After my retirement, I cannot do any other work except God’s work —Pastor Gabriel Olutola

Pastor Gabriel Olutola is the out-going National President of the Apostolic Church Nigeria and Chairman LAWNA Territory.  In this interview by Akinrolabu Akinduro, he spoke on the decision that prompted his retirement, his achievements in office, plans after retirement among others issues. Excerpts:

WHAT prompted your decision to step down as the President of the Apostolic Church, despite the fact that you are not under obligation to do so?

I am not stepping down, it is just that I want to retire.  Retiring will give me the opportunity to take care of myself.  It will also give me the opportunity to eat my breakfast, lunch and dinner as and when due.  Also, age is no longer on my  side. By the grace of God, I am 84. At 84, I don’t remember things as I used to when I was 50 or 60 years.  Now,  I am beginning to forget some things which is not good enough for me or the church.  Therefore, I must not wait till people start  assisting or  guiding me up to the pulpit or to where I will drop the offering before I retire. That is not decent for the church and neither does it honour me nor my children. The church has also moved forward. We have outlined the guidelines for pension and retirement related issues. This will enable us to make space for young and dynamic leaders who can meet up with today’s challenge.  This would also help the church in the sense that our children will have a sense of belonging. Soon, their generation will be at the helm of affairs in the church and this will prevent them from going to other churches.

Does that mean you subscribe to the recently suspended policy of the federal government that set a retirement limit for church leaders?

No, this is not because of the federal government policy. However, I was of the opinion that, the policy was good and would have assisted the church. It would not only have assisted the church in getting the type of the people the church needs, it would have also assisted in the proper administration of the church.

You have been in office for 7 years, can you give us an insight on some of your achievements as the president of the church?

Nobody can do or achieve anything on his or her own except through God.  If you are a child of God, you will know that it is the Lord who can do or achieve all things.   But when He wants to do it, He can only do it through you and not by your power. Through His power, He will do it through you.   So when we accept that, we can see what the Lord is doing in our time at His own given time.

What can you say about the establishment of the university of the church, did it come up during your tenure?

Yes, it did. We had given up hope on the University but the Lord asked me to go and meet with the National Universities Commission at Abuja and I went.  The very day I went, the Lord started the work.   The executive secretary at NUC took interest.  They gave us approval to run a university and they asked me for the intended name of the university.  I told them to give me a week to consult with the elders of the church.  I came back from Abuja and called the meeting of the executives.  I told them about the approval.  They were happy and I suggested that the university be named after one of the founding fathers of the church, Late Pastor Samuel Adegboyega.  They all agreed.  So, I went back to NUC in Abuja to submit the memorandum for the name.  That was how Samuel Adegboyega University was established in Ogwa, Edo State.

What challenges did you encounter and how were you able to surmount them?

I don’t see any challenges as problems. The reason is that as a Christian, you must have it in mind that Satan and all his emissaries will want to create problems so as to distract you and also deny you of all the goodness of God.  But, with the power of the Lord within you and your belief that the Lord can do all things, you will have the confidence to overcome satan and his agents.  So, if you rely on God and not men, God will help you to overcome any challenge.

After your retirement, what do you plan to do?

I will work for the Lord. For example, I have it in mind that immediately after the retirement, I will go on leave to Britain may be for about four weeks.   Then, when I come home, I can’t do any other work. I am 84 already and I have worked for the Lord for good 52 years.  I left secular job for the past 52 years ago and joined the ministry. So, I don’t think I can do any other thing asides thew work of God.