Congratulations on this
unique feat.
Thank you. All glory
to God Almighty, because without Him, we can do nothing! It was Him that
counted us faithful. (I Tim.1:12). So we return all the glory to Him alone.
What prepared you for
this?
Thank you for your
question. I will answer from two angles (academic and spiritual). From
the academic side, I have always loved writing right from primary school days.
English language and English Literature were my best subjects. Then in my
secondary school days, I remembered (and owed a huge debt to Mr. Femi Ogunmodede),
one of my lesson teachers back then who used to give me minimum of 3 Essay
assignments per week and will mark and correct all. Then I developed the habit
of reading newspapers, books of interest and novels a lot right back then as
well. Then I started writing short letters on area of interest to various media
houses and won lots of awards in cash and materials right from my Tertiary
institution days at Ogun State Polytechnic Abeokuta (Now Moshood Abiola
Polytechnic) up onto when I started my career till a few years ago when I put a
stop to it to focus on what really matters. From the spiritual
angle, I was privileged to start my professional career (in 1998) with one of
the greatest men of God in Nigeria and indeed the world, (my daddy of Possibility - Bishop
Kola Onaolapo), the Founder
and General Overseer of Abundant Life Gospel Church worldwide. Bishop’s passion
FOR ETERNITY
as well as writing is unparalleled – I believed I
‘tapped some anointing’ so to speak as I was
privileged to type the manuscript of most of the books he wrote while I worked
as his Personal Secretary for close to 5 years.
Also important was my stint with Jesus The Living Rock Assembly under the leadership of
Pastor Wale Ogedengbe who provided the platform for me to single handedly
produced and circulated the monthly bulletin of the Ministry tagged Living Rock Voice for
10 great years before I left the ministry to go back to Abundant Life in 2013 and received the vision to start Eternity Reminders in 2015.
As well as having
attended several leadership development programmes, my association and
interaction with renowned men and women of God (local and international) has
also played a major role in adequately preparing me for this assignment. In
addition, reading the writings of some notable Nigerian journalists like
Simon Kolawole, Segun Adeniyi, Dele Momodu, Segun Odegbami, Sunny Ojeagbase, Mumini
Alao, to mention but a few greatly influenced me in one way or the other.
All of these, I believed greatly prepared me for the role of the
President/CEO, Eternity
Reminders Publications.
The concept of Eternity
has been your passion. What is this about?
Thank you very much
for your question. The concept of eternity is a very interesting one
and the more I study it, the more excited and passionate I become about the
subject. The reason Jesus Christ came is to ensure He reconcile men
back to God so we can be with Him forever in eternity because we lost that
privilege when Adam and Eve (our fore fathers) sinned (Rom. 5:8). That is the good news
in its simplicity and our passion is to INSPIRE and MOTIVATE the body of Christ today towards ensuring that it give more focus
to matters of eternity rather than the ‘variables’ accruable for anyone that
accept and believe this simple gospel. APPLYING THE ‘PARETO PRINCIPLE’, THE BODY OF CHRIST SHOULD EVEN DO
MORE THAN THE RECOMMENDED 80% FOCUS OF THEIR MESSAGES ON MATTERS OF ETERNITY
WHILE 20% (EVEN LESS) SHOULD BE ON HEALING, PROSPERITY, FAITH,
ETC. BECAUSE "MIRACLE IS NOT THE GAS IN THE TANK OF A BELIEVER; IT IS JUST
THE PAINT ON THE CAR TO MAKE IT LOOK BETTER. THE GAS IN THE TANK IS ETERNAL
LIFE." Eternity is so important to the extent that even if Pastors all over the
world come together daily to teach their congregation and do prayer conference, it is MORE THAN WORTH IT. Our mission at
Eternity Reminders is therefore to remind the body of Christ of this fact by
inspiring, motivating and empowering believers on the subject of
ETERNITY. IT IS THE PRODUCT WE ARE SELLING! AND ANOTHER GOOD NEWS IS THAT IT IS
'FOC' (free of charge) WITHOUT PRICE - (IS.55:1).
Please tell us about the vision
The
vision (to do this) was first conceived in 2014 shortly after waiting upon
the Lord in fasting and prayers on the occasion of my birthday - A STRATEGIC MILESTONE ONE. But I
delayed before launching out fully in obedience the following year, partly
because I felt I was not 'qualified '. But thank God for He is the One who "qualifies the
UNQUALIFIED". Two key incidents finally broke my resistance. On my way to
the office one day, I wasn't driving so was waiting to enter a car to Victoria Island at Fagba,
out of many of us that were at the bus stop, a man stopped to pick only me as
there was only one seat (in the front) available. We got talking only for
me to discover he is a pastor and he was returning home from his early morning
(cry) preaching engagement. He told me a lot of mysteries before finally
submitting "you have a call
sir, go and pray very well". I was a bit confused but didn't say anything. A call?
To do what? I can't be a pastor o, Lord you know when it comes to speaking, am
not too fluent. As I kept praying, I got further confirmation in my spirit that
it is not along the line of pastoring a church or stuff like that, that I
should keep doing my (professional) job, I became relieved. Then, I started doing this bit-by-bits (I called it
ETERNITY CHALLENGE then), and to the glory of God, the vision kept getting
CLEARER AND BIGGER by the day. The second incident was when I went for a seminar (Believers
Finishing School) in September of (2015). Teaching on KNOWING YOUR SPECIFIC PURPOSE IN THE BODY OF CHRIST, the preacher (Tope Aladenusi) said "Just keep doing the general one (preaching the gospel). As you go ahead, you will see ahead". I launched out fully, created
and launched ETERNITY REMINDERS BLOG (with 2 social media platforms on Facebook & Twitter a year later) and have never looked back since then. I
must also mention that my church (Abundant Life), where it all began for me
spiritually has also greatly empowered me to do this. The year 2016 was
declared as our year of Exploits and Abundance and the first exploits
that we were charged to do is SPIRITUAL EXPLOITS. I have every reason to
thank God for obeying the 'call' as I cannot quantify the amount of spiritual
and other blessings I have received by the reason of doing this, though several afflictions and trials also came along the way but thank God who always causes us to triumph.
What was it like in the beginning?
The
beginning indeed has been rough and tough but we have every reason to thank God
for His abiding faithfulness. To have done this for all this while has been by
His grace and mercy. But I tell you what? Just as we
(Eternity Reminders Team) have been tremendously SPIRITUALLY UPLIFTED
and BLESSED, so have many who have come across this, as well. That gives
us joy of the Holy Ghost UNLIMITED!
Being
in the highly demanding consulting profession, how do you manage to cope with
this and your office schedule?
I
must sincerely confess that at first, the temptation to use official hours
became increasingly tempting but I know that will be doing the right thing in a
wrong way which is a sin. God gave me the wisdom do 90% of what I do outside
the working hours - after closing hours or very early in the morning on my way
to work or late in the evenings and on weekends. And as time goes on, it
became easier and there is no conflict whatsoever as we speak. One cannot but also thank God for social media scheduling tools like Hootsuite and Buffer which has made the job more easier in recent times. The truth of the matter is that for as many as the children of Light,
God will always provide a
platform to do His work of reconciliation and shine the glorious light of the
gospel because we are all ministers. We
don’t need to carry the official title of a ‘Bishop’, ‘Reverend’, ‘Pastor’,
‘Deacon’, etc., to walk in this reality. The big issue is for
many believers is to be sensitive to know the platform God gives from time to time and to use that platform to achieve that purpose (of reconciliation or
building up/edifying the body of Christ without ‘the conviction
to open’ a church and pastor a congregation.
Where do you see Eternity Reminders in the next 5 years?
By His grace, if Jesus tarries, our vision is to reach at
least 80% of the world’s over 7b plus population via the various social media
platforms and have at least at 50% of that number commit to the eternity lifestyle
and be confirmed for eternity. We are excited by the scripture in Rev. 7:9 "After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands". This confirms that heaven will after all not be for a few people. 
Finally, is eternity sure for Mr. Eternity?
Yes, by His grace not of works, lest any man should boast
(Eph.2:8-9). It shall not be because I am doing this but because I have
accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as my personal savior and Lord (read my
salvation experience here:
By His grace, I WILL KEEP WORKING OUT MY SALVATION DAILY
because Paul the Apostle says, “But I keep under my body, and bring it into
subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself
should be a castaway.” (1
Cor. 9:27). If
it pleases the Lord, my prayer is to be among those who will not taste death
(that is if the rapture happens any moment from now). Nevertheless, because
every believer must be prepared at all times. Death is
not the end for EVERY BELIEVER but a change of address because our Lord Jesus Christ has
conquered death. I am ready by His
grace. I know where I will be buried. By His grace, I will write my service of
songs programme (inclusive of officiating ministers), etc. This is why I am
passionate about this. I have an article I am currently working on titled “MR ETERNITY FINALLY GOES TO ETERNITY…” (That is the
headline that shall announce my passing unto glory if Jesus tarries). The
article will be like my own epitaph. So I am awaiting death with joy of the Lord AND THIS IS WHAT THE LORD HAS CALLED US TO DO - TO EMPOWER EVERY BELIEVER TO FACE DEATH WITH JOY WHENEVER IT PLEASES THE LORD. What awaits us over there is far more glorious than what eyes can see or imagine. So “For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed:
for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that (me
and mine) which I have committed unto him against that day.” 2 Tim.1:12.
The pleasure is mine and it will
be my joy to see you/your family and your entire team in eternity. God bless
you in Jesus name. Amen
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