Thanks so much for sharing this story. I actually know about the story because baba Obadare shared similar story during ones of the monthly crusades "Koseunti" back then in Akure. Apostle Ayo Babalola was like Elijah in the Bible. I wish our pastors nowadays, can emulate people like him, baba Benson Idahosa, Prophet SBJ Oshoffa, Prophet Moses Orimolade, and even Pa Akindayomi. These were great men of God. Even government tremble whenever they speak. post=107040544: Hallelujah to the most High God. Pa Oshoffa and Prophet Babalola, These are God's Great Men of God in the time past.
This reminds us about the day the former passed on to glory..... just like yesterday.....
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
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.
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. 1 Like 1 Share |