Christ Apostolic Church (Bethel) UK

About Founder

Ayotunde Omideyi

BIOGAPHY OF THE FOUNDER & PIONEER GENERAL OVERSEER

APOSTLE AYOTUNDE AYODELE OMIDEYI (1945-2011)

Apostle Ayotunde Omideyi was born to James Olaolu Omideyi and Patience Bolajoko Wusu on the 4th of June 1945. He was the second child of 6 siblings. At birth he had a mysterious life-threatening condition, which he was not expected to recover from. However, seven days later he recovered miraculously. His education began at St Jude’s Primary School, Lagos, under the strict tutelage of his well-remembered headmaster, the late Pa Odugbose, and he went on to attend Igbobi College from 1960 to 1966. 

At this college he was always proud of, and which his father also attended, he was a chapel prefect and very active in drama. At its inception in December 1989, the Igbobi College Old Boys Association (ICOBA) UK, appointed him as its first Chaplain.

He enrolled in the University of Ibadan in 1969 to study Biochemistry. As the son of a renowned organist and choirmaster he became involved in music and soon became leader of the Student Christian Movement Choral group on the campus.

“He was here and has been gathered to the bosom of Father Abraham”

It was at the Christ Apostolic Church (Bethel) Abadina on the university campus that he became a born anew Christian. The late Founder, Prophetess Joanna Ogunranti was instrumental in his conversion and played an important role as his spiritual mother. He had a unique spiritual experience in which the Lord gave him two light bulbs representing the Old and the New Testament which were fused to become one in his hands. This was the source of his notable gift of understanding and teaching the word of God. A founding member of the Christ Apostolic Church Student Association, he was its first secretary in 1971 when it began.

His tenacious zeal and uncompromising faith caused him to experience persecution during his studies and in obtaining his qualification, by those who deemed he was “unsettling the campus with prayers”. Yet, his zeal and faith in the Lord did not abate. In 1972, he was ordained a Pastor in Christ Apostolic Church Nigeria, and he went on to become a science teacher in a secondary school in Kabba, until 1973.

1973 became a turning point in his life when the Lord commissioned him to go to England to set up the first Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) in Europe and outside Africa. Although reluctant, he obeyed and arrived in Britain on January 1st, 1974.

Once in Britain, he set about organising a house fellowship at Hatley Road in Finsbury Park, North London. Despite juggling studies, employment, and house fellowship, he graduated from Chelsea College, University of London in 1978 and for a brief period, worked as a scientific officer at the North Middlesex Hospital. 

The house fellowship flourished and birthed the first Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) in Europe and outside Africa. In time, the church grew and moved as directed by divine revelation to its current site and headquarters in 1980, to occupy the Grade 1 listed buildings of St Columba’s Church, designed by the renowned architect James Brooks, on Kingsland Road, London UK. With limited funds, he masterminded the refurbishment of the derelict building. He was a ‘labourer’ and was always hands-on in his involvement with the church work force. With support from church members and obedience to the Lord’s direction, the building became habitable, and the church took up its occupancy.

In 1983 Pastor Ayotunde Omideyi was ordained an Apostle by the late Apostle Daniel Owiredu, one of the founding fathers of Christ Apostolic Church, Ghana. In 1986 he set up the Sower International Evangelical Ministry the evangelical arm of the church. Over the years the Apostle visited and held revivals in England, the USA, and various countries in Europe, Asia, and Africa. Branches were established in Kibosha, Bagamoyo, Tanzania and in Nigeria, with a prayer ground, ‘David Camp Prayer Ground’ in Ijoko, Ogun state, and a church in Meiran, Alimoso, Lagos state.

Within his community, he initiated the formation of two organizations: The African Churches Council for Immigration and Social Justice (ACISS) in 1988 to assist African Immigrants in particular, with regularization of their immigration status and the African Immigrants Bureau (AIB) which was the successor of ACISS in 1991. As an encourager of young people, he initiated the idea of encouraging the debating and discussion of topical issues in the society as well as public speaking through The Schools Debating and Public Speaking Project in London.

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In 1995, in pursuit of his passion to make a reformative impact on the political landscape of his home country, Nigeria, the Nigerian Renaissance Movement (NRM) was founded; a political based organization in Nigeria, founded on strong Christian beliefs to educate and improve on the quality of lives of Nigerians. A training project for the unemployed to gain computing skills was also set up at this time. In 2003 the Lord opened a door for the Apostle to broadcast the Word on international television, via Christian Television Channel (CTC) and Original Black Entertainment channel (OBE) respectively for many years.

He inherited his love of music, coming from a family of talented musicians. Music was an important feature of his ministry, both at home and on the mission field. He enjoyed singing and playing the organ and took a particular interest in the church’s choir. By divine inspiration, there are well over 500 songs and choruses to his name, some of which have been published as ‘Songs From The Soul’.

His pulpit was not limited to the church as he taught in the kitchen, at the roadside, in the aeroplane, he never missed an opportunity to teach the word of God. A blunt and fearless speaker of the truth, he ruffled feathers where others feared to tread. Forthright in his actions, his integrity was such that he would never mix God’s money with his personal money, giving account for every penny spent. He had such unflinching faith, which made him unstoppable in anything he set his mind to do. God came first, regardless of the law, culture, or tradition. A humble man that he was, he was never ashamed to confess his errors that others may learn from it to save their souls. He was never afraid of unpopularity, always singing, ‘If no one joins me, still I will follow – no turning back, no turning back’. An indefatigable worker, he lost any sense of time or personal comfort when it came to doing God’s work. Materialism meant nothing to him, and he opted for basic amenities for the sake of saving the church’s finance. He was a pain to the powers of darkness. He battled against them relentlessly, refusing to compromise or mortgage his soul to the devil, gaining victory through Christ Jesus!

He was at his best when amid his flock teaching, whether the word of God, or on any topic. They were his friends, family, and students. He had a wide range of knowledge and could converse on any subject from politics to nature; and would comfortably engage with the most sophisticated adult or the smallest child. He had a gift of “whipping” you with the truth and ending the conversation on a humorous note with his distinctive smile!

He was called to glory on September 28th 2011, survived by his wife, Prophetess Fadeke Omideyi, children and grandchildren.

All glory be to the name of the Lord. Amen!

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