By Ladi Peter Thompson
Truth is that Taiwo Odukoya, beyond the Fountain of Life Church, was a pastor of pastors so it is just right that there will diverse testimonials of his influence. Asked why I had labelled Taiwo Odukoya as my GOC in a publication instead of GO as some are accustomed, I laughed and said that the GOC means General Officer Commanding and that was because he taught us to endure hardness as good soldiers of Christ.
“You don’t seem too sad that he passed” they said, “at least you should feel sorry for the young children he left behind!”
“Well”, I answered, “his phone records will show that we were in touch from forever till the end of his assignment and every time I reflect on his life testimony a joy explodes to block sorrows because our relationship was not after the flesh.”
Concerning his biological children, I pray that God would open the eyes of those that worry about his biological children to see that Taiwo Odukoya, working by revelation with the total agreement and full cooperation of Bimbo and later Nomthi left behind a good inheritance for his children’s children. This goes beyond estates, riches and gold to include generational blessings similar to what Abraham left for Aaron, his great grandson, courtesy of Melchizedek.
This may sound strange, yet Jacob and Esau ignored houses and estates but esteemed “the blessing” as the real inheritance. I believe most people’s sympathy would be replaced with envy if only they could see the “generational blessings” on Pastor Tee’s seed.
God’s thoughts, ways and assessments are different from that of natural men so some people will see just His acts while others may know His ways.
Speaking spiritually, Taiwo Odukoya nurtured many with the milk of the word but was himself a man who chewed strong meat and I guess its tough to process his memory with any less understanding.
Jesus Christ on his way to the Cross sighted women weeping for him and chided them to weep for their own children instead! Methinks it was a matter of perspectives, and we know that there are people who would also assume that Paul the Apostle was too radical when he said that to die is gain and to live is Christ.
Lets together, just thank God for a Nigerian father whose priorities were right because Tolu, Jimi, Tobi, Timileyin and Jomiloju carry envious blessings that go way beyond the Ijebu or Zulu connection – they all are too blessed to be cursed and that has triggered another explosion of joy in my heart.
▪︎ Pastor Thompson’s eulogy to Late Odukoya was culled from a WhatsApp platform of Nigerians in diaspora.