Rt. Revd. Francis Aderibigbe Olubowale Oke at 60:Celebrating a General of Breakthrough Evangelism

By Femi Adelegan

“I faced persecution from members of my family; my elder brother, my mother, everybody; but only my father did not go with them.  ‘’They persecuted me and they wanted me to give up my faith. ‘’Nothing gives me greater joy than ministering salvation to the populace, as my first love is winning souls for Jesus Christ.’’ –   Bishop Francis Wale Oke

Bishop Francis Olubowale Aderibigbe Oke (popularly known as Bishop Francis Wale Oke) is best known all over the world as a church leader with a very strong passion for staging crusades, evangelism, and winning souls for Jesus Christ.

The bishop considers these as non-negotiable divine assignments that must be accomplished, no matter the barriers or challenges put in the way of his ministry; and also functions with equal ease in the offices of a teacher, evangelist, prophet and apostle.

It was at one of Pastor Wlliam Kumuyi’s ministrations in Ibadan that the then Brother Francis Wale Oke struck a covenant with God to preach the gospel to every creature that came his way. He had been taught that “if you don’t preach the gospel, you are a murderer and that God would ask a believer to account for the souls of those they know were hell-bound and which they deliberately neglected by not preaching salvation to them.”

The foregoing summarizes the unbending resolve and commitment of Bishop Francis Olubowale Aderibigbe Oke, the set-man and President of the Sword of the Spirit Ministries (aka Christ Life Church) with headquarters in Ibadan, Oyo State of Nigeria to soul-wining, evangelism and service in the vineyard of the Lord.

Since committing his life to Christ as his personal Saviour and Lord in December 1975, Bishop Wale Oke has over the past few decades preached the gospel in all parts of the world in accordance with the directives of Jesus Christ to His disciples to “Go ye into the world and preach the Gospel.”

On Sunday August 28, 2016, the annual convention of the Sword of the Spirit Ministries kicks off and will be rounded off with the celebration of the 60th birthday anniversary of Bishop Oke on Sunday September 4, 2016.

The ceremony will also mark the commencement of activities at the Cornerstone University founded by Bishop Wale Oke. Pastor Adeboye will be leading other prominent ministers of God, including Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to minister at the ceremony.