Chaplain, Prophetess S.B.F Soladoye, is the founder of Cherubim and Seraphim, Ase Irorun, Aduramigba, Olomowewe Church, Ajasa-Command, Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State. She was born into a Christian family in Ijero Ekiti, Ekiti State. She had both her primary and secondary education in Ekiti before she moved to Lagos in 1985. Soladoye grew up in the Baptist church, then worshipped in Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) when she relocated to Lagos before she changed to the C&S church after spending three days in the mortuary due to an accident she had at Osu Bus Stop, along Ilesha Road in Osun State that almost claimed her life. In this interview with Wilson Adekumola, she gives an insight into how she became a C&S member. Excerpts:
You said you were born in Baptist Church; you also worshipped in CAC before you changed to C&S, what was the event that led you to the C&S church?
The reason I became a C&S member was that I encountered a miracle there. God used the C&S to revive and transform my life. I had an accident when I was returning to Lagos from a trip to my village. The accident happened around Osu Bus Stop, very close to Ilesha in Osun State. We were eighteen passengers on the bus and I heard that I was the only survivor according to an eyewitness. I was told they called my husband on the phone to come and carry me at the University College Hospital, UCH, in Ibadan, Oyo State because that was where they took us to and pronounced us dead. When my husband came, he then took my corpse to Hamkard Hospital at the U-Turn Bus Stop in the Abule-Egba area of Lagos where I was consequently taken to the mortuary. I was told my parents and my husband were debating where to bury me, but they eventually agreed that I should be buried in my husband’s house since I have children for him. I was told that I had spent three days in the mortuary before I woke up. It was when I woke up and started speaking in tongue and in the C&S language, calling the Lord of ‘Orimolade’ to come and carry me and all that, they said I spoke in tongues that they should go and sow a white garment for me. They said I asked for a bell saying that I wanted to go to a revival and they should anoint me. That was when they went to one Baba in the C&S. So, the first miracle was that when the Baba came and poured anointing oil on my head, my hair became dreadlocks instantly, he then took me from the mortuary to the ward. That was where I stayed for about five months in the hospital before I came back home. I was told that they went to buy the garment they wore on me from the Baba at Ekoro Road in Abule-Egba. Though, I had not fully recovered because I had internal bleeding according to the doctors. I was then taken from one place to another for more than a year. The herbalists and Islamic cleric (Alfa) tried their best to ensure I was healthy but to no avail. But it was the place they took me to along Abeokuta Road in Ogun State that a three-year-old girl who was in trance gave a message while speaking in tongues and somebody interpreted it that they should not bring me out of the vehicle or else I would die. She said they should go and prepare an altar (ki won te pepe in Yoruba parlance) for me according to C&S tenets. She said further that I should start a C&S church before I could be healed. At this point, I could not stand on my legs; I was being carried about. We called people that knew about C&S activities. We did as she said; my husband now converted his living room to the altar. That was how I got healed and started a C&S Church with my husband and two kids before we became what we are today.
You have not told us when the accident happened and how old is your church now?
I cannot really remember when it happened precisely but what I know is that my ministry is now eleven years. I started the church in my husband house located at 81, Anuoluwapo Street, Ajasa-Command, Lagos. We were four when the church started. My husband, my two children and I started the church before it became what it is today. My husband worshipped in Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) then. He was called from his Church at Shaba, in the Agege area to support me in the ministry and he has been supportive tremendously till today. That is how we started gradually before we got to this level.
11 years down the line, what has been the experience?
The experience has been awesome and overwhelming. Let us say it is not easy and it is also easy. It is easy because the God that called me has not left me. He has not made me suffer anything but the people we are working with have really made it tough for me just because they are human beings. You know, people could behave funnily sometimes. It is not easy to manage human beings, I have encountered a lot of things while working in His vineyard, but I thank God that He has always proved Himself to me. He has not left me alone. God takes all the glory.
You have worshipped in Pentecostal Churches but now you are a member of the C&S, what can you tell us about the two denominations?
In the Christ Apostolic Church, (CAC), they believe so much in prayer, they only know about fasting and prayer, they don’t believe in other things or using other faith elements for prayer as it happens in white garment churches. They go to the mountain with dried fasting every now and then but God answers their prayers. I love one thing about them, they believe in hierarchy and respect their elders, but in C&S, if someone can just go on trance once, he or she has become a prophet or prophetess. Without wasting time, they will be looking for a shop to start a church. In fact, the difference is clear. There are a lot of differences that the constraint of time will not permit us to discuss here.
What is peculiar about your church that people don’t know?
God is miraculous; He has shown that He is the King of kings. He has strengthened me both physically and spiritually. He has helped me to do this effortlessly. The church is specifically for pregnant women and those who are looking for the fruits of the womb. That is why it is called ‘Ase Irorun, Aduramigba, Olomowewe’ church. God has used me for these particular women and testimonies abound. I have a programme I called ‘Covenant Trance’, “Ori Oke Majemu”, it goes with twenty-one days fasting and prayer every year. We normally have this event on the last Sunday of August and conclude it on the third Sunday of September. Like this year, we started the mountain on the 29th of August to the 19th of September which is twenty-one days if you calculate it. We thank God there is no time we go to this mountain there are always colourful testimonies. There are always testimonies of newborn babies. At times, three people will put to bed. It has happened this year again. We blessed His name for His mercy endures forever. I thank God for my calling; His mercy has always been upon me for this call. The Lord has in this course transformed my life.
Your husband seems to be in the background, what is his involvement in your ministry?
Actually, my husband, the Most Senior Apostle S.O Soladoye, is the architect of the ministry. He is the brain behind everything. You will think he is the one that received the call. Don’t be surprised that my husband has a Muslim background but I converted him to Christian in the late 80s and since then he has committed himself so much to the work of God that he is ready to do all for Him. Like I told you, he was called from the CAC to support my ministry and he has not relented. He has played a significant role both in my spiritual and physical life. You remember I told you, he dedicated his living room for the work of the Lord. That is the background of this church. That was where the church started from. So, after God, my praises go to him for supporting my ministry and my vision.
Since you became a C&S member what will you consider your achievement?
I thank God for our lives. I glorify God for the lives of my members. God has blessed us both physically and spiritually. God has worked wonders in my life and He has used me to impact many lives. Almost every week people are put to bed in my church. Not one has been taken to the hospital for Caesarean Section (CS) or died in the process of child delivery. They deliver the babies with relative ease. We noticed that some people complained that it is tough being a prophet or prophetess of God. Some said it was when they received this call that they lost their children or husband or loved ones but our case is different. We have not lost our children or loved ones. Some said their members had left them but we are only increasing every day. If one person leaves, two other people will join. I thank God that He has made it easy for me. In Fact, I consider the testimonies my achievements. To God be the glory.
If you were the leader of the church, what is the first thing you would attend to?
I observed we lack love and unity. The first thing I will attend to is to make move towards uniting everyone. I will work with other church leaders to ensure love and unity reign in our midst. Let there be love among the members because there is no love. I thank God there is a change now, things are now taking a new shape. But the love and unity among us is not strong enough yet. When you talk about love and unity in churches, you can see how the Pentecostal Churches behave, even the Celestial Church that we are wearing the same white garment, there is a strong bond, and there is love and unity among them. We want God to intervene and let there be love and unity. If there is unity, things will not fall apart. Another thing is that we don’t know how to praise and appreciate God in the C&S. The only thing they believe in is prophecy or message. They don’t believe in giving as Bible stipulates. They believe that when they come, somebody should prophesy or see a vision for them but they don’t know how to give to God. But I think the same scripture that talks about prophecy also talks about giving and tithing. They believe in prophecy more than appreciating God for His marvellous works. I pray Almighty God will unite us.
Prophetess S.B.F Soladoye can be reached on: 08056518055, 08135818943.
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