Senior Pastor of Foundation of Truth Assembly, Rev Yomi Kasali has charged Bishop Abraham Olaleye not to rest on his laurels but rather keep doing exploits for God despite attaining age 65.
Bishop Olaleye is an international evangelist and the Presiding Bishop of the Pentecostal Congregation, Ilupeju, Lagos. He celebrated 40 years in ministry on September 24 and also his 65th birthday on October 6.
From left to right: Bishop Emmanuel Ijaola Rev. Yomi Kasali, Bishop Abraham Olaleye, Rev. Toyin Kehinde, Pastor Jide and Atinuke Adeleye
Time to look ahead
Kasali who spoke at a small gathering of Bishop Olaleye’s acquaintances noted it was customary to want to look back and congratulate oneself for a fulfilling ministry in the last 40 years. “That is the tendency of many people. We want to look back and celebrate.
“But I think you should be thinking of the next 20 years. You should be thinking of how to keep the fire burning and how to win more souls and exploit the kingdom. It is not time to retire” he insisted.
Referring to Psalm 92v14, he said the plan of God for his people is to bear fruit in old age. “God expects us to bear fruit and make more impact.
“The kind of fruit the Lord expects from you now is the fruit of wisdom. The next generation would like to learn from you and tap into your wealth of wisdom in running ministry. Those coming behind need to be guided.”
Time to mentor others
Kasali who is also the Chair of the National Christian Pilgrims Board urged Bishop Olaleye to do a book about his life. “You need to tell your story sir so that young ministers can learn from your life. This is the time to mentor others. God is not done with you. He is just starting.
“We read the story of Caleb who at 85 said he was as strong as when he was 40 and that he was still able to take the land that had been allocated to him. There is a tendency to want to be trapped by success. But I’m here to tell you not to be tired. It is time to ask God to rekindle the fire more” he said.
While noting there are many sides to the celebrant, he said, “I fell in love with his spirit because of the aura of humility around him. I am never ashamed to tell him everything about my life. He is a rare breed.”
At the event which spanned about three hours, many of the guests took turns to share testimonies of the impact of Bishop Olaleye in their lives. They prayed and paid tribute to him urging him to continue to do God’s will even as he advances in years.
Guests at the event
Present at the occasion was the Deputy Chairman of the Lagos chapter of the Pentecostal Fellowship, Pastor Leke Akinola and his wife, Mrs. Boade Akinola, South West secretary of the fellowship, Rev Toyin Kehinde and his wife Dr. Shade Kehinde, Senior Pastor of Integrity Worship Centre, Pastor Olaide Odusote and his wife Omowunmi Odusote, Pastor Sam Oyemade and his wife, Pastor Kayode Oyedepo and host of others.
The event turned out to be a time of bonding and fellowship with the celebrant.
About Bishop Abraham Olaleye
Bishop Abraham Olaleye was born on the 6th of October 1958 in Ikole Ekiti to Rev. John and Maria Olaleye in the Holy Apostolic Church. He had his elementary education at LA West Ikole and Elizabeth Fowler Memorial School in Surulere Lagos and his secondary education was at St. Timothy’s College, Onike Yaba, Lagos.
He had a stint at the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute Ikoyi, Lagos before joining the National Bank Of Nigeria Limited where he worked for some time before answering God’s call in 1983. He started Abraham’s Evangelistic Ministry in 1986. The church arm of the ministry is known as ‘The Pentecostal Congregation’.
A widely traveled evangelist, Olaleye is committed to apostolic revival in the church. He is passionate about Church purity and the need for the church to come to a place of maturity.
He is committed to New Testament teachings. He believes the church should focus on Jesus’ message and should not allow the message to be tainted with syncretism. He is known to have emphasised that “The Jesus message may not attract the crowd but it builds a lasting ministry and impact.”
He was one-time Vice Chairman of the Lagos Chapter of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria and has held several other positions in the fellowship at the national level.
Olaleye who has received many honorary degrees and awards in theology is married to Gbemi Olaleye, a trained Nurse and a recording Artist with about 15 Albums to her credit. They married on Saturday 25th of April 1987 and are blessed with five children and grandchildren.