How my cancer experience pushed me to campus evangelism- Israel Olukayode

By Abraham Oladipupo, Ibadan

Pastor Adedayo Israel-Olukayode is an associate Pastor of Victory International Church. The Journalist turned Pastor served as Personal Assistant to the highly sort after and respected wife of Bishop Taiwo Adelakun, Pastor (Mrs.) Dolapo Adelakun for years. She’s currently assisting her husband, Pastor Isreal Olukayode in Pastoring Victory International Church Abeokuta. Having received a definite call from God to the Campus, she started Adedayo Isreal-Olukayode Campus Peace Mission.

In this report, Church Times Abraham chronicles her story and her ministry.

Although she’s in the ministry with her husband, Israel Olukayode runs a campus concern which seeks to bring salvation message to young people, train them and put their feet on the path of righteousness.

The movement ‘Adedayo Israel-Olukayode Campus Peace Initiative also known as Campus Peace Mission has become a veritable platform for the truth of God’s word in many campuses and also an avenue for young people to acquire skills relevant in the modern world.

The initiative according to her is a product of God’s faithfulness having experienced mysterious interventions in her life.

About 10 years ago, God spared her from a chronic Cancer. The Doctors at University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan had given her 2 weeks to live but God miraculously spared her life.

She said, “If I have my way, I would not do what I’m doing. But God told me that my life was spared to fulfil a call to rescue the dying Christian faith on campus’. God has used us over the years to reach out to students spiritually and physically.”

God had also opened her eyes to the rate at which young people get to campus and abandon their faith in Christ. God spoke to her during a retreat and showed her how young people get to campus and mess up their faith.

It was at this point that God commissioned her to bring together all JCCF, Campus Fellowship Workers, CU Presidents, Presidents of Campus Fellowships, and all spirit-filled students to pray for the revival, and sustenance of godliness on campus.

‘God actually asked me to raise a Nehemiah Army, those who will rebuild the broken wall of Christian faith and the nation. When God called me about 20years ago, he gave me a scripture passage which was Isaiah 58:12.

He told me clearly that he is going to use me as a rebuilder and a restorer and that is what He is asking me to do now. We are coming together to pray for the Christian faith and the nation as a whole. From these people, God said He is going to raise builders of the nation.

Challenges

The major challenge has been in the area of public relations and finance. It has been quite difficult to communicate the decadence in the campuses to the outside world and some of our interventions. We hope people can see what we are seeing on campuses and respond accordingly. We have also been having the problem of funding some of our programmes.

“Personally, everything that God has graciously given to me I put into this vision. Currently I have a T.V Programme on OGTV called ‘Campus on Air’ which I have been sponsoring myself with the help of my husband. But there is need for more help. We need financial support to carry out many of our assignments.” She said.

The dynamic teacher of the word who drinks from the fountain of knowledge of Pastor (Mrs.) Dolapo Adelakun believe the vision is one that should be embraced by all sincere promoters of the gospel.

While acknowledging the support of some important personalities like Oba Adedapo Tejuoso she said, “God told me to visit at least 18 states of the nation with a programme titled, ‘Students Day with the King’. We’ve been having it in Abeokuta for a while now with the title, ‘Youth Luncheon with the King’. We intend to have viewing centres in other campuses we won’t be visiting and this makes it an enormous task and financially demanding but I trust that God will stir up individuals and group toward this vision for its actualisation’.

While calling for support she said, “I don’t have a personal life as I speak to you. Every evening you see many students in my house. The least number of students that eat in my pot every day is 10. These are students I don’t know their families or relatives. If I can use whatever God has blessed me with for this programme, if anyone is supporting us now they can be sure of our sincerity and accountability. Don’t forget we have other non-religious events like the workshop and the rest.

During the first national students’ summit, she laid down her car as sacrifice to make sure the programme went well. The organisation is also planning a workshop with all the Counsellors, Deans of Students’ Affairs in all tertiary institutions in order to equip them so they can influence the students positively.