A Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministry has died months after he was brutally attacked by deadly Badoo cultists.
The late Pastor Olawale Solomon and his family
8 months after a pastor with the Mountain of Fire and Miracles
Ministry, Pastor Olawale (Solomon) Anthony, whose skull was fractured by
members of the Badoo cult, survived the attack, the man of God has died
in mysterious circumstance.
According to his church member and friend, Moshood Isamotu, Olawale
was reported to be engaged in some church activities at the time of his
death.
Narrating how he died on Facebook, Isamotu said: "My Church
service last Sunday was interrupted with bad news. A fellow brother and
neighbor, who was also a pastor had suddenly collapsed and died that
morning during their Church service. I was askance and intermittently
lost in the sad news. The impulse of the message on ‘’Sacrificial life
of a Christian and God’s blessing” my Pastor sermonized that morning
felt on my pale and sorrowful heart. My pastor noticed my somber mood
and felt cold too momentarily.
Olawale Anthony, a Pastor at the Mountain of Fire and Miracles,
MFM, died while running an errand for his Church, his last holy
assignment on earth on Sunday, February 18; thus signifying an abrupt
end to a once upon a vibrant life. He was a poohbah in the Church.
The grieving Orija Community had cause to gather at the
residence of late Pastor Anthony twice in the last one year. In June
2017 the family was in the news. On June 2, 2017 the dreaded Badoo cult
had singled out his family for attack at their uncompleted bungalow
located at Alhaji Obayemi Street, Lasunwom Estate, opposite Lagos State
Poly, Ikorodu probably because of the vulnerability of their abode.
By the time the killer cultists were done with his five-member
family, he was left with a bruised, battered head and an unsettled mind.
Though the Pastor was badly hit, the family was however lucky as no
life was lost unlike in any other Badoo attack. His family’s escape was
strange really as the cultists are known to be merciless and sharp
killers; they hardly miss their targets. No victim ever lived to narrate
Badoo experience except Pastor Anthony. He received treatment for so
long at the Lagos Island Hospital and I believed he was still receiving
treatment before his final eclipse.
But when the community gathered again at their residence last
Sunday it was for a condolence. Pastor Anthony had answered to an
invitation no mortal has control over when the time is up. Death! Death!
His sunset gave no obvious inkling to the people around him and
even to his family. A day before his sudden demise, he attended his
Orija Community Development Association Landlords’ Meeting. He was the
most visible, hyper-active and took up several duties. He played the
role of the chief usher, welcomed people with his trade mark smiles,
arranged seats, served refreshments and was later appointed to say the
closing and his ‘last prayers’ for the group; oblivious to himself and
members that he was signing off and departing from them to eternity,
leaving a parting memory.
According to the wife, late Pastor Anthony woke up early as
usual on his last day on earth, very excited and active. No sign that
their beloved was on the very final stage of his life. As usual, he went
straight to the Church, attached to his own house which he offered the
MFM for the work of the Ministry. He said prayers, spoke in tongue and
prepared the Church ready before other members arrived for what
eventually turned to be his last service on earth. He bounded the devil
and all forces of darkness that might want to disrupt the Service but
like all mortals, he was limited in knowledge. He could not see and
bound death that was to take him away in few hours. Along with other
members he said the Service opening prayers as well but ironically never
lived to share ‘the grace in fellowship’.
During his short time in the Church that morning, he was
everywhere, vivacious, ensuring that all was well. He was said to be so
dutiful as if he knew he would never have another opportunity and wanted
to be caught in active service doing the ‘Master’s work’. Members
equally noticed the high spirit he exuded but none could decipher or
smell death that was closing on their host brethren.
The Church was expecting a syndicated audio message, CD, from
the MFM Zonal Office, Ikorodu, which was to be played at the Service.
Around 9.30am, it was getting late and the Resident Pastor became
restless. He scanned the audience of about 30, looking for an agile
person who could run and meet mid-way the person bringing the CD. He
beckoned to the late Pastor. Oh! If the Resident Pastor had known he
would have settled for another person for that eventually turned out to
be the last assignment for Pastor Anthony. The late Pastor obediently
said ‘Yes sir’ and eagerly stepped forward to receive the sum of N200
note to take Okada to the main road to collect the CD and come back
quick. It was a journey of no return as the late pastor never came back
to the Church alive.
As a trained plumber, trekking and running long distances to
meet customers and inspecting new sites were not strange to him. The
late Pastor, in his 50s, after looking around and there was no Okada
rider on sight quickly settled for his feet and doubled his steps to
catch up with the person bringing the CD that never was.
About 100 meters away from the Church, Pastor Anthony felt
dizzy and his eye balls turned rapidly. He slowed, bent his head and
stood still for a minute. He soliloquized, staggered to a wall and
loosely held on to the fence. Within seconds he lost all the strengths
in him. His hands stripped and went down slowly and hit his
Badoo-injured head on the ground. He lied flat; never to rise up again.
He stretched his bulky 6-ft frame and breadth deeply, mouth filled with
whitish saliva. Right there he answered the final call. His clock ticked
off FINALLY on this side of eternity.
People around were initially scared. It took few minutes before
somebody could get close to his lifeless body and raised alarm. His
death gave no room for any emergency. He lived a quiet life and that
characterized his manner of death too.
The Praise worship was still on in his Church when the sad news
got to them. ‘Nooooo’!, the Resident Pastor exclaimed. Confusion took
over as members ran out. By the time they got to the scene, Pastor
Anthony was already cold. There was no need to call for prayer warriors
or need to apply Dr. Daniel Olukoya, MFM General Overseer’s anointing
oil or think of any medical aid. Members had wished for a repeat of
Lazarus’ experience for Pastor Anthony. But that was not to be.
Many theorerized on his death. Could it be the aftermath of the
Badoo attack? Was he suffering from any unknown ailment? Was it a
spiritual arrow? May be the autopsy could reveal but the family was not
ready for that.
The testimonies about the late Pastor were great. He might not
be a man of means in this world but he was rich towards God; profound in
doing good and a worthy apostle till the end. There was neither long
funeral procession, sirens, grave-side flowers for him nor buried in
golden casket, but heavens rejoice in his home coming. He consciously
laid treasures where it matters.
By now the reward for ‘being a good servant and for ‘running a
good race’ might make much meaning to him. This is a lesson for us all.
He was buried on Tuesday, February 20 at his residence.
May the soul of late Pastor Anthony Olawale, an indefatigable
soldier of Christ from Ondo State, RIP!"
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