On this day in 1959, around 4:30pm, a young man called Michael Isajimi was given a responsibility to stand at the door of a room where Babalola was resting. Suddenly, everywhere began to vibrate as in the case of a tremor. Suddenly, he heard three heavy breathing from the room. He was scared and he let out a cry which attracted Babalola's entourage to the room. The likes of Prophets Babajide and Medaiyese prayed till 7pm before the LORD showed them that their father in the LORD has been received into heaven and he would not be coming back.
Babalola is not an unpopular name in the history of African Pentecostalism. Several stories fly around about his personal life and outstanding ministry. However, there are also accounts concerning his life and ministry that are misconceptions and some are outright attempt to discredit his work. Having spent a number of years studying him and the revival birthed through him, I have seen a gap between what we were told, what flies around and what truly happened. While I do not consider myself an authority to correct anyone, I find it necessary to set some things straight for the sake of those in the valley of decisions.
The first misconception I want to correct is that Babalola was mentored by S.G. Elton. This is quite sensitive, but I will not hold back everything I know on this matter. To be straight, Babalola was not mentored by S.G. Elton. Now, let me give you an historical background. Babalola's call came in 1928 in Arakeji. He moved to Ilesa where he spent a of of time on the mountain. From there, he moved to Lagos to join a group called The Tabernacle Church (Formerly called Precious Stone Society). This group was formed during the Influenza pandemic in 1918. Prominent members were Odubanjo (who baptised Babalola), Sadare, Sophia Odunlami. These people received him into their group. Things were going smoothly until the headquarters of the Tabernacle Church in US began to show diverging beliefs and had issues with their leadership. Coupled with the challenges the Nigeria chapters were having with the colonial masters, there was a need to seek for help from another quarters. Perfectly fitting this position was The Apostolic Church of England.
You should know that when the Precious Stone Society started, they were not accommodated into the Anglican Church because of the Pentecostal signs and wonders that was happening in their midst. They went through the kind of persecution that Azusa Street Revival went through. The shouting, tongues, dreams and visions were alien to the Anglican Church, so they were excommunicated. As a result of this, they sought for help from the Tabernacle Church in US. This help came in form of materials that strengthened their faith in the move of the Holy Spirit among them and especially healing! They got scriptural explanations for the experiences they were having. So when the Tabernacle Church started deviating from what they had taught over the years, their Nigerian disciples decided to pull away to TAC. So, all over the nation, The Tabernacle Church changed name to The Apostolic Church. That is why you see a of of The Apostolic Churches in Ilesa, the site of the 1930 revival headed by Babalola. Those churches were not a fruit of Elton's work, but Babalola. This happened in 1931.
This marriage was however short lived because TAC did not provide a virtual support like The Tabernacle Church did, instead, they sent some men to come and lead the church. They were Idris Vaughan and George Perfect. The leadership of the Church fell into the hands of the whites, but the likes of Odubanjo, who was very educated did not like the idea. At this time, Babalola was in prison in Benin. It wasn't long before they started having issues. The whites were secretly taking malaria drugs that the blacks considered to be against their doctrines. It was in 1937 that TAC sent another set of missionaries to Nigeria. One of them was S.G. Elton. By this time, there was a disagreement between the white leaders and the indigenous leaders. 1939, they decided to go their separate ways.
Elton and Babalola worked together for only 2 years. The whites were in charge, but the indigenous leaders did not accept their leadership in totality. It is on record that George Perfect and Odubanjo had several heated arguments. Babalola on the other hand was a humble, simple and sincere person, so it is possible that Elton may have influenced him in some ways. He may have learnt some things from him, but the idea that Elton mentored or fathered him is totally out of place. All the major highlights of Babalola's ministry had happened before Elton came to Nigeria.
I find it hard that some people are looking for ways to discredit the ministry of the apostle. There is this video on YouTube by Pastor Sunday Adelaja that really made me sad. There is no need to try to place Elton above Babalola or Babalola above Elton. Their works were different. I am not against S.G. Elton. If you follow my writings, you will know how much I honour S.G. Elton. I have done a lot of research into his ministry. In 2015, I was in his house where I met the daughter and got a firsthand story of what happened. I celebrate what Elton did in Nigeria, but I will not place him above Babalola for any reason. Elton's laid the structure of what we can refer to as modern day Pentecostalism, but Elton's ministry wouldn't have kicked off at all if Babalola had not gone ahead. In the same vein, we won't have the dividend of Babalola's ministry today if Elton had not come along. Their roles were different. They occupy different places in the scheme of things.
Let's
learn to celebrate one without discrediting another. S.G. Elton did not mentor
Joseph Babalola. Shalom!
Comments