AMEN.

EmekaBlue:
First time hearing of him

There is always a first time!

First time hearing of him

dalass:
Wow...
He was a Titan in the Christian faith..
Saint Joseph Babalola... God rest his soul

Amen.
God bless your kind soul.

Crimrburster:
Rip guy.

Who dis one dey call guy?
Kids of nowadays sha.
Nairaland kids everywhere....

Happy birthday sir


Indeed you're a God's general and your legacy will never die

Great man of God.

k

Allow him to rest in peace.

I still don't understand the concept behind posthumous birthday

Babalola olomi iye re oo omi iyee

EmekaBlue:
First time hearing of him

You run mintit

EmekaBlue:
First time hearing of him

Welcome to earth

What kind of life is this.

if we start celebrating post humorous birthday for every dead person on Earth, everyday go be party.

it is not necessary, pray for his soul or whatever if you're a christain

Happy posthumous birthday to him.
God will continue to rest his soul.

Nice

@admin....what's happening?

Update on kamoru Usman fight vs masvidal

Happy posthumous birthday to him.

Several lights have come and gone

Rip guy.

Who was he?

The man is resting.

Make we do our own part for this life make we sef take rest well.

Continue to rest in the Lord sir.

We'll soon be celebrating pre humous birthday!

Shebi some don dey celebrate death n divorce!