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| Okosuns |
He was ready to kill whoever had a contrary view. In fact, he was on his way to Damascus to arrest the disciples when he was arrested and brought down to his knees.
The hunter thus became hunted. He met the Lord Jesus Christ and became a new person and the once wicked Saul of Taurus received the grace to become one of the Apostles to the Gentiles.
God mightily used him to tour many places on many missionary journey, planted many Churches as evangelist and as a writer, he received the inspiration to write about half books in the whole New Testament. What a grace to have it nice and great in both ‘worlds.’
Apostle Paul’s former life can be compared to the lives of many contemporary heroes of faith. In the music arena, especially the trio of former music legends, Ebenezer Fabiyi, Christopher Okotie and Sonny Okosun. As common with the life styles of secular musicians, women and drinking. They had them to their satisfaction until like Apostle Paul of the Bible days; they were brought to their knees at different time and under different circumstances.
But the common thing about them is that they have left secular music and embrace the pulpit. Once apostles of lustful pleasures now minister the word of life to souls they used to put in bondage of parting and wild life. Even though when they have not totally thrown away their guitars, their albums are waxed, not mainly they claim for commercial purpose but to save souls). And as the Apostles of Grace, their testimonies and exploit in their ministries show they are indeed, like Paul, apostles of grace. Here are the sketchy reports of what they were before the transformation and their lives at the present.
In the beginning
Ebenezer Obey Fabiyi was born in Abeokuta; Ogun State took music as hobby in his early year until he became a member of the Choir in Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA) Mushin, Lagos. His talent in music was stirred up and he broadened his vision to become one of Nigerian acclaimed musicians in Nigeria.
But fame didn't come easy for Obey who once shared a room with some of his band boys in Mushin during his early years of struggle. At the peak of his travails, he cried unto God for a breakthrough, promising that should God launch and keep him on the path of in enviable success. He would not only serve him, he would build a sanctuary for him if his dream were fulfilled. God honoured his prayers and the first record he ever waxed became an instant celebrity and money was rolling in. But hardly had he become successful that he forgot his vow. He was bugged down by success. He could not attend Church again; he began to do what other artistes were doing, drinking and womanizing.
In an interview with the Weekly Spectator, he revealed, “Generally, music attracts women to musicians and I had my share of those things. But I thank God; He did not allow me to go too deep before He brought me out. Though I had one wife, but was walking in my own ways and what only came out of my messing around were some children outside my matrimonial home. Thank God, the Lord took control and my wife took them in as our children and that care from them.
Sonny Oyamende Okosuns was born into an Ishan family at Irrua, Edo State. Just like Obey, he started his music career very early in life as a chorister at the Holy Ghost Cathedral and Eternal Sacred Order of Cherubim and Seraphim, both at Enugu. In 1965, he joined the Eastern Nigerian, Theatre.
After decades of scintillating performances at both local and international stages, the group won the first prize at the National Arts competition and consequently, represented Nigeria at the Commonwealth Festival of Arts and Culture, giving him an early international exposure in life. For most of the 1970s and 1980s, he was a vocal voice against the obnoxious apartheid system in South Africa.
His combative songs were a vital tonic to the efforts of the Nigerian and African government that united to fight the enemy and liberated the oppressed people of South Africa. Not many were surprised when Sonny Okosuns, the Ozzidi music crooner was invited to perform at the inauguration of Dr. Nelson Mandela as the first democratic president of a free South Africa.
For 25 years, Idowu Animashahun Former Apola king, Juju Musician dined and wined with the high people in the society as a musician. He waxed about 18 albums and his music career has taken him across Nigeria and many foreign countries like England, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, and France, before becoming a servant of God.
Tall, dark and handsome, Christopher Okotie was born about 50 years ago in Delta State. He shot into limelight in 1980 with a chart buster; I need someone while he was an undergraduate at the University of Nigeria, Nsuka. He became the rave of the moment especially when he went back to studio and came out with another suggestive - amorous album, show me your back. In 1984, he graduated with a degree in law from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).
Transformation
At the height of his pop music success, Okotie threw away his musical instrument and became a born again Christian. Okotie attended the Grace Fellowship Bible School, and, soon after, founded the Household of God Ministries.
Ebenezer Obey had also confessed that even when he was making money and seem to have fun, God continued to put the burden of the need to surrender his life to the Lord Jesus Christ on his heart.
"During my backslidden years, I never had peace of mind," he recalls. “I struggled with God for a period of 11 years, giving him different alternatives and excuses.
I finally gave excuse that I would spend the money I got from music in spreading the gospel and that I didn’t have to preach. But God would not take that, God later sent the late Archbishop Benson Idahosa. Bishop (Mrs.) Bola Odeleke and pastor Adelakun (a.k.a. Ayewa) to me on different occasions. On the day that I would finally say yes to God, it was in the night. I was praying. I said: 'God, music is what I love doing most, help me to stay in music, God said, 'what about if you sleep tonight and you don't wake up tomorrow morning? What becomes of your music? Are you going to play your miliki music in the grave? " It was that day it dawned on me that I was putting up a futile struggle against my Lord because I never saw it that way.
I quickly surrenderer myself. I knelt down and said; I now understand, here am I, send me. Lord, where do you want me to go? Whatever you want me to do. I’m ready. So, on my 50th birthday, April 3 1992, Bishop Benson Idahosa ordained me an Evangelist and sent me to the world to go out and preach the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. That was after a successful musical career that spanned over 30 years, I stopped playing juju music.”
For Sonny Okosuns, he came to Christ at his lowest ebb in life in 1989. In one of the interviews he granted Daily Sun, he revealed: “During one of my trips abroad, I went to a bookshop to buy books. I picked three rare books, but was asked to pay for two, the third one was free. I did not open the book until I was so dejected and depressed. At this stage, I thought my end had come.
I went to the toilet, casually holding the strange book. I reluctantly opened the book and surprisingly on the first page, the author wrote, ‘right now you are asking yourself, what have I done to deserve this dejection but you have not asked yourself, what have I not done to deserve this dejection. Oh my God! It was as if someone was speaking to me in the toilet.”
Okosuns said it was at that stage he took cognizance of the title of the book, which was Daily Guide to Miracle by Oral Robert. “That book changed my life and I finally surrendered my life in 1992 after Bishop Elomobor’s sermon, titled, ‘Crossing to the other side.’ After the sermon, he called for those that wanted to be born again to raise their hand, which I did.
He later instructed us to stand and come forward. That was how I found my way to the altar. When the pastor saw me, he shouted and said, ‘today, Jesus has caught a big fish. This is the greatest.’ That was the beginning of my new dawn. I finally gave my life to the Lord Jesus Christ. It was a dramatic experience, but when I told my boys, they thought I was joking.
Idowu Animasahun recounted how he abandoned the glamour and popularity of his music career. “But I thank God; He did not allow me to go too deep before He brought me out. To devote my life to God’s work”, he told the Sunday Sun “At the peak of my music career in 1981, I was chasing a young beautiful lady who happened to be a Christian. This lady tried to preach Christ to me and convinced me to buy a copy of the Bible, which I did.
And as I began to read it at home, I finished reading the whole chapter of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation within six months without going to any church. After sometime, I had another revelation; I saw a monster descending from the ceiling of my sitting room and wanted to strangulate me. But immediately I shouted the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, the monster disappeared. This amazed me and convinced me of the Lordship of Jesus Christ. This really marked the beginning of my relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Eternal life in heaven and hundred folds in this world
Having surrendered their lives to the Lord Jesus Christ, the former music legends have had cause to give glory to God. Sonny Okosuns revealed, “I have been singing liberation songs since 1976 and some people said I had been capitalizing on apartheid in South Africa to be rich. They said I was finished when Mandela was released.”
But God proved them wrong, all the albums I released after my conversion were successful. I started singing and never attended a musical school for once. So what brought me to where I’m today is not education, but God's favour. The fear that the church might lose followers when I am not abroad for shows is unfounded.
The truth is that whoever comes to church should come because he wants to worship God, not because of any particular pastor. Who am I, but a servant of God, privileged to minister to His sheep? When it was rumoured that Sonny Okosun died of diabetics? "God forbid! I cannot jut die like that but will live more years to declare the glory of God.” He testified.
Former Apola King, Idowu Animasahun testified how he was called into ministry: “One day I was in my sitting room, watching a television programme that featured ‘egungun (masquerade) festival. Naturally, I had no flair for such a programme and would have immediately changed the channel, but something held me glued to the programme. At the end of the programme, it was announced that the just concluded programme was egungun (masquerade) festival at Badeku.
There and then, the Holy Ghost impressed it very strongly upon my heart to go to that village and rescue them from the bondage of idolatry. Though God was merciful that I didn’t disobey the call of God, but I delayed a bit and I really suffered for it. I was having some money and property then: cars and houses. But when I thought that it would be out of place to settle in the village, I started facing some battles. It started with my wives’ sickness, then my children, Olaoluwa and I fell sick. I spent all my savings and sold some of my properties to settle the hospital expenses.
When I finally surrendered, many, even some of the villagers thought I was a criminal and only used the village, Badeku as my hideout then. Others thought I was a 419 (con – man) and had only come to exploit some money from them. My friends persuaded me in vain to come to big cities and make money so to say through the gospel.
He stayed put at Badeku and today, God has vindicated him.
God also used the outreach efforts of our ministry, World hope Ministries to convert the chairman of the Association of Herbalists since 1957 in Badeku and other 140 villages. This man also submitted all his charms, which filled a whole panel van, which were burnt in 1989. Many who heard the testimony of the conversion of this man turned to the Lord en masse.
For over 20 years, God is using our mission work, World hope Ministries to bombard Badeku and its environ with the holistic gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Aside from training missionaries and sending them to plant churches in several unreached places.
According to Evangelist Ebenezer Obey, “I want to say that the only thing I missed in the entertainment world is money. This is simply because I was making money everyday, but in ministry, you keep spending. But I don’t count that one as a loss, because I’m now in perfect will of God. Some pastors are called and made money in the ministry, but I’m not. Whenever, I’m in trouble, I find it difficult to ask people for assistance. It has always been my God and me. I look unto God for everything. Health wise, I have never been a diabetic as once reported.
Chris Okotie has not also done badly as minister of the Gospel. His Household of God Church is located in a former warehouse he bought for N40 million and converted into a tasteful building. But, he has always been a man of style. He is still a chic dresser and a lover of fancy automobiles.
Okotie’s major companion may be the Holy Bible, but he is of controversy. Separated from his wife, Tina, for many years, he is often romantically linked with beauty queens and beautiful celebrity women, many of whom are members of his church. Okotie also has a reputation of taking on, other pastors. In 2001, he accused Pastor Chris Oyakhilome of fetish practices, because Oyakhilome visited Prophet Temitope Joshua of The Synagogue Church of All Nations.
Fela…the gospel Apostle who never was
Ebenezer obey Fabiyi and Sonny Okosuns, are two music stars that have many things in common with the Afro beat music legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti. Fela and Obey had similar Spiritual background, which perhaps influenced their musical careers. Fela Anikulapo Kuti was born in Abeokuta, Ogun state in Oct 15, 1938 by an Anglican clergy, Rev. Israel Ransome Kuti. He started his music career in the church as a member of the choir, a pianist, before he went to the Trinity College of music England. As early as early 70s, Fela has become a legend and icon.
He was not just a star in music, but he created a music idiom - Afrobeat. However, from history, he shared interest in the Gospel song and Christian lifestyle. 'Abami Eda' (Spirit being) as he is fondly called by his teaming fans lived and kicked against many norms in the society. He sang against Christian Faith, which he regarded as 'Oyibo mentality'. One of his songs: "Suffer, suffer, suffer, for world, Amen, enjoy for heaven, amen. Pastor dey gbaladun, church members dey suffer etc. All these are sang to disregard the Christian faith. He lived and died OF AIDS as a traditional spiritualist.
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