Ogunbomehin, Pastor who discovered CAC Babalola International Miracle Camp, Ikeji-Arakeji dies @ 81
The Pastor who discovered the celebrated Ikeji Arakeji camp known Babalola International Miracle Camp, Ikeji-Arakeji for the Christ Apostolic Church, Pastor Isaiah Olufayobi Ogunbomehin has passed on.
Ogunbomehin passed on a few weeks ago at the age of 81.
Until his death, he was the founder and Senior Pastor of Mount of Joy and Grace Church, based in Agege, Lagos and a well-known personality in Christ Apostolic Church Worldwide.
Ogunbomehin was reputed to have discovered the campground which is located in Osun state. The camp, which is currently the convention ground of the church is also where the Joseph Ayo Babalola University and several other structures owned by the church are sited.
In an interview with Church Times, his only surviving son, Pastor Seyi Ogunbomehin hinted that his late father labored tirelessly while on earth for the purpose of God’s kingdom.
He said, “My father died on July 21 at 81 but the church he left behind has been mourning his death like the death of a 40-year-old man because of the impact he made while alive. He was too concerned about members of the church to the detriment of his own personal comfort. He touched virtually everybody that came his way. He was not materialistic. He did not have a building of his own till he died apart from the church building which he did not see as his personal property. He was for many people who were close to him the second Babalola while he was still in the CAC. But for his commitment to the CAC, perhaps the camp called Joseph Babalola Memorial Camp would not have been what it is today.”
Pastor Seyi Ogunbomehin explained further, “The campground was a thick forest when God led my father to go there and preserve the legacy of the late Ayodele Babalola. That was why he worked tirelessly to help secure the property for the CAC. He ensured the building of the first set of structures on the land. He spent all he had on the camp to make the place habitable. Just last year he was given the most distinguished personality award along with Vice President Yemi Osibajo during the centenary celebration of CAC. I am hoping that the CAC will go further to immortalize his name on that camp. My joy is that he was a fulfilled man. Part of his purpose in life was to do what he did by securing camp for the CAC. Many people are now being blessed through that camp.”
The late Ogunbomehin however had to leave the CAC at some point to start his own ministry. His son said further, “Though he left CAC he was not too keen about having a church. He was just concerned about doing the will of God. That is why he had just one branch of his church. In that one branch he was able to reach and impact a lot of people.”
Our correspondent gathered that the CAC authority has since sent a powerful delegation to commiserate with the church Pa Ogunbomehin left behind.
On how he died, Pastor Seyi Ogunbomehin said, “He was still strong at the point of death. He preached quite well on Sunday morning. He left the church around 2pm and passed on around 10pm. He did not give any sign he was going to die because he was hale and hearty. But then the Lord took him. I am happy he ended well. I am sure his soul is with the Lord.”
BIRTHDAY REVIVAL
On Nov 17, 1977 when Pastor I. O. Ogunbomehin turned 40, the Lord reminded him of the significance of his birthday as he was born for God’s work. The Lord instructed him to always celebrate it in form of a revival from then on. The Lord promised to honour that day by showering mercy and miracles on all those who attend. The fulfillment of God’s promise is evident yearly in the testimonies from people who attended the revival.
The church moved to the present location (14 Saratu Street, Agege, Lagos) on August 4, 1985.
Pastor Isaiah Olufayobi Ogunbomehin was ordained as a Pastor on September 25, 1988 during CAC Annual Convention at Ilesa.
The Positive impact of Pastor Ogunbomehin’s work in CAC as a whole, earned him series of accelerated promotions in the mission. Within four years after his ordination, he had risen through the ranks of AGE 1 and AGE 2 to become DGE (Deputy General Evangelist) and a member of the Executive Council.
Pastor Ogunbomehin started to sponsor the television coverage of CAC Annual Convention in 1988. Two strange Pastors appeared to his video recording crew during the 1989 CAC Convention at Ilesa, and directed them to Ariran Stream in Ikeji-Arakeji to “uncover the secret there”.
None of the pastors have shown up till today, despite all frantic efforts to know who they are, including public announcements during subsequent CAC conventions. They are like angels in the bible sent by God, usually in human form, with specific message to His people. (Genesis 18:1–5, 9–10; Judges 13: 6–8).
The crew of cameramen went and recorded the river scenery and played the tape for Pastor Ogunbomehin on their return. It was while watching the tape that the Lord told him “Look at that stream, go and develop it for me”. That was what led to the commencement of Ikeji-Arakeji Project.
Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola was called near Ariran stream in 1928. He prophesied several times that the place would become a city that would attract visitors from all over the world. In November 1958, he told Apostle Agbona, The founder of Christ Apostolic Mission Church (CAMC) Worldwide, at Oyingbo Lagos, near Ogunbomehin’s place of work that “There is a young man, just over 20 years of age, (Pastor Ogunbomehin was then aged 21), who God is going to use at the place of my call. He is targeted to be killed, but my God will not allow that” Apostle Agbona revealed this prophecy when he met Pastor Ogunbomehin after the commencement of Ikeji Project.
On several past occasions, Ikeji-Arakeji community as well as other concerned individuals had called on CAC to develop the place where Apostle Babalola was called.
There were several prophesies since 1920, 17 years before Pastor Ogunbomehin was born, that a prophet would come to work in Ikeji-Arakeji through whom the name of the town would be known all over the world. The last was October 1989, when a Prophet ordered the community to fast for 3 days and pray for the coming of this Prophet.
Pastor Ogunbomehin entered Ikeji-Arakeji within 24 hours after the prayers!
Before starting the work, he called a peace meeting of the two factions of the community to the town hall in October 1989, and re-united them, saying that “The Lord will not do what He plans for Ariran and the town, if the two factions do not unite”.
Delegates and Chiefs of the two factions led by High Chief E. O. Omonijo (the Lisa keji) who was Regent then and Chief T. O. Adetuberu (the Obajisun of Ikeji) respectively, shook hands and sang.
“Hallelujah! Hallelujah!! Hallelujah!!! Fight has ended, no more war…”
The Ikeji-Arakeji community became united since then.
Pastor Ogunbomehin obtained a letter of agreement from Ikeji-Arakeji community on behalf of CAC, freely donating about 201 acres of land for the project, as well as a letter of authorization from the Executive Council of CAC before starting the project.
Pastor Ogunbomehin and his church members formally started work at Ikeji early morning of Wednesday, 29th November, 1989. The thick bush on both sides of the entire length of the road was cleared, at first with cutlasses, and later graded with caterpillar grader. Similarly, all major roads in Ikeji Arakeji township were graded. The grading exercise was repeated several times within the ten years duration of the project.
Ogunbomehin: His biography
The late Ogunbomehin was born on Wednesday, 17th November, 1937 at Irolu Remo in Ikenne Local Government Area of Ogun State. He is the second of the two sons of Alice Ekidan and Ogunbomehin Ogunnaike.
Ogunbomehin had his Elementary Education at Methodist School, Irolu where he obtained his Standard Six certificate in 1953. His profession was printing.
“In 1957 he joined Sofowote Printing Press at 29, Willoughby Street, Oyingbo, Lagos as supervisor. He was on his way from that job on Thursday, 29th October, 1959, when God called him to join the church of New Jerusalem through a life-saving miracle of healing he received at an open-air crusade by the church that night.
“On Thursday 25th February, 1960, he received the Power of the Holy Spirit in fulfillment of a three-week prophecy in the church. The Holy Spirit had earlier revealed to the church that someone among them would be specifically empowered for use in the Church and in the Nation. He was called to join the team of Evangelists, called Crusaders in the Church, on Monday 9th May, 1960.
“On Friday, 17th June, 1960, he travelled to Obior, in present Delta State, in company of other Evangelists, including the leader, Pastor Isaac Olatunde Ogunsanya, on a crusade. He stayed back there while others returned to Lagos and later, he moved to Ubulu-Uku where he established a branch of the Church that still remains there till today.
“In July, 1960, exactly one year after the demise of Apostle Babalola, Pastor Ogunbomehin was in a trance for 3 days during which the Lord made a covenant with him that in 30 years’ time, He had a job for him to accomplish. This later became Ikeji-Arakeji project. Construction work at Ikeji actually began in 1990, exactly 30 years after the covenant.
“On Saturday 7th February, 1965, Pastor Ogunbomehin established a branch of the Church of New Jerusalem in Sango Agege in Lagos State. On 2nd June 1968, he and his church formally joined Christ Apostolic Church after he conducted a two-week revival in CAC Somolu Bailey, Lagos under God’s directive through him. The directive was corroborated by an earlier prophecy from Prophet Babajide, the then General Evangelist of CAC. He said that an Evangelist from outside CAC would come to conduct a revival in their church and that he should be allowed.
“Pastor Ogunbomehin married former Miss. Bisi Bakare in 1965, and are both blessed with three children and five grandchildren.
“His first born, Samuel Oluseyi, now a Pastor, holds a Bachelor of Arts (B.A) degree in History, Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism and a PhD in Church Growth. The other children are Christiana Olufunmilayo and Dorcas Modupeoluwa who are into their personal businesses.”