Ogunbode, Gabriel A. A. (J. P.)
b. 1932
United Missionary Church of Africa
Nigeria

I was born in Igbeti, Ogunte Kekere in 1932, into the family of Pa Samuel Ogunbode and my mother Comfort Agunbode. This family was the first Christian family in Igbeti.

My father, who travelled to Lagos early in 1900, returned to Igbeti a Christian. He was from a pagan home, but became a Christian in Lagos and burnt all his juju. He returned home to find the Ijesa "Oso-maalo" (meaning "I will not bend down, I will not sit down") Christian traders already trying to preach to the Igbeti people. He joined hands in their efforts and through his influence many other Igbetians became Christians.

My father had many difficulties and he suffered a lot. He became an outcast and was even stoned. His people called him a lazy man because instead of going to the farm on Sundays, he would go from house to house asking parents to release their children to go to church with him. But he was strong. Today he is remembered and a school is even named after him, the Ogunbode Memorial High School.

I had no problems in becoming a Christian because all the members of my family were Christians. Our family was known as the first Christians in the town. As I grew up, my father would not allow me to miss Sunday School, Sunday services or Wednesday and Friday prayer meetings. My father would not allow a lack of discipline. He taught us to be faithful and sincere in our service to God. He loved education and sent us to school. My home training gave me a deep knowledge of the gospel. My father would see that we were present in all church services. It was at one of the prayer meetings that I met my Lord. Mrs. Traub preached and I gave my life to God. That was in 1944.

After those years, I continued to grow in the love of the Lord. 1944 was my first year in school. The home influence helped me to love the work of God.

I spent many years living with teachers in the mission and on August 7, 1947 I came to live with Mrs. and Mrs. Bolender with whom I learned to study the Bible. The morning devotions helped me too. They sent me to school. They sponsored me throughout primary school and Teacher's grade three. The Bolenders still love me even until today.

In 1953 I attended the English Bible School in Igbeti which was the forerunner of the UMCA Theological College Ilorin. 1956-58 I attended the Teacher Grade Three College (UMS Teacher's College). For 1963-1964 I was at the Apostolic Teachers' College In Ilesa to obtain a diploma in Theology. The idea of going to Igbaja was from the late Rev. D. O. Sunmonu. He encouraged me to go there. I am grateful to him.

Early in 1974, the late Rev. Sloat, one of the missionaries, encouraged me to come back to UMS (now UMCA) Theological College for my BTh which I accepted. After he had examined the courses I did at Igbaja, he gave me credit for many of them, so in June 1975 I got my BTh.

My whole interest was in teaching Bible. I knew I was called to work among the youths. I have worked among the youths for most of my life. I taught Sunday School; I taught Bible in secondary schools (Ilorin Grammar School for 5 years, 1975-Sept 1979, and in our school, the UMCA Secondary Grammar School Igbeti). I still love working among the youths. I am not surprised to see myself pastoring a church where the number of young people, boys and girls, is about 85% of the congregation. I was up to the task thanks to the prayers of my guardians, friends and missionaries who knew me and the church.

I spent most of my early life living in the mission as a houseboy and under the influence of those I worked with. I developed an interest in the Bible. People who were spiritual saw my ability and began to advise me to go to Seminary. I knew I was to work among young people, to win young people to God.

I began as a Sunday School teacher for many years, then as a class teacher in secondary schools, and finally I became as a pastor. People who played a big role in my life were those teachers who taught me, in primary school, teachers' colleges and seminaries. My parents played a vital role, as did the missionaries who lived in Igbeti such as the Traubs, the Browns, the Sloats, Miss E. Lageer and especially my guardians, the Bolenders. Rev. Sunmonu cannot be left out. He played a big role. I praise the Holy Spirit who always spoke to me and has been leading my life to this very day.

I worked as a pastor even when I was still a teacher. I was even ordained a reverend because of my pastoral work while I was still working in the classroom. That was April 1, 1979. Even before that people had started calling me "pastor." I was first called a pastor at Ara near Ede where I was teaching. At Ilorin Grammar School I had a church within the school. Later I worked at Igbeti where I am still today. I have been a full-time pastor at Olivet UMCA Church, Igbeti, since 1975.

During these years, I served UMCA for most of my life. In 1981 I was nominated to be the CDS (Church District Superintendent) for the Southern District, which has been split into the Igbeti and Ibadan Districts. I was in this office from 1981 to the end of 1986, and in 1987 I was made Vice CDS and held that post until December 1996. I was a class teacher and yet supervised the churches and pastored a church.

When I served as a teacher, pastor and CDS, I decided not to take money for my work as a pastor and CDS for the first three years (1981-1983)). I noticed that God blessed me more than when I began to receive pay. I love serving God and doing the best I know how.

I was appointed the chairman for the UMCA Youths for three years (1975-1977) and passed the post on to Mr. Amao. I represented the Yoruba District (later Kwara and Southern) at the General Conferences for many years. In the 1960s and 1970s I served as a member of the General Board. I also served during Dr. Bawa's tenure of office, and was a member of the Plan 86 committee for three years.

I have been on the Evangelism and Mission board since 1990. I love this work and chaired the Evangelism and Mission Committee of Igbeti District for six years (1991-96). We did a lot of work in villages of Tiv settlers from Benue State. After this I became Chairman of the UMCA Evangelism and Missions Board, but the board has been greatly hampered by the lack of financial support from the UMCA. Our mission outreach in the Minna area and around Tegina-Makera as well as other places and new places where we should be evangelizing is not progressing as the Lord wants it to. I pray UMCA will catch a new vision for missionary work.

As part of my love for work among the youths, while I was the CDS in 1986 the Cadet programme was launched in the Southern District. This is a youth voluntary organization. Though it was mentioned in our constitution, UMCA never had her own voluntary organization, but joined the Boys Brigade. But I thought we should go with what was written in the constitution, which was Cadets. The Southern Districts also later organized the Deborah Maidens.

We have a unified Christian Youth Organization in Igbeti in which all the churches in Igbeti have a common meeting where all the Voluntary Organizations meet. These organizations include the Baptist Royal Ambassadors and Lydia, the C&S and Anglican Brigade, and the UMCA Cadets and Deborah. The joint Christian Youth Organization is still under my leadership to this day.

The Scout movement is another organization in the town. I organized this in 1960 and I am still keenly interested in its progress.

There are two occasions I can never forget in my life. Once I was travelling from Igbeti to Ilesa on a visit. I started late that day and arrived at Osogbo around 8 o'clock at night. Our roads are dangerous for night travel because of night robbers, so I though it would be best to drive at about 120 km per hour, which was very unusual. There are many corners between Osogbo and Ilesa. That night was very dark and it rained. Because there were few vehicles, I started going too fast. I was full of fear, but there came a voice as I was about to get into a corner which warned me about my speed, "Stop, who is chasing you?"

With that word, and without seeing anyone, I became comforted and went back to my normal speed of 80 to 100 kph. I knew that day that the Lord is always with those who trust and serve Him.

Secondly, I had to go to inspect a church in Igbeti district, at Olokoto. Two of us were in the car. On our return trip on February 7 1994 I had a brake failure. We were speeding down a slope when I applied my brake and it failed. There were two oncoming vehicles on the bridge. I was afraid, not knowing what to do. My friend began to say "Jesu, Jesu, Jesu" and I was saying "Gba wa, gba wa" (save us, save us!). I drove off the road and finally came back to it, but God saved our lives.

I have a habit of always praying before I start off on a journey. These two occasions were the days which the Lord used in my life to save me and these experiences have blessed me and increased my faith in the Lord. It is good to trust and serve Him.

My observations in all these things are:
a) "A prophet is not without honour except in his own home town," Jesus said. It is very difficult to work in your own home town.
b) To work among young people is difficult. They feel that they know everything and are wiser than any other people, so it is difficult to govern them.

To those who want to work with youths, let me say that in whatever you do, to save your head among these youths, keep yourself from their money, do not be greedy. Keep yourself from adultery and fornication. Be firm in your words but do not be too rigid, and above all, be a man of prayer. Be careful, be watchful, be faithful in all your ways.

I praise the Lord for He blessed me with a wife, four children, and grandchildren. I notice that since 1965 when I got married, I have been given more responsibilities to carry.

The devil attacked my family in November 1993 and has kept my wife in bed since then, but people pray and encourage us with words and gifts to keep us up in faith.

Who is happier, someone who has returned from the battle or someone who is just going out? Let us persevere until the battle is won. We need to hold on to the faith of our fathers and keep to their steps. Pastors, in fact, all Christians, are at war every moment. Watch and pray. There is nothing you can do without surrendering all to Jesus. "Cast all your cares upon the Lord." Do not trust your own ability. Look fully to the Lord, read your Bible and keep its words. Be careful and be watchful for the world is full of false doctrines and many have been deceived and carried away.

Gabriel A. A. Ogunbode

This article is reproduced, with permission, from Faith of Our Fathers: Life Stories of Some UMCA Elders, copyright © 1999, edited by Lois Fuller, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria. All rights reserved.