An interview with Oyeleke A. Owolabi,
Publishing Director for the West Central Africa Division


Wilmar Hirle: On Sabbath we visited the Nairobi South SDA Church here in Kenya with Pr. Owolabi. Pastor, please tell us how many people were in attendance today?

Oyeleke A. Owolabi: Normally the membership roll is 600 but today 1,000 members worshipped with us.

WH: What is the mission God put in your heart to for this church?

OO: Well, my objective is to promote the 2008 Missionary Book of the Year, The 10 Commandments.

WH: What was the sermon topic for the worship service today?

OO: The message today was on the Biblical origins of literature ministry. The text was Exodus 31:18 which says “When God had finished speaking to Moses, He gave him two tables of testimonies written by the finger of God.” The Ten Commandments were the first book ever produced! And, it was written by God! He was the author! He was the printer! He wrote with His own finger! And then He gave this first book to Moses—who became our first LE!

WH: Describe the illustration you used in the worship service this morning.

OO: When I arrived I gathered together all the church leaders and asked for their church statistics: the membership, how many young people, how many women, how many men, etc. Then I inquired about the interests of the church members. Were there any members in this church who would be willing to pass out 100 copies of The Ten Commandments? I only need 10 people, I told them.

“Only 10 people! We can give you 30!” the elders exclaimed. And immediately they gave me 30 names! The list of names included many people who were self-employed. From their business’ they could easily give out 100 copies, I was informed.

WH: So, the Ten Commandments are considered to be the first book in the history of the publishing ministry. What did you ask the members to do after you preached this message?

OO: I told them I would give them a copy of this first book for their missionary work. Then, I asked them to take out a piece of paper and to write down five things God has done for them. As they wrote their lists we sang the song, “Pass me not, oh gentle Savior, hear my humble cry …” When they were finished writing, I asked them to turn the paper over and to write “With God all things are possible!” Next, I asked them to write their name on the paper.
Then I asked them to write two things for me: First, how many copies of the book, The Ten Commandments could they distribute? I told them to forget about their finances. If the book was available how many could they distribute? Second, how many copies were they ready to donor to God’s work this year? Please, I said to them, write a number. But, wait! Before you write a number, pray. Pray for God to guide you. And everybody wrote. Afterwards I called for the 20 people who are the pillars of this project to collect all the papers from the church members. We put all the papers together in one stack and laid them on the pulpit. I asked all the ordained elders in the audience to join me on the platform as we prayed. In our prayer we lifted up The Ten Commandments to God in a prayer of dedication. After the prayer we sang hymn #369, “There shall be showers of blessings, oh that today they might fall …” After the song, I picked up the stack of papers and began to read the numbers out loud. What a tremendous surprise! That day the church members pledged to donate more than 53,000 copies of the missionary book!
WH: They were willing to distribute and donate more than 53,000 books! Praise God! Pastor today you are here in Nairobi but you are from another division. What are you planning to do when you get home?

OO: I’m so excited to go home! We have 100 churches in Lagos; I will go from one church to another promoting the Missionary Book of the Year. I cannot imagine the joy God is going to feel when this book begins to fly into every home, every office, and into the street of Lagos, our capital city. Also, I think of Ghana where we have more than 20,000 members! What an opportunity! It will be a great joy! I cannot wait to get home and tell everyone what the Lord has done, and what He will do!

WH: Pastor Owolabi, you know Kenya has been through a difficult political situation recently. However even here in a difficult political situation, God can create many miracles.

OO: This is absolutely the best time for miracles! Human power has failed. Political power has failed. Everything has failed. The people need to know that God will never fail them!


 

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