By OLUWAGBENGA BANKOLE
The President of Christ Apostolic Church (Worldwide), Pastor Abraham Olukunle Akinosun has described the death of Pastor Elijah Howard Lajuwomi Olusheye, former President of the Church between 1997 and December 2011, as the “Passage of a Legend”.
Pastor Akinosun said from whatever angle the transition of this Spiritual Legend is viewed, “his place in the history of this Church is assured because God used him mightily to move the Christ Apostolic Church forward at a very unprecedented rate”.
Pastor Akinosun, according to a Press statement signed by the Church’s Director of Publicity, Pastor Ademisoye Alawode, said the entire Church members, the clergy and the General Executive Council mourn the transition to glory of this great man of God.
According to family sources, Pastor Olusheye who had been having some health challenges in recent time, succumbed to the illness in the evening of Tuesday, August 29, 2017. He was aged 81 years.
Born at Igodan Lisa, Okitipupa in Ikale Local Government Area of Ondo State on January 3, 1936, Olusheye had his primary and secondary education before he heeded the call of God to go into the Gospel Ministry.
He trained under the renowned Prophet, Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola from 1956 to 1959. He at a point, rose to become the Apostle’s Private Secretary. After the demise of the Apostle, Pastor Olusheye became a Field Evangelist between 1959 and 1962.
From 1962 to 1964, Olusheye attended the Christ Apostolic Church Pastoral Training Course at Ibadan. He was ordained as a Pastor in the Church in 1964 after the completion of the Pastoral Training. He got married to Mrs Eunice Olusheye in 1962.
He was posted tot various Christ Apostolic Church assemblies between 1964 and 1971. Within the period, he worked under Pastor Ade Olutimehin, as an Assistant Lecturer at the CAC Pastoral Training College at Odubanjo House, Agege in Lagos.
In 1971, he went for further Theological training in Canada. He attended Prairies Brethren Bible College/College of Arts, Alberta, Canada and also University of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada where he obtained his first degree. He was pursuing his Master’s degree when he got the divine instruction to return to Nigeria in 1976.
On his return to Nigeria, he pioneered the Christ Apostolic Church Sunday School Department and was made the Sunday School Superintendent between 1976 and 1991 when he was posted to Latona, in Oshogbo as a Chairman.
He was appointed the General Superintendent of the Church in 1993 and became the President of the Church in 1997. He finally retired from the Church’s Service on December 31, 2011.
During his Presidency of the Church, Pastor Olusheye got the Licence for the establishment of Joseph Ayo Babalola University, the first Entrepreneural University in Nigeria at Ikeji Arakeji, Osun State of Nigeria. He was the Visitor to the University until his death.
Pastor Akinosun said the death of Pastor Olusheye came at a time when his dream for the unity of the Church was taking a positive shape. He said though Pastor Olusheye had a little mis-understanding with the General Executive Council , the highest decision making body of the Church, on the modality for achieving the desired unity in the Church, a situation which led to his removal as a Trustee in 2015, the entire members of the GEC and all the ranks and file of the Church members, regretted that he could not witness the coming into fruition, of the church’s unity, which he so much desired.
He added that “we take consolation in the fact that God loves him better than we do”. He therefore prayed for the children and all the family members left behind by Pastor Olusheye as well as all members of the Church.
Pastor Olusheye is survived by his widow, Mrs. Eunice Olusheye and many children, among whom are two Pastors in Christ Apostolic Church, Worldwide and many grand children.
Funeral arrangement will be announced later.