Introduction

Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola, revered as the founding figure of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), epitomised divine manifestation, spiritual vitality, and unwavering commitment to God’s purposes. It is therefore disheartening that recent narratives—advanced by Pastor S. O. Oladele and his faction—have sought to tarnish his legacy by claiming he endured an unhealed sore on his leg until his death. Such assertions distort historical facts and diminish the power of God’s witness through His servant.

The False Narrative

Pastor S. O. Oladele, leader of a faction within the CAC Nigeria and Overseas, the General Executive Council, has repeatedly claimed in sermons that Apostle Babalola sustained a wound in his leg that persisted until his last breath, supposedly as a testament to enduring ministry hardships. While perseverance in ministry can indeed involve suffering, using a fabricated story to validate it is misleading and spiritually hazardous.

Firsthand Testimonies: Truth over Fiction

In 1983, Chief Bayo Ojo, my secondary school principal, shared a personal encounter involving his father and the revered Apostle with me. His Baba Ojo had conveyed Apostle Babalola in his jeep from Owo to Ikare in the 1930s and hosted him. Whilst the Apostle was disembarking from the car at Ikare, he suffered a minor injury to one of his legs. Baba Ojo then got some garden leaves (common leaves usually used for that purpose by Ikare residents) and rubbed them together with the Apostle adding sanctified water with him into the leaves as Baba Ojo did the rubbing. Application of the rubbed leaves on the injury resulted in complete healing. This was no lingering affliction; the wound was temporary and divinely healed.

Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola’s trip from Owo to Ikare-Akoko occurred during the 1930 revival period, shortly after the famous Oke-Ooye Revival in Ilesa. Historical accounts confirm that following the July 1930 revival, Babalola moved through towns including Owo and Ikare-Akoko for evangelistic campaigns and healing services. While the exact date is not recorded, it was part of his major outreach in the mid to late 1930s during the wave of revival that spread across Western Nigeria.

In later years (after I left my secondary school) and undergoing discipleship training (“Tuule” in Yoruba) with Baba Siwoku, one of the first generation of Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and leaders in Christ Apostolic Church (whilst Late Pastor Olusheye was his first trainee under him, I was the last). Baba Siwoku in an interview in my presence at Isabo, Abeokuta, confirmed that Apostle Babalola departed Ikare fully healed from the leg injury he had there. These are testimonies by eyewitnesses based on their direct encounters, which squarely refute the narrative that the sore persisted until his departure to the great beyond!

Encounter with Pastor S. O. Oladele: Fiction versus Truth

Perhaps it is important to emphasise that I belonged to the generation of disciples to whom the fathers of the Church entrusted privileged spiritual insight. These fathers shared with us experiences that were not even disclosed to their own biological children, thereby granting us a unique responsibility to preserve and transmit the truth. To assure readers that the testimonies I have presented in this rejoinder—intended to set the record straight—are not fabricated, I recount here two significant pieces of information that the late Pastor Lagunju personally shared with me concerning Pastor S. O. Oladele.

Pastor Lagunju once told me that he had asked Pastor Oladele why he appeared so lean when he first came to see him in connection with the crisis in the Church. Pastor Oladele attributed his condition to fasting. Baba Lagunju, however, reminded him that he had previously misled congregations with his erroneous teaching that fasting was no longer necessary; a doctrine he had propagated widely. Baba pressed him on how he intended to correct those whom he had misinformed, highlighting the inconsistency between his present practice and his past teaching.

On another occasion, Baba Lagunju requested Pastor Oladele to contact me (Ademola) in London, where I was serving as chairman in the United Kingdom, during his next visit. Pastor Oladele responded that I had embarrassed him at a London church in 2010. When he narrated the incident, Baba Lagunju replied with his characteristic candour: “That was Pastor Ademola for you; you should not have felt embarrassed by Ademola challenging you with what transpired.”

The incident to which Pastor Oladele referred took place at Pastor Fadipe’s first anniversary around September 2010. Before leading congregational prayers, I had challenged him openly by declaring in Yoruba: “Baba, ẹ lọ ra ìjọ yìí padà, níbi tí ẹ tà sí”—translated as, “Baba, go and repurchase this Church from where you sold it to.” My words were not intended to embarrass him but were spoken under the inspiration of the Spirit of the Prophet within me. Pastor Oladele himself recognised that the statement was apt, though it was undeniably a bitter truth.

Biographical Records: Robust Health, Not Witchcraft Speculation

Historical records consistently affirm that Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola remained in robust health until his sudden departure on 26 July 1959. The credible accounts available to us make it abundantly clear that his decline was not the result of any unhealed wound or accusations of witchcraft, but rather the consequence of intense ministry engagements, prolonged fasting, and sheer physical exhaustion. Those closest to him testify that in the days leading up to his passing, he had scarcely slept, yet he continued to immerse himself in fervent prayer and tireless ministry activity. His final week was marked not by weakness or lingering affliction, but by extraordinary spiritual vitality, as he preached, prayed, and ministered with unwavering commitment until the very moment of his sudden departure.

Firsthand witnesses confirm that there was no evidence whatsoever of a chronic wound or debilitating illness. On the contrary, his life and ministry were characterised by strength and resilience, even in the face of demanding spiritual labour. The Dictionary of African Christian Biography further corroborates this truth, recording that Babalola’s ministry was defined by dynamic healing activity right up until his death, with no mention of any persistent illness or spiritual affliction. Such testimony underscores the reality that his departure was not the result of physical infirmity but of a life poured out in ceaseless devotion to God’s work.

In light of these accounts, it becomes evident that the narrative of an unhealed sore is not only unfounded but also diminishes the true witness of his ministry. Apostle Babalola’s legacy is one of divine strength, miraculous healing, and spiritual power, and his sudden passing must be understood within that context of faithful service rather than through the lens of fabricated affliction.

Why This Matters

Distorting the story of Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola by attributing lingering pain to him does far more than misrepresent the factual record; it undermines the very essence of his ministry. Such claims diminish the authentic witness of faith and healing that defined his life’s work, reducing a legacy of divine strength to a tale of human frailty that simply does not correspond with reality. When false narratives are allowed to circulate unchecked, they do not merely alter history—they weaken the confidence of believers in the power of God and erode trust in the integrity of His servants.

The ministry of Apostle Babalola was marked by miracles, divine healings, fervent prayer, demonstration of God’s power and unwavering devotion. To suggest that he carried an unhealed sore until his death is to deny the evidence of those who walked with him, the records that testify to his robust health, and the spiritual vitality that accompanied him to the very end. Acceptance of such distortions leads the faithful away from the foundation of truth, replacing the strength of divine testimony with the fragility of human speculation. In doing so, it harms not only the memory of the Apostle but also the spiritual confidence of the Church itself.

A Call to Uphold Truth and Unity

The Christ Apostolic Church was birthed in the furnace of revival, a movement marked by miracles, healing, and holiness. It was not founded upon myths or half-truths, but upon the undeniable demonstration of God’s power and the uncompromising pursuit of righteousness. That sacred heritage is our inheritance, and it is our solemn duty to guard it with vigilance. We must reject distortions and false claims, for when error infiltrates our teachings it does not merely alter history—it strikes at the very identity and mission of the Church.

Now is the time for CAC Nigeria and Overseas to rise in unity, to reclaim the authentic legacy of our fathers, and to stand together as custodians of truth. The revival fire that birthed this Church must not be dimmed by careless narratives or factional disputes. Rather, we must embrace the spirit of holiness and healing that defined our beginnings, and allow it to propel us into a new season of revival.

Let every member, every leader, and every assembly recognise that unity is not optional—it is sacrosanct. Division weakens our witness, but truth and unity strengthen our resolve. As we seek revival, let us return to the foundations laid by Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola and the fathers of faith, reclaiming their authentic testimony and refusing to allow falsehood to dilute our heritage. In truth there is power, in unity there is strength, and in revival there is life.

Conclusion

Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola did not die harbouring an unhealed sore. He remained strong, vibrant, and faithful until his sudden and peaceful departure, embodying the very essence of divine strength and spiritual vitality. His life was a living testimony of God’s healing power, and his legacy continues to shine as a beacon of faith, holiness, and revival.

We must therefore reject distortions with unwavering conviction. Falsehood weakens the witness of the Church, but truth fortifies it. In embracing the truth, we honour the authentic legacy of our fathers and preserve the sacred heritage upon which the Christ Apostolic Church was built. Let us remember that in truth there is power, in truth there is unity, and in truth lies life.

As we stand together in CAC Nigeria and Overseas, may we reclaim this legacy with courage and resolve, guarding it against error and carrying it forward with renewed strength. The mantle of revival rests upon us, and the testimony of Apostle Babalola calls us to rise in faith, uphold the truth, and walk in the power of God.