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•In 2005, I told Tinubu God said he would do eight years as Nigeria’s president: Not even him can change it
By Kehinde Aderemi
Prophet Samson Ayorinde is a renowned Nigerian pastor and televangelist. Known for his powerful preaching and healing ministry, he founded the World Evangelism Bible Church (WEBIC) in Lagos band has touched countless lives through his ministry. In this interview, the cleric highlighted his life story, the journey into the ministry and what WEBIC is doing now to spread the gospel.
Tell us about the circumstances leading to your birth, your growing up days and the schools you attended
I was born in the early 1960 in Ilorin, Kwara State. My mother got pregnant and there was a challenge after five months. The baby in her womb was not kicking as it was supposed to be doing. So, after several tests, doctors advised that she should terminate the pregnancy. It was in the midst of this problem that she went to Prophet Awolola, a prophet of high repute at the time.
Prophet Awolola told her that the boy in her womb is a Nazarene, and he would preach the gospel around the world.
So, the prophet gave her a bell from the Shiloh service, and asked her to put the bell on the Sobi Hill.
Sobi hill is the highest hill in Ilorin, Kwara State. But because of the financial challenges, my mother had to walk daily to put the bell on the hill in the morning, go back to take it in the evening and bring it back to the church. After some days, she left the bell on the hill and on the seventh day, she brought the bell back.
The Prophet instructed my mother that when she gave birth to me and I am of age, she should give me the bell. He also told my mother that as a Nazarene, I would ring the bell around the world. And up till today, I still have the bell here with me. I grew up to know the bell as my covenant bell. My calling was right from the womb like that of Jeremiah. And as it is in the Holy Bible, that is in Jeremiah 1:4-10. Before you are born from your mother’s womb, I ordained you to be a prophet to the nations.
How was your growing up like?
I grew up in a Christian home, the second born of my parents. I was raised in the Christian ways of life. I started my elementary school at St. Michael Primary School, and later proceeded to Ilorin Grammar school. After my secondary school education, I later went to Kwara State Polytechnic to do my A levels. We were the last set of students that did the Cambridge examination and to the glory of God, I passed the examination excellently with two distinctions and one very good result.
I graduated from Ahmadu Bello University, (ABU) Zaria. I had my Master’s in nuclear architecture. I specialised in nuclear architecture.
How did you receive your calling?
Before I finished in ABU, I heard the audible voice to go out and preach the gospel. It was in February 1986, and I was in my hostel at Block F2, room 15, Suleiman Hall, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU). Before then, I was going to a C & S Church in Zaria. On this special day, one of my friends, Bishop David Bakare, came to my room, preached to me and I gave my life to Christ, and a week after the encounter, we started preaching.
As somebody that was brought up in a Christian home, it didn’t come as a surprise because everywhere I go, people would be calling me Pastor, including pastors, Muslims and even the traditional believers. Maybe they saw the anointing in me earlier before my calling. So, it was not surprising to me when I received the calling to go out and be preaching the gospel of God.
That was how we started the youth fellowship, the youth movement. I later moved to Pentecostal church at the Jesus is Alive Evangelical Mission, under Pastor Kehinde Oke of blessed memory. At the church, I embarked on several evangelism crusades in Samaru, Kafanchan and a few other towns in Kaduna, Zaria and even in Jos, and every part of the North.
I later came back to my base in Zaria because I love evangelism and crusades as strong parts of my calling. However, the Lord told me that I should not move to Lagos immediately, that there were certain things he wanted me to learn.
So, between 1993 and 1995, I was in Zaria, learning about what makes ministers to fail, as well as what makes ministers to succeed under the tutelage of the late Reverend Kehinde Oke, of the Jesus is Alive Evangelical Mission. I resigned officially in 1993, but I was still with him doing freelance evangelism and itinerant ministry until 1995 when I came to Lagos with my Bible and a briefcase.
What were the challenges before relocating to Lagos?
There were several challenges, like some of the things that normally happen when a church is growing bigger. And then, of course, attacks from muslim groups. For instance, during the incident of Maitatsine, when many people were killed, I really witnessed that but God saved my life. So, when we say there is Christian genocide in Nigeria, it didn’t start now. We were the early set of Christians that experienced serious attacks in the north. Many people were killed. Pigs ate the bodies of men until they are tired of eating, but God saved my life.
But the Maitatsine incident was not reported then compared to what is happening now?
There was no way they could be reported because there was no social media then.
Many of our churches were burned and destroyed and many people were killed. There are some people that we didn’t even see their bodies till today. We didn’t even know whether they were buried, whether they were bombed, we don’t know. There are more than two or three of our churches that were burnt and we had to start again from zero and start to rebuild after the attacks. In December 1992, the Lord led me to proceed on a 40- day marathon fasting, which I finished in early February.. That was when the lord now instructed me that I should come down to Lagos. He showed me the very place where the church was started. And that was where the church started. It is just close to the Zenith Bank down there. From there, I was directed here. This is where the church is now. That is why we opened this road and they named it Samson Ayorinde link road.
Over the years, we usually organised crusade, evangelism, mission work, take care of widows, orphans and we pray for world evangelisation.
How did you feel that very day when your mother handed over that bell to you?
As I grow up in the family, I have always known of the covenant bell because my mother has always been telling me that I have a calling. Different people, prophets, pastors, even the traditional believers would call me pastor.
When do you use the covenant bell?
I don’t use the bell every time. I use it when I encounter serious cases that defy all efforts. And by the special grace of God, that will be the end of the crisis. It is something I don’t do every time, but when the occasion demands I use it to pray and that is all. It is a covenant bell and I was mature enough to know this when my mother gave it to me. And when I asked her why it took her up till that time to give me the bell, my mother said I want you to grow and be old enough to know the importance of the covenant bell.
What was the reaction of your father?
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My father was supportive. He was of the opinion that I should do whatever God had asked me to do, but I should make sure he doesn’t go hungry. And he has been supportive.
What has been the challenges of evangelism?
As an evangelist, you have a lot of oppositions, especially from Satan, from the pit of hell. Satan doesn’t like people that do evangelism. There are attacks everywhere, even in the church, where you might think it is not possible. So, the challenges are many, but God has been faithful to us. God has been magnifying his name and to him alone belongs all the glory. We have never regretted for one day that we are serving God. We have a lot of stories of breakthroughs and fulfilments because as it is in the Bible, when you obey the lord, it shall be well with you.
Tell us about WEBIC
On the 37th day of my 40- day marathon fasting, I passed out. And the Lord told me the name of my ministry- World Evangelism Bible Church (WEBIC). I asked God how would I finance it, the lord said He would meet all my needs and that He would show me the way. So, I am guided by the Holy Spirit.
There were times when WEBIC was organising crusades everywhere in Lagos, including the National Stadium, but it is not like that these days. What really happened?
Well, at a time we could not meet up with the financial obligations of the crusade and the infrastructure of the church has not been yet developed. So, we were directed to move the ministry to outside Nigeria- London, America and across Europe. And to the glory of God, our television ministry was also established there.
After a while, God asked me to come back to Nigeria, to develop the Sanctuary without stressing people. I was abroad for almost eight years and I moved from one country to another, preaching and spreading the gospel of God.
So, when I came back to Nigeria, I did a lot of reorganisations, most especially, on the infrastructure of the sanctuary for us to meet up with the quality and standard of a church. In all of these, God has really helped us and by the special grace of God, WEBIC television will be launched in the next few months.
By February or March, we shall be launching the WEBIC Application on television and radio. We are planning if we can do it with a crusade, depending on funding. Our online application (WEBIC App) has been developed and we are on every telephone, including Android devices, and i- phones, all over the world.
What about the activities of the church for the year?
This year, we are already in our season of fasting and prayers for 21 days. Crusade is my calling and we are planning to hit Agege Stadium again. Agege Stadium is very receptive and we are yet to reach the full potential. This year, we are going to be visiting all our branches and parishes both in Nigeria and in the diaspora.
What message do you have for Nigerians, for the church and for the politicians as the new year begins?
Nigerians should live in peace.We should take it easy with ourselves and we should be our brothers’ keeper. For the church, we should live a holy life, serve the lord and win souls consistently. For the politicians, they should not do politics with bitterness.They should let the Lord’s will be done. Eight years in the North, eight years in the South had been the country’s established structure of power rotation. We should allow it to be.
Are you saying President Tinubu should be allowed to serve a second term in office?
That is what God has told me, and I have always maintained that. He will be there for eight years.
Is this a message to him or revelation from God?
It was a message to him. I told him in 2005 that he would become the president of Nigeria.
I told him that after his eight years as governor of Lagos State, there would be a break and after the break, he would become the president and I anointed him. God told me that not even him (Tinubu) can change it.
What is the most inspiring word that has helped your ministry?
God told me that as long as I remain humble, as long as I remain small in my eyes, He would make me big in the eyes of men. And humility has been my watchword. And he said I should live long, so as to enjoy the grace of the anointing.
What major encounter have you had that shaped your life?
It was when I did the 40 -day marathon fasting that I met with God and He gave me all the dossiers of my ministry.
How do you relax?
I relax by watching wrestling. I also watch football. I am an easy-going person and I take life so easy. Now that I am not getting younger, I am trying to see if I can develop myself in one area of sports.
What is your best food?
I am not much of an eater. Food has been a challenge. Maybe rice. I always go on nuts, cashew nuts and I fast. So, I am not much of an eater.
