He developed an unusual health condition on Monday, August 3 and was rushed to the University College Hospital, Ibadan. There, pastors and concerned believers gathered to pray while doctors attended to him. He came out of the condition and was quite stable.
But he had to be taken back to the hospital during which he recuperated and was set to return home. But the unexpected happened. By Friday, August 7, death played a fast one on him. Rev. Gomba Fortune Oyor, one of Nigeria’s finest preachers and Senior Pastor of God Will Do It Ministries had gone to rest. The end had come for the Eleme, Rivers born preacher. His family members, friends and church members were simply taken aback.
When this reporter met him five years ago at the LTV ground in Lagos for an interview, he cut the picture of a down-to-earth person; with no airs and pretension. He was not ashamed to own up that he too had to go for deliverance several years after he had been involved in the deliverance ministry.
His own deliverance was however just a simple prayer by an elderly pastor. The prayers, he said, “opened the doors of financial blessing for me”.
Before he went for the deliverance, he said he was always hurting financially. It was after that prayer, which was said 14 years after he had been conducting deliverance for others; that things began to take shape The elderly pastor prayed again and the doors of international ministry were opened to Oyor.
But for Oyor who was founding member of the Student Christian Movement of the Rivers State University of Technology, there is nothing unusual about deliverance ministry. He believed every Christian is expected to operate in the ministry because “we all have the mind of Christ and the Lord gives us the power to cast out devils”. There are however some people the Lord has given the grace to operate fully in the ministry.
According to him, the deliverance minister is supposed to complement the work of other ministers of God in the church. They play a strategic role in ensuring that Christians reach their full potential.
In that interview, he recalled several cases of people that were tormented of the devil and how the Lord used him to liberate.
He explained, “The general thinking is that a Christian does not need deliverance because once you are born again, old things are passed away. It is true. But the challenge is that when a man becomes born again, it is the spirit of the man that is born again. The flesh and the soul have to be worked on. The soul is the seat of the mind and the mind has to be renewed while the body has to be presented holy before God.
“The body ought to be cleansed or purified. What happens is that many Christians are still suffering from satanic hold because of the property of the devil around them which is always in their body, not their spirit. So at deliverance what is done is to remove what is stopping the Christian from reaching his full potentials. In most cases a Christian benefits more from deliverance because he is born again so when the elements of the devil in the body are cast out, the believer knows how to remain clean using the word of God so that the demons don’t stage a comeback”
Self-deliverance works
Oyor believes self-deliverance works. He said in the interview, “I always advise people to pray by themselves and be set free from delay and stagnation in their lives. But there are instances where you have to agree with somebody with a greater anointing to put the devil where he belongs. Many Christians who have the mark of the devil on them often experience delay or have to go through tough times to get what others get without stress. There are several instances of delayed marriage, financial frustrations that are direct consequences of demonic operations and oppression.”
Till he died, Oyor fought against forces that hold people back. He was quite involved in the lives of others that many took him as their father. His passion and concern for people were simply legendary. He bore the burden of people and would stand in the gap for many who were challenged.
From Ibadan his base to the UK and several other parts of the world, Oyor made a lasting impact on the lives of people, encouraging them and interceding for them. But death would not just allow him to wait a bit longer to see the fruits of his labours over the years.
This reporter had asked him in that interview why many who are involved in deliverance ministry don’t live long. There was the case of Victoria Eto an evangelist and lecturer at Avan Ikoku College of Education and Dr. I.K.U. Ibeneme of the Faith Clinic in Ibadan who died well before they clocked 60. The duo were known for their activities in the deliverance ministry.
Responding Oyor said “It is not correct to say people in deliverance ministry die young. Nobody goes to war at his own expense. The Lord who calls has a way of keeping his servants from evil and attacks. God has a way of blessing His children who operate in the ministry and I think it is not scriptural to say they die young. Deliverance ministry is like any other calling. On the football pitch, there are defenders, strikers and attackers. No role is more important than others.” He said.
His legacy
Indeed, it won’t be right to say those who are involved in deliverance ministry die young. Rev Oyor was 61 as at the time of his death. But he had deposited himself in his biological children and many other people across the globe.
His four children are doing great in the kingdom. Three of the four are lawyers. Two of them, Lawrence Oyor and Godswill Oyor are twins. And then Michael Oyor and Wisdom Oyor. The twins started a global movement referred to as the “Davidic Minstrels“. Their vision is to awaken hearts to worship and demonstrate the love and power of God.
Though Rev Oyor, who wrote many books has gone to be with the Lord, his impact will continue to resonate on the sand of time. Patience his wife, and his children, both biological and in the faith will definitely miss him. But the joy is that he left a lasting legacy for the family and indeed for the Body of Christ.
By Gbenga Osinaike