By Kehinde Adegbolahon

BORN in 1925 in the ancient town of Owo in Ondo State, Pa Samuel came from the Sashere pedigree, noted for discipline, courage, industry and forthrightness.

It’s no surprise then that he naturally gravitated towards the teaching profession, where he spent the bulk of his active working career, putting in close to three decades in about six different schools, including St. Judes Primary School, Ebute-Metta, where he contributed immensely to nurturing the next generation of future leaders.

Late Pa. Samuel Babatunde Johnson

At this stage of his life, Papa was noted as a disciplinarian, a natural teacher, a benevolent friend and a reliable confidant in most of the local communities where he served. Much later, he decided to explore career opportunities in the business world and got engaged with the famous Leventis Group, where he worked actively for a number of years and replicated a confirmation of his outstanding character – discipline, punctuality to work, honesty, loyalty and industry.

In the most important aspect of his life, Pa Samuel was a man of faith. He started out early in life as a nominal Christian but grew rapidly in the Lord and was able to demonstrate the fruit of the spirit as a counselor, a motivator and an evangelist who continually preached heaven to all who cared to listen.

He was of the Christ Apostolic Church, CAC, Makoko, where he joined the Council of Elders alongside notable personalities as Dr. D.K. Olukoya – now of the world renowned MFM Ministries. As an active member of the CAC, Pa Samuel belonged to the Light of the World Society, a demonstration of his evangelistic inclination. He was  a pillar of encouragement to people in distress and would constantly remind them of the ultimate destination, which is heaven.

His deep conviction about the Christian faith made him take a bold step to adopt a new name that honoured the God he served and dissociated him from the lesser and impotent gods of his fore fathers. His natural surname was Awogbaila but his adopted Christian surname was Johnson.

Although Papa was the only child of his parents, he had many children, whom he nurtured to carry the same traits he was well known for. Among them is the Assistant General Overseer of the MFM, Pastor Kehinde Adegbolahon, who is a testimony of the glory and power of God.

Papa has answered the call of his Creator and will be remembered for his gospel of heavenly focus, his fortitude in righteousness, his discipline in industry and his loyalty in friendship. Adieu Papa!

Pastor Kehinde Adegbolahon contributed this on behalf of the family.