Joseph Ayo Babalola

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Joseph Ayo Babalola
Born (1904-04-25)April 25, 1904
Ilofa, Nigeria
Died July 26, 1959(1959-07-26) (aged 55)
Nationality Nigerian
Occupation Preacher, Prophet
Title Apostle

Joseph Ayo Babalola (1904-1959) was the founder of the Christ Apostolic Church, popularly called Aladura in Nigeria. He was credited with healing powers.

Life and mission

Babalola was born of Yoruba parents at Ilofa, Nigeria, and was brought up as an Anglican. He was registered at an elementary school at Oto-Awori on Badagry road in 1919. Having left elementary school, he was employed in the Public Works Department as a steam roller operator. On October 11, 1928, while trying to repair his machine, he heard an audible voice from the Lord to abandon the job and start preaching. He then joined Faith Tabernacle in Lagos, which was related to an American Pentecostal organization.

In September 1930, Babalola, through the power of God, raised a dead boy to life. This divinely kicked off The Great Revival of 1930, which saw people coming from most parts of Africa and diaspora without posters and TV adverts. From then on, with bell and Yoruba Bible in hand, he toured Yorubaland and eastern Nigeria, preaching about repentance, and renunciation of idolatry, the importance of prayer and fasting, and the power of God to heal sickness.

In 1930 Faith Tabernacle affiliated with the British Apostolic Church. Then following a schism in the Apostolic Church about 1940, Bablola went with a new independent church, Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), where he continued his healing and revivalistic activities until his death. The CAC regards Babalola as an apostle and his revival ministry as the beginning of the church. A CAC retreat center was built at Ikeji-Arakeji, Osun State where Babalola was first called in 1928.

The Christ Apostolic Church has not died along with Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola in 1959. As a matter of fact it has grown rapidly over the years, with many churches under the Christ Apostolic Church name but each church with a specific branch name.

References


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