Timothy Gbadebo Oshokoya was saved from his life of sin in 1939 and he became very thirsty for more of God.

He came across some Apostolic Faith tracts and then wrote the Apostolic Faith Headquarters in Portland, Oregon, USA. The first parcel of tracts was sent to him in 1942, and he read them. There, he learnt that the experience he had received was called salvation. He also read about the experiences of sanctification and the baptism of the Holy Ghost. He prayed and received them.

By 1944, through his unrelenting efforts, The Apostolic Faith Church was born in Lagos, Nigeria. The Church soon spread to various parts of Nigeria, the West African coast and also Southern Africa.  Brother T's life cannot be severed from the growth and progress of The Apostolic Faith work in Nigeria and all over Africa.

He was ready to stake his life for it. Tracts and magazines arrived regularly from Portland Headquarters and these were faithfully distributed.

From the start, Brother T was determined that there would be no soliciting for funds for the Lord's work: no harvest, no bazaar and no fund-raising. The Church would be solely financed by tithes and offerings. He spent as much as he could on the development of the Church, instead of on food and clothing for himself. There were times when he had to wrap himself with his wife's wrapper after washing his only clothes, but he was undaunted. Sometimes, the family would go to bed without any food. At such periods, they would kneel down together and ask for God's provision and by daybreak, food would be waiting at their doorstep.

His vision was, "Africa for Christ", and it has become the motto of the Church in Africa. The vision spurred him to travel far and wide with the Good News. In South-Western Nigeria, he carried the Gospel crusade to cities such as Abeokuta, Ibadan, ljebu-Ode, Akure, Ife, Okeho, Ondo and Saki, to mention a few. In the East and North, he made trips at different times to Kwara State, Kabba area, Jos, Benin, Agbor, Enugu, Umuahia, Aba, Port Harcourt, Ikot-Enwang, Calabar and Oron. In all the places visited, the work of God has taken off wonderfully. Most of the journeys in those days were on foot, and by bicycle and trucks, because motor cars were very few and hard to come by.

Many years after the work started in Nigeria, Brother Timothy developed a burden for the work in schools. He made some visits to several schools in Northern Nigeria, in places such as Kano, Kaduna, Jos, Ilorin, Ayetoro-Gbede and Kabba. In 1970, the first retreat was held at Ayetoro-Gbede for teachers and students.

From his experience in the fifties and sixties, he was convinced that he could not make any headway in schools as long as he went in the name of the Church. The name of the Association of Visiting Secretaries (AVS) was then adopted. The AVS also organized international retreats and rallies, where thousands of young people were converted.

Brother T was a lover of music. As far back as 1945, he started the orchestra with a guitar and a mandolin. From this stage, more musical instruments were acquired. In 1951, he went to Portland, where he learnt to play various musical instruments. He came back to teach others, and this led to the first musical concert in December 1952, with eight people performing.

He also developed a burden for a printing plant which he started in 1951 with a duplicating machine. This was nurtured to become a standard press at the Anthony Village Campground. A modern kitchen was built and equipped at the campground to cater for over 10,000 people during the annual conventions, retreats and rallies. A transport department was established to purchase and maintain vehicles used for Gospel outreach. The collection of children for both morning and afternoon Sunday School was also started by him.

The mechanical, plumbing, carpentry, welding and electrical workshops, as well as an automatic power plant and a filling station at the Headquarters, were all established by Brother Oshokoya. An audio and visual recording section was also established by him. His methods of executing missionary undertakings, his fortitude and exemplary life, were really challenging. He did bequeath a heritage which should be an incentive to win Africa for Christ.

A few months before he passed on to Glory, he updated his Will. He then addressed three envelopes: one to the Board of Trustees, one to his family (both containing his Will), and the third containing his handover letter. He wrote in the Will: "I give to my Trustees all my property upon trust that my landed and building property situated at 53 (now 37), Isaac John Street, Igbobi, Lagos, be given to The Apostolic Faith Church with Headquarters at 49, Moloney Street, Ebute Meta, Lagos".

One day, he told the people around him that he had a limited time to live, and Heaven had already told him when he would be coming home. However, with a concern for the work in Africa, he became worried about the future of the Gospel work. He could not take his breakfast that day. Soon, God gave him a song: Be Still My Soul, a song which was rendered by the Female Choir at his funeral.

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side;

Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;

Leave to thy God to order and provide;

In every change He faithful will remain.

Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend,

Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake

To guide the future as He has the past.

Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;

All now mysterious shall be bright at last.

Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know

His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.

Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on

When we shall be forever with the Lord,

When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,

Sorrow forgot, love 's purest joys restored.

Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past,

All safe and blessed we shall meet at last. Amen.

He worked till the very last minute of his life. His last official duty took place late in the night when he consoled and counselled a minister who lost one of his parents. By 10.00 pm on that day, he prayed with the minister and others who accompanied him and bade them goodnight. Three hours later, at about 1.10 am on Wednesday, November 16, 1983, he breathed his last and went Home to meet his Saviour, whom he had dearly loved and faithfully served. He died on active service as he had wished.

“For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep" (Acts 13:36).

It can also be said of Brother Timothy Gbadebo Oshokoya that he served his own generation until he was called up to Glory.

Born on January 4, 1930, Brother Soyinka, as a young man, had been a churchgoer, who did not know that a man could have a personal relationship with God. Although he worshipped at a church in Lagos, he continued in his sinful life of smoking, Iying and cheating.

In 1953, he was sent along with five others by his church, to go and study the mode of worship at The Apostolic Faith, so that some aspects of the worship could be incorporated into their own. While on this mission, he was convicted and converted by the sound preaching of God's Word. He was later sanctified and baptised with the Holy Ghost. In 1969, he got married to Sister Esther Tokunbo Moses, who was called Home in 1973. He got married again to Sister Nike Moses on July 1, 1978.

Brother Soyinka was a great teacher and preacher, who held his audience spellbound. He made the study of the Bible his priority and this showed clearly in his teachings. He was loving, kind, generous and very humble. He could apologise to anyone at any time of the day and in any circumstance, just to be sure that the other party was reconciled.

On December 4, 1983, the mantle of leadership of The Apostolic Faith in Africa fell on Brother Soyinka, who was at that time the Secretary/Treasurer to the Board of Trustees of the Church at the Africa Headquarters, Lagos, Nigeria.

During his tenure, which lasted till September 4, 1999, Brother Soyinka undertook missionary journeys to many Apostolic Faith Churches in Zimbabwe, South Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Cote D'Ivoire, Republic of Benin, Cameroon and many other African countries. He also visited many branch churches in Nigeria. There was a great expansion of the work as many churches were opened.

At the close of the 1999 Lagos camp meeting, Brother Soyinka preached his last sermon titled: "A Broken Heart and a Contrite Spirit". To end the sermon, he said the following words: "Mission accomplished. I can now say: 'Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word". He then asked the congregation to join two children in singing a song - Away, Far Over Jordan thereby definitely informing the congregation, of his imminent departure to the Glory Land.

Two weeks later in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria, where he had gone immediately after the camp meeting to take a rest, he laid down his sword for a glorious crown.

There is something remarkable about Rev. Soyinka. He was born on Saturday, January 4, 1930; he became the Africa Overseer on  December 4, 1983, and died on Saturday, September 4, 1999. His initials are J.O.S. and he died in JOS!  

Brother Paul Ogechukwu Akazue was born on August 24, 1942, at  Idumunei Quarters, Issele-Uku, of the then Bendel State, now Delta State of Nigeria. He was the eldest of eight children of late Pa Alfred Akazue and  Mrs Bridget Akazue.  

On December 3, 1976, Brother Paul married Sister Yetunde Abosede  Fagbamila. Their marriage was blessed with four children: Ikechukwu, Uche, Emeke and Nnamdi. The virtuous Sister Bose took ill and bade the family farewell in 2001.  Brother Paul later got married to Sister Jane Grant on June 1, 2002. Sister Jane lovingly succoured and supported him through thick and thin to the very end.

Brother Paul was an ardent Baptist, but as a young adult, he had many unanswered questions and earnestly sought for the Truth. It was while in  Lagos in 1974 that he came in contact with the Gospel of Jesus Christ in  The Apostolic Faith.

In 1975, he prayed through to the Christian experience of salvation. He was later sanctified and filled with the Holy  Ghost and Fire. He soon joined the teamwork and was one of the Sunday school collectors. In 1981, he was appointed a Sunday school teacher and an assisting minister in 1984. He was issued with a ministerial credential in  1991. Brother Paul was a vibrant member of the Association of Visiting  Secretaries (AVS) – an evangelistic outreach of The Apostolic Faith. He  was indefatigable.  

Brother Paul became the first pastor of Apostolic Faith Church, Ifo, in  Lagos district in 1992. A missionary with great passion, he had the privilege of being sent on both local and foreign missions wherever a  “Macedonian call” was heard. He was sent on a foreign mission to London and later went with the then-Africa Overseer, Reverend Josiah Soyinka, to the Cameroons. In 1996, Brother Paul became the Overseer of The  Apostolic Faith work in Ghana.

Brother Paul left Ghana to attend the funeral of Brother Josiah Soyinka,  the then Africa Overseer, as homage to a deserving leader. He came to  Lagos, expecting to go back to Ghana after a few days but little did he  know that he would be the one chosen by God to succeed Brother Soyinka.  In absolute trust, he surrendered to the will of the Lord, and on October 3,  1999, Brother Paul Ogechukwu Akazue was appointed and ordained the  third Africa Overseer of The Apostolic Faith Mission.

This brave soldier of the Cross took ill and the people of God rallied around him and prayed earnestly for his recovery. With faith and courage, he fought the battle of life to the very end without blinking.  

On his last Sunday in August 2009, he said, “Soon and very soon, our  troubles will be over; I am already looking beyond the Rapture, I can see  the Millennium.” Encouraging the saints, he said, “I have prayed for you and I have sealed it with my life. I have prayed to God to give us a 100 per cent Rapture. That is the extent to which I love you. When I say I love you, I  mean I love you; I mean I want to see you in Heaven, I want to see you at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb; I mean I want to fellowship with you during the Millennial Reign. If you get careless, you will have yourself to blame! 

“The glory that awaits us, eyes have not seen, ears have not heard, neither has it entered into the heart of man what the Lord has prepared for His children. If we do not see here on earth again, let us see at the Marriage  Supper of the Lamb and there, our meeting will never end! Let us see during the Millennium and let us dwell together in the New Heaven and in the New Earth! God bless you!” 

His last words were: “Thank you, Jesus! Thank you, Jesus!” With these words, Brother Paul passed on to Glory. 

It was a glorious exit for Rev. Paul OgechukwuAkazue on May 21,  2010, when The Apostolic Faith members the world over, and friends of  the Church, bade the immediate past Africa Overseer farewell at the  Anthony Headquarters of the Church. 

Brother Lucas Obakoya was a co-evangelist with Brother Timothy Oshokoya in the Christ Apostolic Church. When Brother T was saved, he told Lucas about his experience. Lucas was an Evangelist, but he was not sure of Heaven. Even though he was well-versed in the order of prayer and had been a preacher for about six and a half years, he still listened to the simple story of salvation. He humbled himself, confessed and forsook his sins and God saved his soul, sanctified and filled him with the Holy Ghost. God made him to be a part of the beginning of this work. Timothy Oshokoya, D.T. Robbins and himself, formed the first group that gathered on October 14, 1944, to start the First Apostolic Faith Meeting. He was the second of the two-man Board of Trustees, which later grew to a five-member Trusteeship. He was a gallant soldier who was full of faith. He was a determined man who never gave up amidst persecution and trouble. He never looked for commendation but gave of his time and strength in an untiring and selfless manner, regardless of what he was called to do. With little thought of himself, he laboured faithfully and effectively in the Gospel work for thirty-three years, before he was called up to Glory on July 10, 1977. His wife. Kofoworola Obakoya, worked tirelessly in the Printing Department before she went for her reward in December 15, 2001.

Before the conversion of Brother Ben Abbey, he was a heavy smoker and was neck-deep in sin. He came in contact with the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ through the ministration of Brother Timothy Oshokoya. He confessed his sins, got saved, stopped smoking completely, and became interested in the things of God. Later, he received other Christian experiences of sanctification and the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Brother Abbey was one of the early converts in 1944, when the members of the group were studying The Apostolic Faith Tracts and holding prayer meetings.

He, with Brothers Oshokoya and Elebute went to obtain permission from the Governor to hold services in the Republic of Benin.

On August 13, 1948, Brother Abbey was appointed to lead the group which was worshipping in a small room at Dantopa, Cotonou. He later became the first Overseer of the work there. He passed on to Glory in 1967.

Brother Peter was the leader of a Church known as Faith of the Apostles, before he came in contact with some Apostolic Faith tracts. He communicated with The Apostolic Faith International Headquarters in Portland and received more tracts and literature. The papers explained the doctrines and what The Apostolic Faith Mission stood for. He studied them and was highly inspired. In 1948, he was invited to the camp meeting in Portland Oregon. This exposed him to the work and practices of The Apostolic Faith. He fashioned his life along the old-time religion by praying through to the Christian experiences of salvation, sanctification and the baptism of the Holy Ghost.

Rev. Peter van der Puije came back to Ghana more equipped spiritually, to organise his church in line with the sound doctrines of the Bible as preached by The Apostolic Faith. He encouraged his church members to obtain their Christian experiences and to affiliate with The Apostolic Faith. Some members of the Faith of the Apostles Church embraced the affiliation, while others left. With the assistance of the Missionary from Portland, Rev. George Hughes, a solid foundation was laid and the work began to thrive.

 He fought manfully on, not giving in to the vicissitudes of life, as he faced every persecution, trial and trouble, with spiritual fervour. He was fond of using the trials of Job in his sermons, to encourage his congregation to keep up a cheerful heart and a smiling face, under all circumstances, and "never say die until death".

 When he knew his time was up, he called for Brother Marteye and told him, "The egg must break but the Church of God will stand". He thanked his wife for her industrious life, love, support and care. He also called the children, held their hands one after the other and prayed for them. He was called to Glory in March 1955.

Ezekiel Oshobowale was a native of Awa near ljebu-Ode in Ogun State, Nigeria.

As a young man, he was very tough and rascally. He was a heavy smoker and an alcoholic. His wife came in contact with The Apostolic Faith Church and was converted. She started taking The Apostolic Faith magazines home. The husband often used the magazines as toilet paper instead of reading them.

One day, he glanced at the paper he wanted to use, and God spoke to him through the paper. He was convicted and later prayed through to the Christian experiences.

Brother 'Shobo', as he was fondly called, was a valiant soldier of the Cross. His way of life was a reflection of the fact that he was a retired soldier of the Nigerian Army. Everything he did was done with precision. For many years, he drove the Gospel team vehicle to many locations in Nigeria and beyond. He was an untiring  Works Superintendent, especially during the building of the Anthony Campground. For many years, he was the Sunday School Superintendent at the Headquarters, until he was appointed the pastor of ljebu-Ode Church. He also pastored Ibadan Church and later went on transfer to pastor Abeokuta Church in Ogun State. He became the first Overseer of The Apostolic Faith in Ogun State.

At Abeokuta, when he realised that there was no standard mission house, he sold his only plot of land at Lagos and donated the proceeds towards the building of a beautiful mission house. He lovingly supervised the building himself. Shortly afterwards, on January 24, 1978, he passed on to be with the Lord he had diligently and energetically served.

Hannah got converted and wholeheartedly accepted the doctrines of The Apostolic Faith, after the conversion of her husband, Rev T. G. Oshokoya. She was one of the foundation members of The Apostolic Faith in Lagos, Nigeria.

Though with litle formal education, she trained herself in many fields sewing, catering, midwifery and singing to become a great asset to the Gospel. She was thereby a good helpmate to her husband.

She was recognised as "a Mother" by all, not merely by virtue of her being the wife of the Africa Overseer, but because she caught a vision of Heaven herself. She grew along with Brother T in the work. Her prayers as an altar worker were very inspiring. She tirelessly laboured in the Printing Department. She was very skilful in the cutting of the pictorial memory verse slips given to the children on Sundays. She worked diligently until she became too old to work.

At the inception of the work, when times were hard, and the necessities of life were so lacking that her family could not afford a meal, she endured all the hardship and was reasonable with her husband. Through thick and thin, she cheerfully suffered along with him.

Truly, Sister Hannah Emiola Oshokoya's price was far above rubies. She went on to be with the Lord on May 28, 1994.

Hector Elebute was born in Ogbogbo, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State of Nigeria. His mother tried to introduce him to Christianity while in school, but he joined bad company. He was lured into magical practices and occultism, which disrupted his education. About this time, he came across Brother T. G. Oshokoya, who was also rascally and full of vices as a young man, but who had been miraculously changed. This challenged him. He humbled himself, prayed and God saved his soul in 1939. He left all his magical powers and deserted the Pentecostal Church he used to attend with all the practices of the church. He gave himself to praying and studying the Word of God.

In 1940, he secured an apprenticeship appointment as a locomotive driver with the Nigerian Railways Corporation. This took him away from Lagos to Ibadan, Enugu and Makurdi. In 1946, he came back to Lagos and resigned his appointment. He went into the importation of printing machines, which later metamorphosed into a printing press. He helped to print the outlines of the Sunday School lessons in Yoruba for a few years, before the Church was able to establish her own printing press.

He later prayed through to sanctification and the baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire, at 22, Simpson Street, Ebute Meta, Lagos. He joined the choir, singing tenor and playing trombone.

Brother Elebute was used by God as the purchasing officer for the Church at Lagos. In 1982, he was posted to serve as the Overseer of the work in the Republic of Benin. The Lord used him mightily in His service during the period of nine years spent in Cotonou, before he was recalled to assist at the Headquarters. Three church buildings located at Porto Novo, Bopa and Parakou in the Republic of Benin, were constructed during his tenure. A standard mission house was built at Cotonou. God also used him to acquire plots of land for the building of churches in many locations. He was a member of the Board of Trustees of The Apostolic Faith Church for many years.

Sister Shenbanjo was converted in 1946, and the young Apostolic Faith Church started to meet in her sitting room at 26, Little Road, Yaba, Lagos State. She worked for the Lord in different capacities. She was especially active in the Choir and Orchestra where she played the violin and sang alto. As she was getting older, she was advised to stop playing the instrument because of her age. She boldly said, "I shall play this violin until I breathe my last. When I put down this violin, I will exchange it with a golden harp". And this was exactly what happened. A few days after her last music practice, she went up to take her harp.

Philip O. Inyang was born in Ikot Enwang, Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria. According to the custom in his area, his parents usually offered sacrifices on his behalf, to protect his life, because he was the only child. However, after attending Sunday School in one of the churches around him and learning that God was the only one Who had the power to protect, he refused further sacrifices on his behalf. To his pleasant surprise and that of his parents, he started to enjoy perfect health. He testified: "This gladdened the hearts of my parents and not long after; they started attending my former church with me".

One day, Philip got an Apostolic Faith tract titled, How to Become a Disciple of Jesus Christ, from a relation whom he met at Ikot Ekpene market. He kept the tract for two years without reading it. In 1937, he read the tract for the first time and thereafter read it again and again, sometimes in tears. He hated all the transgressions and disobedience to the Word of God practised in the church he attended. The more he tried to point out the wrong things done in their midst, the more his church members hated him. For this reason, he decided to start a separate fellowship with three people who loved the Word of God concerning salvation from sin. He was then accused of bringing division into the church. He was threatened by policemen, that anyone who accepted any other church doctrine would pay five pounds as a fine to the Government. He ignored the threat.

In 1940, his group built a small house for prayer. Brother Inyang wrote letters to The Apostolic Faith Headquarters in Portland, Oregon in America and received replies with parcels of tracts. He then erected a signboard thereby openly identifying his group with The Apostolic Faith. Brother Inyang was later chosen as the Leader.

On the instructions of the International Headquarters in Portland, Brother T. G. Oshokoya visited the group in Ikot Enwang in 1951. Brother T invited Inyang to the 1951 camp meeting in Lagos. The first time he went to the altar, he was unhappy with the person who prayed with him. He told the helper that he was saved, because he was a pastor of a church and he gave people the Lord's Supper. He said:

"One day, I pretended to be praying and stayed very long at the altar of prayer. I was the last person to leave the altar that day. This brother came to me and asked how was it with me? I told him that at least he saw that I left the altar bench last and that should prove to anyone that I have been saved. I thank God that this brother did not leave me. was the second day that I sincerely prayed and God forgave me my sins. Soon after that, God sanctified me and gave me the baptism of the Holy Spirit". 

Brother Inyang decided that very camp meeting that he was going to teach his people the Bible doctrines as taught by The Apostolic Faith, and that, if his people did not take it, he would go away from among them. Some members left but with courage he continued with the few who remained and later Ikot Enwang became the Headquarters of The Apostolic Faith work in the area.

Through Brother Inyang's relentless activities, branch churches were established at Udon Ebom, Uyo, Calabar and Ikot Osukpong. He later became the Overseer of The Apostolic Faith work in Eastern Nigeria.

On September 9, 1969, Brother Philip 0. Inyang, passed on to Glory in Lagos. He was buried on September 17 at Calabar. Though, he is gone, his work continues to bear fruit.

Francis Adisa Akinboye was a nominal Christian before he came in contact with The Apostolic Faith. In his attempt to search for God, he used to wear white garments with coloured girdles as practised in white-garment churches . He fasted a lot and at times went on the mountain tops to pray, believing that he could win the favour of God by so doing.

One day, he went to a meeting conducted by The Apostolic Faith, where he heard a sermon about the consequences of sin. Immediately, he realised his position as a sinner, and that he would go to hell if he died in that condition. This prompted him to pray, confessing his sins, and Jesus wonderfully saved him from his wretched, sinful life.

It took him time before he could pray through to sanctification, the second work of grace, because he was used to fasting, and thought he could easily obtain it by long fasts. The Lord explained to him that he could get nothing from Him by his personal efforts, it is only by grace. When he leaned hard on God, asking Him for His sanctifying grace, the Lord graciously sanctified him and later baptised him with the Holy Ghost and fire.

Francis Akinboye was a very zealous man. He led a team of Gospel workers to the seaport to minister to the seamen and marine workers. As one of the early members of the Choir and Orchestra, he played the trombone. He was a powerful preacher and a great evangelist. He was part of the Gospel team which accompanied Brother Oshokoya, on his tour of various parts of the country. He was very loving. He pastored ljebu-Ode Church for several years with the unflinching support of his wife, Remi Akinboye, who was the organist. While at Ijebu-Ode, he held services at ljebu-Ode on Tuesdays, at Ibadan on Wednesdays, at ljebu-Ode on Thursdays, at Ibadan on Fridays, proceeded to Lagos for Sunday School Conference on Saturdays and went back to Ijebu-Ode for Sunday services. He did all these every week, joyfully and without complaints. God was his Succour.

He later became the Overseer of the work in Kwara State (now Kwara and Kogi States). It pleased God to call him Home, one day on his journey to Kwara State, in December 1979.

Brother Morgan Sengwayo recalled his early life when his mother wanted him to be baptised in her church. He refused because he was not impressed by the lifestyle of the church members. Later, in Johannesburg, South Africa, he was afflicted with a dreadful infectious disease, which could not be cured in the hospital. His life was to be terminated for fear of contaminating others; but with the intervention of a kind nurse who knew his fate, he was assisted to escape.

Thereafter, he met a praying group who prayed for him and he was hếaled. This set him seeking God and he later heard about salvation. His heart longed to be saved. One day, by a stream, he prayed earnestly the way he knew best: he told God to save his soul or he would drown.

The Lord saved him that day. Afterwards, he came across a tract of The Apostolic Faith Church, wrote to Portland, Oregon, and was sent some Gospel materials.

The call of God was strong in his life, and he hungered to be closer to Him. In a wonderful way, God led him to Bulawayo, Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). He received a letter from The Apostolic Faith in Portland, Oregon, saying that Rev. Timothy Oshokoya was coming from Nigeria to Rhodesia. Sengwayo was invited to meet him and help as an interpreter. One of the first things Brother Timothy said to him, when they met was, "You seem to have been saved for years, but do you understand what sanctification is?" Tears rolled down his cheeks as he tried to answer. The Spirit of God spoke right into his heart and said, "This is what you have been hungering for, since you were saved. Take it !" Brother Oshokoya fully explained the second work of grace to him. He listened, and then went to pray in the bush, near his home. God sanctified and later baptised him with the Holy Ghost.

Brother Sengwayo got a job as a dispatch clerk. He would get up early in the morning and visit three to four homes, saying prayers with the members of the families before he went to work. During lunch hour, he would look for a gathering, either at a hot dog stall or under a tree, where workers were having their lunch. He would take that as an ideal place for his sermon and start religious discussions with fellow workers. Every single minute he had, he spent to bring others nearer to God. After work, he would visit eight to ten homes before he went to sleep.

The work continued to grow and many were born again. At his place of work one day, he fell into a trance and the Lord said to him, "Arise! Go and work for Me, as you promised Me in South Africa in 1943". He agreed to do the will of God.

After journeying to Bulawayo as the Lord had commanded him, he started a church there, and today, there is a T-shaped church in Pelandaba, which has become the Headquarters of The Apostolic Faith in Southern Africa.

In 1954, Brother Morgan Sengwayo left his employment and went into full-time ministry. He was assisted by his wife. Morgan Sengwayo, the son of a poor man, became a teacher, clerk, driver, preacher and finally, the Overseer of The Apostolic Faith work in Zimbabwe as well as in the neighbouring countries.

Brother Sengwayo left this world in March 1982, to meet his Saviour, Whom he loved so much.

Theophilus Ogunnaike came across the Gospel in 1950, through Brother David Adewoyin who was his co-worker at the Kingsway Stores, Ibadan.

Although he first told Brother Adewoyin that there was nothing special about being saved because he was already a minister in a small group, he eventually followed him to a revival meeting after much persuasion. There, he discovered that his life did not measure up to the Truth that he heard. He knew that there was no joy in his heart. He was often angry and quarrelsome, even though he appeared gentle outwardly.

It took him quite sometime to get saved, but he kept on attending the Church. One day, in his room, the Lord saved his soul. He was later sanctified and baptised with the Holy Ghost.

He was a zealous Gospel worker. He learnt music and was a tenor singer in the choir. He played violin in the orchestra. He became a Sunday School teacher in 1959.

Brother O, as he was fondly called, was a lover of children and the young people. He regularly took the young people out for picnics, where he taught them to love God. He believed in humility. He preached and practised it. He was a disciplined man, who preached the Word of God in all its fulness.

He did not possess the things of this world, but he possessed things Eternal. He spent everything for the Gospel, everything he had. When people gave him money, he gave it back to the poor. He spoke few words, but those few words made people want to worship God.

He spent almost all his life in Ibadan, where he was the pastor for over 40 years. He later became the Overseer of Oyo and Osun States. Between 1977 and 1979, he was transferred to Cross River State, to oversee the work there. He was a member of the Board of Trustees of The Apostolic Faith in Nigeria.

He loved God and was loved by God; he loved people and people loved him too. He was kind, gentle and humble. He was a prayer warrior. A few months before his death, he went quietly unnoticed into the Ibadan Church and knelt down at every chorister's seat to pray for each of them. He then proceeded into the auditorium and knelt at each pew to pray for all the members.

On May 21, 1997, after a mighty one-week revival at Ibadan in which over 900 people received different Christian experiences, the Rev. Afolabi Ogunnaike quietly went to his reward. When he died, even people who were not members of the Church, commented that a great man had departed.

Brother Josiah Soyinka, who conducted his funeral service, called him the most excellent Theophilus. He was a perfect example of what a Christian should be. He was a man of God.

Brother Samson Etuk Ekanem was born on October 19, 1934, into the family of Nto Akpan Enwang, in Ikot Enwang Village, Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.

Samson attended the African Church in his childhood. His desire to know more about the Truth encouraged him to move close to Brother Philip Inyang. The latter had been expelled from his former church because he dared to question the polygamous lives of the then leaders of the church. Ekanem, and a few others decided to leave the church. He, with his friend Philip and others, continued to search for a better way of worshipping God. The Lord led them to the true worship in The Apostolic Faith. He embraced the sound doctrine and prayed through to salvation, sanctification and the baptism of the Holy Ghost.

Brother Ekanem became the first choirmaster and organist in the District Headquarters Church in Ikot Enwang. God helped him to supervise the construction of most of the early church buildings of The Apostolic Faith in the Eastern part of Nigeria. Shortly after the Church started growing in Eastern Nigeria, Brother Inyang sent Brother Ekanem to officiate at a branch of The Apostolic Faith at Ikot Osukpong Ika. The village people came to him angrily to complain that his church members were breaking their tradition by planting and eating sweet yam. Brother Ekanem explained to them why they could not be bound by such traditions. They then proceeded to set the church building on fire but God erected a bigger building at that same location. Since the members took their stand, the villagers stopped worrying them.

Brother Ekanem lived a very humble and God-fearing life. He was deeply consecrated and highly disciplined. He was loved by all who knew him. In spite of his high calling in the Gospel, he related well with both young and old. He encouraged them to prefer the way of righteousness to every other way of life. He would not compromise with sin in any form.

In 1969, after the Home Call of the first District Overseer of the then Eastern Nigeria, Brother Philip Inyang, Brother Ekanem was appointed the District Overseer of the Gospel work in Akwa Ibom and Cross River States. He also worked in Oyo, Osun, Imo and Abia States as District Overseer. He was a member of the Board of Trustees of The Apostolic Faith work in Nigeria. He was called Home on September 17, 1995.

Brother Robinson Sanana, a native of Zambia, came across the Gospel while working in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). He was a drunkard and a wayward man, who would leave home for days without coming back. At a time, his wife got fed up and stored the food she cooked daily for him for 7 days, since he would not return home to eat. His wife then gathered the food in a wheelbarrow, took it to his office, to show his colleagues, as proof that her husband had not come back home for a whole week.

One day, Brother Morgan Sengwayo led the people of God to preach in front of THE L Sanana's home. He heard the Word of God which made him realise his sinful and wretched condition. He prayed, confessed his sins and asked for forgiveness. God saved him and from that time on, made him a responsible husband and father. God helped him to be fervent and diligent in His service.

He was the Overseer of The Apostolic Faith Churches in Zambia until he breathed his last on April 22, 1992.

Brother Sunday Kalu Johnson Okorie was born on Sunday, August 30, 1930. Brother Okorie started corresponding with The Apostolic Faith, Portland, Oregon, in 1950. He was saved in 1960. However, as a choirmaster and organist in his former church, he found it difficult to leave until 1961.

In 1963, he was appointed by the Rev. P. O. Inyang to head the Church in Port Harcourt. He was also the choirmaster and organist. During the civil war, between 1967 and 1970, he helped to evangelise the nine villages in Item, his home town. He was called to full-time ministry in 1977.

Brother Okorie wrote many songs in both English and Igbo. These included Glorify Him and Ka M Nogide Nine Jisos. He also arranged songs like Ekele Nna, a medley from the compositions of Harcourt Whyte, a great musician under whom he trained. During the Civil War, he copied hymns by hand so that worshippers could have hymn books to use. As a result of the dearth of Igbo hymn books after the Civil War, he consulted with Rev. T. G. Oshokoya, who advised him to compile a hymn book. He then came up with a compilation of 1,000 hymns titled, Psalms in the Holy Ghost, along with an orchestration album. He also laboured in the translation of the 36 books of the Sunday School series and many Gospel materials into Igbo language.

In 1978, he became the Overseer of The Apostolic Faith work in Abia and Imo States. He was later posted to Enugu and Anambra States. After a while, he was transferred back to Abia and Imo States. He was a member of the Board of Trustees of The Apostolic Faith in Nigeria.

Brother Okorie was a father to all. He greeted both the young and the old with a broad smile which made him approachable. He was indeed a humble man. During most of his sermons, he would burst into tears, thereby moving his audience into spontaneous revival.

He loved the Gospel work so much that for him, there was no leisure time. He used virtually every hour of the day for Gospel work - preaching, counselling, composing songs, translating Gospel materials into Igbo, visiting the sick, playing the organ or conducting the choir. Even when on the sick bed, Brother Okorie would still be found doing some Gospel work.

Brother S.K.J. Okorie laboured tirelessly among his people, the Igbo, in South Eastern Nigeria, until 1998, when he retired from active service. He passed on to his reward on March 29, 2002. His life and ministry greatly encouraged and edified the saints.

Brother Paul Saliu Kolawole Ibikunle was born on October 29, 1934, into a Muslim family. As a little boy, he thought that he would become a great exponent of Islam. He was sent to a Koranic school and at a tender age, he had started calling people to prayers in the mosque. This trait in him gave his father a high hope that he would follow the way of Islam to the highest limit.

However, in order to pursue his education to the highest possible stage, a friend of his father arranged for him to live with a Bishop of the Anglican Church at the Bishop's court in Lagos. It was there that he started attending church services. Nevertheless, there was no change in his life. He went to a missionary high school called C. M. S. Grammar School, Lagos.

During his last year in the school, he heard about salvation through a cousin who was a member of The Apostolic Faith. At first, he came to the Church with the intention of just observing and jotting down as many spoken English errors as would be made by the officiating minister. The Spirit of God, however, arrested and showed him the errors of his own ways. He was convicted of his sins which included the schoolboy pranks he played. There and then, he repented, confessed, and God saved his soul. He went to make restitutions to his teachers, members of the Bishop's household and even his parents. He was later sanctified and baptised with the Holy Ghost and fire.

His conversion stirred up no small opposition and bitter persecution from his Muslim family. At the climax, his father stopped paying his school fees in the crucial final year at school. The promise of God in Psalm 27:10 was fulfilled to the letter on his behalf, in that God gave him a scholarship which saw him through his schooling. The persecution did not stop there, because he still continued in his newfound faith.

One day, a gang organised by his Muslim relations, came to drag him out of the Church at 22, Simpson Street, Ebute Meta, Lagos, chanting "thief, thief, thief". To the amazement of the passers-by, on enquiry about what he stole, his relations said, "No, he did not steal but he is a Muslim who decided to be going to church". Brother Paul, like his Saviour Jesus Christ, bore the shame and molestation without fighting back. He followed his people quietly. On getting home, he was brought before his father who told him to choose that day, whom he would serve-to choose Jesus and be a castaway in the family or to choose the religion of his father. His highest limit reply was, "Even if it remains a shirt on my back, I will serve Jesus".

From that day on, he was left to his choice and he continued to fellowship with the people of God undisturbed.

 Brother Ibikunle was called to the Ministry in 1961. He voluntarily resigned his appointment with the Nigerian Ports Authority, where he had worked for about four years. He became a full-time missionary at the age of 27. For many years, he was the personal secretary to the pioneer Africa Overseer, Rev. T. G. Oshokoya. In addition to working in the office, he travelled extensively with him, taking the Gospel to many areas in Nigeria. He also travelled with him to other countries of Africa including Ghana, Republic of Benin Togo, Cote D'lvoire, Burkina Faso, Liberia and Zimbabwe. His frequent and extensive tours afforded him the opportunity to know and be known by many people, in and outside Nigeria.

As a young man, Brother Paul studied music in the Church and learnt to play the trumpet. He became an accomplished trumpeter and for many years played in the church orchestra. He inspired and trained many youths on that instrument. He was also a talented singer, a tenor soloist, whose renditions inspired and blessed many souls. Brother Paul contributed immensely to the programmes of The Apostolic Faith Choir and Orchestra nationwide, particularly in the states where he worked as Overseer.

In September 1977, he was posted to Benin City, the capital of the then Bendel State, to oversee The Apostolic Faith work. Through his ministry, the Church grew from a very small congregation to the stage where branch churches sprang up at Sapele, Aviara, Warri and Okpanam. A church in Owerre Olubo opted to affiliate with The Apostolic Faith, as a result of the conversion of their founder at one of the revival meetings in Aviara.

In 1982, Brother Paul was transferred to Ikot Enwang as Overseer for the Akwa Ibom and Cross River States and in August 1991, to Kwara, Kogi and Niger States.

Brother Paul was a lover of hospitality and could be regarded as an "Apostle of the Youths". He did all he could to encourage every youth he came across to be interested in music, take a stand for the Gospel and work for God. He had a listening ear, a sympathetic heart and a willing mind to help. He gave many people useful spiritual counselling for which they would forever be grateful. He was the ‘beloved Brother Paul’ of the Apostolic Faith. On Sunday, January 12, 1992, he was called home to rest from his labour.

 Brother Emmanuel Aina was born on June 20, 1922. He was a prophet in The Church of the Lord (Aladura) at Ogunseye, a village near Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria. When a branch of the church at Abeokuta, led by Isaac Sokeye, got affiliated to The Apostolic Faith, the leader of the church at Ogunseye complained that the Abeokuta church had gone fanatical and crazy. When Aina asked what was wrong, he was told that Sokeye had sent all his wives away except the first one; and that many of the members had stood up to testify that they had been thieves and adulterers, but that the Lord had forgiven them and they had peace with God. The leader then warned them not to attend the Sokeye branch. As he was talking, the Spirit of God was, however, confirming to Aina that those were the people going to Heaven and that he should fellowship with them. He, therefore, decided to visit The Apostolic Faith Church at Igbore, Abeokuta.

The first time he went there, the people were singing Redemption, O Wonderful Story. As he listened to the song, tears streamed down his face and he decided to join the Church. He later prayed and God saved his soul. That was in 1955. He was later sanctified and baptised with the Holy Ghost and fire. He planned to teach members of The Church of the Lord, the doctrines he learnt at The Apostolic Faith but they would have none of it. He then decided to stay at home to pray and read the Sunday School Book given to him at The Apostolic Faith Church. While doing this, six members of his former church joined him and there was a revival. He later went to nearby Kemta village to share the Word of God. There was also a revival. As a result of the two revivals, the converts decided to come together to form a branch of The Apostolic Faith Church at Kemta. They later moved to Obafe, which was a bigger town.

Brother Aina made restitution of his adulterous life. He desired to be close to God and God shed light into his heart through the sound doctrine. In his effort to know more of God, he devoted time to the study of the Word of God and The Apostolic Faith publications. God established him through this spiritual exercise. He became a Sunday School teacher and later a minister of the Word.

He was at various times posted to Orunwa, Abeokuta, Ayetoro Gbede and Ijebu-Ode as a pastor. In 1978, he was posted to Akure as the Overseer of The Apostolic Faith work in Ondo State , a position he held until he was transferred to Abeokuta, Ogun State in 1982 as the Overseer. He came to Lagos in 1998.

Brother Aina has a deep understanding of the Word of God and is well versed in the Scriptures. When he preaches, he has the talent of interpreting the Word to bring out hidden meanings. He analyses into the minutest details. He is very accessible. A little child could walk up to him and start a conversation. He is very humble and ready to counsel anyone who comes to him at any time of the day. He spends his time searching the Scriptures, composing music or playing the piano. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of The Apostolic Faith Church in Nigeria.

Brother Emmanuel Shotade was drawn to The Apostolic Faith through music. As a young school leaver, he was strolling along a street in Lagos one evening in 1950, when he noticed a woman playing a piano inside a church. He said:

"An usher noticing my curiosity, beckoned on me and invited me into the Church. Although, I neither understood what they did nor realised my need for salvation then, the love shown by the people in the Church made me to attend regularly. They kept coming to my home and asking about my welfare. I finally prayed through to salvation under the love that would not let me go".

Shortly after, he received the experiences of sanctification and the baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire. He further said:

"I instantly fell in love with going to work in the church office and, apart from a few months in a secular job, God has made me to be a full-time worker since 1951".

He was also a pioneer member of the Choir and Orchestra. He played many instruments including the piano and conducted the Choir. He taught people how to play various instruments. His students included Sisters Akinboye and Victoria Oshobowale, Brothers Amos Adeoye, Paul Ibikunle and Samuel Odumosu. He was the Elementary Sunday School Superintendent for many years. He is the current Printing Manager of the Church Press.

Brother Shotade's love for the Gospel makes him work tirelessly. He is always seen at the various sections of the Printing Press supervising and working. He also assists in putting the machines in order. He is very time conscious and punctual at all programmes. He is `fondly known as Oga (leader), because at various times, he had been the head of the Music Department, Children's Department, Information Centre and the Printing Press among others. His love and care for those who work under him is exemplary in spite of the fact that he is a disciplinarian. Brother Emmanuel Shotade is a source of inspiration to all.

Brother Machie joined The Apostolic Faith Church in 1952, and prayed through to the three Christian experiences, at Enugu. After a while, his secular work took him to Owerri. There, he labored fervently to establish The Apostolic Faith Church. He was a man of faith. He had the divine favour of obtaining whatever he wanted for the Church from the Government officials. The Government gave him a large piece of land at Owerri on which the church was built. He was also instrumental in the establishment of branch churches at Egbema, Akabo, Ulakwo and Ifakala.

Brother Machie loved the young people and always prayed for them. He often voluntarily counselled and encouraged them on their spiritual welfare. This drew many people close to him. He did not mind trekking long distances to minister to and pray for the sick. Brother Machie was not tired of performing active Gospel work even when he retired from pastoring the Church at Owerri.

He shall be remembered for the congregational opening prayers he offered in Igbo language during the Lagos camp meetings, often with the familiar words: Otuto (Glory), Bata (Come in) and Gozie (Bless).

He worked for the Lord until he departed this sinful world on August 21, 2001.

On November 10, 1980, Kuntuala Isala Daniel picked up, at a bus stop, one of the tracts that were distributed in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. He gave it to M'Bengani Kalundandiko to read. M'Bengani then wrote a letter to Portland, Oregon, on November 13, 1980. The letter was sent to Lagos Headquarters from Portland. Lagos wrote M'Bengani and invited him to the camp meeting of August 1981.

At that time, M'Bengani was the President of a church, assisted by Kuntuala Daniel, who found the tract. On August I1, 1981, Mr. M'Bengani came to Lagos, Nigeria, for the first time and took part in the camp meeting of that year. He was instantly healed of a terrible and painful illness that had tortured him for 30 months. He was later saved, sanctified and baptised with the Holy Ghost and fire.

Brother Timothy Oshokoya, the first Africa Overseer, advised him to stay behind after the camp meeting to learn the doctrines, principles and methods of The Apostolic Faith work. He encouraged and explained to him the duty of winning Africa for Christ, and mandated him to go home and teach his people the sound doctrine.Brother M'Bengani spent 45 days in Nigeria.

On his return to Kinshasa, he resigned from his former church and started an Apostolic Faith Church on September 28, 1981, with five members of his former church. The six of them were meeting in his sitting room and God added to their number. By 1982, they were sixty.

In 1987, a church building measuring 14 metres by 18 metres, was built on a piece of land donated to the Church by him.

As he was mandated, Brother M. Bengani did his best to teach the sound doctrine to his people. He organised the reading of tracts among the youths, women, men, workers and ministers in the language that each group understood best. This arrangement helped his members to understand the doctrines of the Bible.

He organised the Association of Visiting Secretaries (A.V.S.) who teach the Word of God in schools, homes, hospitals and prisons. Within a short time many Bible study centres were started in the city of Kinshasa, which later developed into branch churches. He worked diligently to spread the Gospel in almost all the regions of Congo. He assisted The Apostolic Faith Churches in Angola as well.

Brother Isaac Sokeye was born into a pagan family in Igbore, Abeokuta. Nigeria on September 3, 1906. As he grew up, he embraced Christianity and became the leader of a church.

By 1954, he was still in search of a higher and better way of serving God in truth and in holiness. Consequently, he came in contact with The Apostolic Faith Church, where he learnt it was possible to live a sinless life through the receipt of salvation. He immediately embraced this truth and prayed through to the Bible experiences of salvation, sanctification and the baptism of the Holy Ghost. The receipt of these Christian experiences was a turning point in his life.

He was so enthused about the change in his life, that in 1954, he surrendered the administration of his church The Church of the Lord (Aladura) – which people simply called Sokeye 's Church Igbore, Abeokuta, to The Apostolic Faith. He also gave the Mission House, and a piece of land at ljeja, Abeokuta, as a burial ground, to the Church. He immediately made restitution of his marital life, stuck to his first wife, and allowed the remaining four women to go.

In 1954, after his conversion, he voluntarily retired from John Holt Nigeria Limited, and from other secular engagements, to devote the rest of his life to the service of God as a full-time missionary. He was mightily used of God at Ibadan, Abeokuta, Cotonou and lastly in Lagos. He was a fearless man of God. He was uniquely used by God in the ministration to the sick. Knowing the urgency involved in saving a life, he would not mind to trek long distances to be of assistance to the sick. He was so caring, compassionate and selfless, that through his prayerful life, many sick people were healed and pregnant women delivered. He slept in the Lord on Friday, November 27, 1992.

Brother Ojo had served as a pastor of a church for 24 years without knowing what it meant to be a saved soul. God brought him to The Apostolic Faith through the protracted illness of his son. He was invited by a friend who told him that Jesus could heal his sick son.

When he got to Church, however, he too was told that he was also sick spiritually. He prayed for the forgiveness of his sins. God saved him and gave him the other Christian experiences. He returned to Cote D'Ivoire, where he had the opportunity of starting The Apostolic Faith Church. There are already 13 branch churches in the country. God has helped him to spread the Gospel for 27 years.

Brother David Tella Adewoyin, a native of Oyo in Nigeria was born in 1920. He was a member of a church which was very close to the mill, where The Apostolic Faith met at Idi-Ikan in Ibadan, Nigeria. He got acquainted daily with The Apostolic Faith Church while going to his own church. He was invited by the Spirit of God to join that little flock. He visited the Church and heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He prayed and God saved, sanctified and baptised him with the Holy Ghost in 1950.

He worked as a clerical officer at the Kingsway Stores and whenever he was on leave, he spent most of his time going out with the Gospel team or working at the mission house.

He introduced the Gospel to his colleague, Theophilus Ogunnaike, who eventually came to the Church and also prayed through to the Christian experiences.

Brother David Adewoyin was very zealous. He loved music and was a very good baritone soloist. His favourite solo used to be ‘Never Grow Old’.

He loved planting and nurturing flowers. He was the first person to plant and nurture flowers to beautify the old campground at Onigbongbo. He also started a mini mart and a cafeteria department there.

He lived a useful, humble and exemplary life. He was a member of the Editorial Board that translated the Sunday School lessons into Yoruba language. He also helped in compiling Gospel Songs in Yoruba language. He served the Lord joyfully in His vineyard, until God called him Home on May 6, 1964.

Rev. George Moore Hughes was born in the year 1907, on the 4th of October in the little coal-mining town of Cle Elum, Washington.

Although unmarried, he willed his entire life to God.

With his mother, he attended an Apostolic Faith camp meeting in Portland, Oregon, in 1915. He described his coming to Portland: “It was an exciting day when we came to the campgrounds. I noticed how happy everyone was, and when the church service began I was surprised at the way they sang- they sang with all their heart. I knew I was far from being a Christian, and I prayed that God would save me, too. God answered that prayer and made me a real Christian, He made a complete change in my life, and then it was not hard to live right.”

From a youth, Brother Hughes manifested a love and a zeal for God that was outstanding. The humblest part that he could have in the work of God seemed to thrill his heart to the uttermost.

In later years, he reminded the young people of their responsibility to carry on the work of the Gospel.

Brother Hughes was a musician of no small merit. He started violin, in October 1920 and played first time with the Apostolic Faith orchestra, on May 30, 1922. He was a concertmaster for many years and later conducted the orchestra. Eager to do anything and everything he could in the gospel work, he studied and practised to develop his naturally rich bass voice. He began to sing with the Morning Star (Male) Quartet.

He started to work in Apostolic Faith Printing Plant, in January 1939 and preached his first sermon, on May 28, 1942.

He became pastor’s assistant in the fall of 1947 at the Apostolic Faith Church Medford. Oregon.

On July 3, 1948, he volunteered for service in Africa or anywhere in the world.  On October 10, 1948, he left Portland for Africa.

Brother Hughes and native leaders in Africa travelled through the deep jungle, where elephants, leopards and such animals roamed, the missionary car bumping over almost impassable roads and crowding through jungle thickets. He visited the Gold Coast, Togoland, Dahomey and Nigeria

The heat, humidity, insects and diseases which lurk in the African jungle, the lack of sanitation in the cities, eating habits and ways of living- all had effects on the white man, but Brother Hughes’ love for the people and the eagerness to accomplish the greatest good during his comparatively brief visit, prompted him to give every ounce of strength he had to preach the everlasting gospel to those who had been calling for a missionary. He stayed in the African family homes, ate at their tables and for five months laboured among them.

After his return from Africa, he had the oversight of the African correspondence at the headquarters, assisted by a corps of office workers.

Answering the second call to foreign fields, Brother Hughes left Portland on October 1, 1952, for a round-the-world missionary trip. He planned to visit several other Apostolic Faith groups and spend as much time as possible in learning the needs of the fields, the qualifications of the leaders, and the best ways and means of helping them to do their work of evangelization in the most effectual way.

 His first stop was Hawaii, next was Tokyo, Japan, and then India, where he took ill twice. From India, he went on to Lebanon and preached the gospel to Moslems, Armenians and Palestinian refugees. From Lebanon, he went to Jerusalem, where he saw the places of Jesus’ birth, prayer, death, burial and ascension. From Jerusalem, he flew to Africa, the Africa he loved so well and the Africa he was so eager to help spiritually.

He visited Nigeria, and Accra, Gold Coast. In Nigeria, he and native leaders made a six-week missionary journey to many Apostolic Faith churches. They travelled down to the Niger River, from Iboland to Efikland, down in the deep bush of the Calabar province, in the Ikot Ekpene district.

Brother Hughes left Accra, Gold Coast, on Sunday evening, March 28 1953 at 10:20 on the last lap of his round-the-world tour. He carried with him his final reports and news of meetings with people of different lands, to present them to his overseer at the Portland headquarters.

On the plane, he became ill. And at the first stop-Roberts Field, Harbel, Liberia, about 50 miles from Monrovia-he was taken from the plane to Forestone Hospital, where he passed away shortly afterwards and made his final report to the Great Captain, in whose army, he had been such a faithful soldier.

A little service was conducted by the Chaplain of the hospital and attended by the hospital staff, members of the Pan-American staff at Roberts Field and several members of the United States Embassy staff.

Many hundred Portland friends attended his memorial service at the Apostolic Faith Tabernacle in Portland Oregon.