By Abosede Bankole
It was a day of joy which can never be overemphasized at the 60th birthday ceremony of an icon, the Coordinator of Christ Apostolic Church Theological Seminary (CACTS), Ibadan Campus, Pastor and Associate Professor Stephen Oluwatoyin Ajayi (Ph.D).
The glamorous celebration which was held at the school auditorium was a celebration of God’s faithfulness and overwhelming goodness to the life, family and ministry of the celebrant.
The joy of Pastor Ajayi knew no bound as he was celebrated by his amiable wife, children, church, family and friends and well wishers at the scintillating programme. Pastor Ajayi also launched a new book titled; “Christian Education and Church Growth in Nigeria.” People can get the book at CACTS Ibadan Campus.
While ministering at the programme on the topic; “The Price of Excellence” the DCC Superintendent of CAC Itire DCC, Pastor Gideon O. Oladokun refers to excellence as an achievements or evidence to prove your ability to do something.
He commended the highly level education of the celebrant, saying that things always easy for anyone with good and quality education
Pastor Oladokun added that; “we need to be serious with anything we desire to become in life. Sacrificial living is very important and we have to move with men of great purpose. There are three people one can walk with in life. They are people of lower cadre, people of higher cadre and your colleagues. If you move with people of lower cadre it is for you to be giving them instruction, though you can learn from them, while you discuss ideas with your colleagues. Meanwhile you learn from the achievements of people of the higher cadre and how to attain where they are.”
Below is the biography of the celebrant;
Pastor Ajayi was born on 29th June, 1960 to the family of late Elder Gideon Ajayi and Madam Abosede Ajayi (nee Moody) at a popular town called Egbe in West Yagba Local Government Area of the present Kogi State, Nigeria. He is the last born of a family of seven.
Education History
He started his elementary education at ECWA primary School, Egbe, Kogi State in 1969. He attended Egbe Teachers’ College, Egbe, Kogi State from 1975 to 1980. He proceeded to Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin, Kwara State in 1981 but God called him out to attend a Seminary instead, which he found difficult and firstly avoided. He later enrolled himself at United Missionary Theological College (UMTC) now known as UMTCA, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria where he obtained a Bachelor of Theology (B.Th) Degree in 1989. He also held a Postgraduate Diploma in Education (P.G.D.E) in Christian Religious Studies Education and Masters of Education (M.Ed) in Christian Religious Studies, both from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State in 1994 and 1999 respectively. Likewise, he held a Doctor of Philosophy Degree (Ph.D) in Applied Psychology from Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, Nigeria in 2014. The amazing fact is that, with all these academic heights attained, Pastor and Associate Professor Stephen O. Ajayi sponsored himself from primary school to Ph.D level, simply because he was born without a silver spoon in his mouth. He worked with many bricklayers and carpenters to fetch for himself all through.
Religious Background
At birth, Pastor and Associate Professor Stephen O. Ajayi was a member of Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA), Egbe, Kogi State. His father, a peasant farmer (of blessed memory), was an elder, evangelist and a church planter. He was a prayerful and committed member of ECWA. Likewise, his mother (also of blessed memory) was an active member of the church. During an interview with today’s celebrant, he said his parents were the most influential persons to him because they were very loving, caring and the way they brought him up morally and religiously, when he never even thought of being a pastor. The upbringing and training received from his parents subsequently helped him when God called him into ministerial work.
His Conversion from ECWA to CAC and His Calling
After his first year in Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin, he travelled to Lagos to buy some textbooks in preparation for the second year in the college. The day he returned to Ilorin, he was very thirsty and while looking for a place to get some water to drink, he then passed by a church where he heard a group of people singing, then he heard God’s voice, commanding him to join the group, because He (God) wanted to use him and give him victory and lifting. He struggled with God, but later obeyed. He then entered Christ Apostolic Church, Oke Isegun, Ilorin, Kwara State and met Christ Apostolic Church Students’ Association (CACSA) in a prayer session. That very day, according to him, he prophesied at a naming ceremony conducted by the church and was filled with Holy Spirit.
To further confirm his calling, one day, Prophet Alonge (a blind man) from Oloje came to CAC Oke Isegun, Ilorin and said – “you in that place, God said, go and do my work, if you disobey, God said He would visit you with madness”, meanwhile, he (Pastor Dr. Ajayi) was the only person in the Church at the time, praying silently in one corner. He was gripped with fear after hearing what Prophet Alonge said, that day, he finally surrendered to serve God wholeheartedly; and then finally withdrew from Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin after one year. He then went to buy admission form to study at UMTC, (now known as UTMCA) Ilorin with no sponsor and means to pay his school fee. But God made a way for him, when ECWA gave him Three Hundred and Sixty Naira Only (#360), twice his Seminary School fee of One Hundred and Eighty Naira Only (#180), despite the fact he was no longer an ECWA member which was well known to ECWA members. They said they donated the money to him because of his father’s meaningful contributions, commitment and dedication to the development of ECWA. This was God at work – “Divine Provision!”
Pastor Ajayi earned his nickname “Apostle” due to his fervent prayer lifestyle at UMTC, Ilorin, Kwara State. He was later referred to as “Prophet” after his divine encounter with God. According to him during an interview, he said and I quote – “Because I faced and fought a lot of spiritual battles and problems, with nowhere to stay. One day, I went to a prayer mountain at Niger River Basin for seven (7) days of prayer and fasting, on the fifth day, momentum rain gathered and thereafter fell heavily, but surprisingly, the rain did not touch my cloth” (End of quote). He further said that on the sixth day, his skin amazingly changed, the power of God fell upon him, his eyes and ears were opened to see and hear from God. That very day, he heard the voice of God that He has conquered and given him victory over his family enemies. While coming down from the prayer mountain on the seventh day, some people who saw and met him on his way started calling him “Woli” – meaning “Prophet” and they then started coming to him for prayers.
Work Experience
He began his career as a teacher at Ayede-Amuro Primary School, Egbe in 1980. He was later transferred to Oodo-Ere Primary School, then Odo-Ere Secondary School, both in Kogi State. He also worked as an evangelist at CAC Oke Itura, Sango, Ilorin. He later worked and served under Prophet E.O. Babalola at Osogbo, the man of God he respected so much.
In 1989, he crossed to Christ Apostolic Church Theological Seminary, Ile-Ife as a lecturer, during the time of Pastor J.B. Orogun as the CAC President and Pastor Udofia as the CAC General Superintendent. He has served as the Head, Departments of Christian Religious Studies (CRS) and Christian Religious Education (CRE) at the Seminary.
As a seasoned teacher, educator, mentor, administrator, academician, pastor and prophet, he has also served in several capacities, both in the church and state level, some of which include the following positions:
• Member, Pilgrims’ Welfare Board, Oyo State, Nigeria. - 2014
• Justice of the Peace of Oyo State, Nigeria. - 2003
• External Examiner, Christian Theological Seminary, Ibadan. - 2002
• Field Evangelist for CAC Students’ Association in Kogi, Kwara
and Niger States from 1981 - 1985
• Church Evangelist, CAC Oke Itura, Ilorin, Kwara State; and CAC
Temple of the Lord, Osogbo, Osun State.
• Classroom Teacher, UMTC Nursery and Primary School, Ilorin.
Other Leadership and Administrated Positions held are:
• Social Director, CAC Theological Seminary, Ile-Ife, Osun State.
• Chairman, Disciplinary Committee, CACTS, Ile-Ife, Osun State.
• Chairman, Seminar Planning Committee, CACTS, Ibadan Campus.
• Chairman, Panel of Inspection to CACTS, Igolo Satellite Campus, Republic of Benin – 2020.
• Chairman, Unified Examination Committee, CACTS, Ile-Ife, Osun State.
• Chairman, Christmas Carol Committee, Oyo State Government.
• Guest Speaker at 2019 CAC Oyo DCC Training of Elders.
• Guest Lecturer at 2020 Annual Conference of Staff and Students (ANCOSS) at CACTS Ibadan Campus.
• Lecturer, at 2019 and 2020 CAC Ordination Programme at Joseph Ayo Babalola International Miracle Camp, Ikeji-Arakeji, Osun State, Nigeria.
• Member, Curriculum Planning Committee, CACTS, Ile-Ife, Osun State.
• Member, Appointment, Promotion and Disciplinary Committee, CACTS Ile-Ife.
• Member, Academic Board, CACTS, Ile-Ife, Osun State.
• Member of the Senate, CAC Theological Seminary, Ile-Ife, Osun State.
• Member, Oyo State Inoculation and Orientation Committee.
• State Adviser, Royal Shepherds, Oyo State Divisional Council.
• Health Worker, ECWA Community Health Programme.
Presently, he is the pioneer and incumbent Co-ordinator, CAC Theological Seminary, Ile-Ife, Ibadan Satellite Campus, Ibadan, Oyo State; and the Founder, Christ Apostolic Church, Victory Centre, Akingbade, Ibadan with other assemblies at Olodo Area, Ibadan and Ile-Ife, Osun State.
His Academic Works and Publications
Pastor Ajayi is an international researcher. Some of his published works in international journals are:-
• Ajayi, Stephen O.; Olatunji, Oluwole (2016):
“Turnover Causations among High School Teachers in Nigeria,” a publication in the Journal of Africa Education Review (Taylor, Francis, U.K).
• Ajayi, Stephen O.; Olatunji, Oluwole (2016):
“Rurality, Nigeria’s Massification Policy on Access to Basic Education and Turnover Causations amongst Teacher”: Nigeria’s Universal Basic Education Project Submitted to the Australian Journal of Rural Education, Vol. 26(3), Pp.3 – 17.
• Stephen Oluwatoyin AJAYI & Oluwole Alfred OLATUNJI (2017):
“Demographic Analysis of Turnover Intentions amongst Nigeria High School Teachers”: Australian and International Journal of Rural Education, Vol. 27(1), Pp. 62-87.
• Stephen AJAYI & Alfred OLATUNJI (2019):
“International Comparison of Rural School Staffing”, Australian and International Journal of Rural Education (in view).
His well researched academic papers published in Nigeria Journals are as itemized below:
• 2017 – Sanctified Water and Healing Miracle: Impact on the Growth of Christ Apostolic Church in Oyo State, Nigeria. Babajide Journal (BAJOR) of Biblical Healing and the present Day Church, Vol. 3, No 1, Pp. 32-47.
• 2016 – An Evaluation of Teaching and Practice of Evangelism: Its Implications on Church Growth in Selected Christ Apostolic Churches in Oyo State, Nigeria. Christ Apostolic Journal of Biblical and Theological Studies (CAJOBATS), Vol. 1, No 1, Pp. 141-162.
• 2016 – An evaluation of Teaching and Practice of Prophecy in the Growth of Selected Christ Apostolic Churches in Oyo State, Nigeria. Babajide Journal (BAJOR) of Biblical Prophecy; Vol. 2, No. 1, Pp. 92-103.
• 2015 – Workload, Motivational Incentives and Supervisory Climate as Predicts of Teachers’ Turnover Intention in Ogun State Public Secondary Schools in Nigeria. UNIOSUN International Journal of Management Sciences and Development, Vol. 1, Pp. 1-18.
• 2014 – Minister and Giving: Hand Book on a Paper Presented at Annual Conference of CAC Theological Seminary Alumni Association, Programme Page 7.
• 2013 – Influence of Job Satisfaction, Work Family Life and General Health on Teachers’ Turnover Intentions in Ogun State Public Secondary Schools, Nigeria. UNIOSUN Journal of Politics and Society, Vol. 5 No. 1 and 2, Pp. 73-90.
• 2018 – (Published in Book): Prophets and Prophecies in the Contemporary Church. Contemporary Church Issues, Edited by Damilola Olatunde, Pp. 401-423.
• Expansion or Proliferation? An Ethical Assessment of Church Planting in Nigeria. A Publication in Festchrift in Honour of Pastor S.O.A. Afolabi with the theme – Ministerial Ethics and Ecclesiological Challenges in Nigeria, Pp. 17 – 36.
His academic papers in Newspapers include:
• Psychology of Reclaiming the Backslided, JABU Voice Publication, Issue 17, January 2018 Convocation Edition, P. 22.
• Stress, A Public Health Enemy, JABU Voice, Issue 16, January 2017 Convocation Edition, P. 18.
• God’s Plan for your Mind to be Free of Worry, Fear and Doubt, JABU Voice, Issue 12, December 2012 Convocation Edition, P. 11.
He also presented a paper, titled “Academic Organogram and Curriculum Planning at the 2017 Edition of CAC Theological Seminary Staff Refresher Course.
Conferences, Seminars and Workshop Participation
By the special grace of God, Pastor Ajayi has attended and participated in several conferences, seminars and workshops within and outside Nigeria such as 42nd Australian Universities Building Education (AUBEA) Conference of Faculty of Humanities, School of Design and the Built Environment, Curtin University, Perth Western, Australia; 1st Biennial Conference of Christ Apostolic Church Theological Seminary, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria; 42nd CACTS Alumni Association Annual Conference; Annual CAC Pastors’ Conference; and 63rd Annual Conference of Christ Apostolic Church Men’s Association (CACMA) among others.
Books Authored and Published
As a prolific author and an erudite professional Christian educator, Pastor Ajayi has written many books in diverse areas which include:
• Pastor and Effective Church Administration
• Effective Church Growth
• Teaching on the End Time Events (Eschatology)
• Bible Manners and Customs
• The History of the Christian Church
• Key to Bible Interpretation
• Psychology of Reclaiming Inactive Church Members
• The Message and Theology of St. John
• Teachings on Angels and Spirits
• Prophets and Prophecies
• Birth of Christ
• Suffering of Christ
• Genuine and Counterfeit Prophets
• Lectures on Christian Marriage
• Ministries in the Church of God
• Guide to Sermon Preparation
• Exposition on the Book of Judges; and so on.
His Contributions to Global Research in Education
As an Associate Professor in Applied Psychology and expert in Christian Education and leadership, his interest is notable in Africa’s topic discuss. He has published scholarly articles as they relate to the rurality of Nigerian education space and underlying factors of teachers’ turnover in Nigeria. He has featured in over 100 scholarly publications and has been cited more than 1,300 times. He has trained thousands of religious teachers currently scattered across many rural communities in Africa and abroad.
Awards Received
With his immense educational contributions to the church, national life and global community, Pastor and Associate Professor Ajayi has received some awards to his credit which include –
• Award of Impactful Kingdom Service by CACTS Ibadan Campus on 13th October, 2018.
• Role Model Award by Ray Unit Foundation on 28th December, 2019.
Hobbies
The celebrant loves praying, researching, reading, writing and singing. His favourite hymns in CAC Gospel Hymns Book are Various Hymns Number 14 – “As I Journey Thro’ the land, Singing as I go” (Ninu Irin Ajo Mi Beni Mo nkorin); and number 26 – “I’m Pressing On The Upward Way” (Mo Ntesiwaju L’ona Na).
Marital Life and Marriage
Pastor Ajayi met his wonderful wife – Lady Evangelist Christianah Titilope Ajayi (nee Fapohunda) in December 1991 at Christ Apostolic Church, Itire, Lagos. The courtship which lasted for six months was followed by wedding when they were joined together at Christ Apostolic Church, Oke Alafia, Loyola, Ibadan on 15th June, 1992. His marriage is blessed with wonderful children – Pastor Ajayi Peter Taiwo, Dr. Ajayi Lydia Kehinde and Dr. Ajayi John Tolulope.
Photo speaks !
Congrats to Pastor Ajayi. The oil of gladness will never run dry in your life. You will make heaven.E ooo nii jora yin loju ooo.
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