Proverbs 31: 10-31 is explicit on the qualities of a woman to her husband, children and her community at large. Pastor Seyi Bakare is an exemplary figure of the Proverbs 31 description of a mother. She shares with OLUWATOSIN AKINSANMI her journey to becoming a virtuous woman, a vessel of honour and a ‘mother’ to many children
Could you tell us more about you?
I’m Pastor EbunOluwa Oluwaseyi Bakare (JP) nee Coker. I’m a 1982 HND graduate of Ogun State Polytechnic (now Moshood Abiola Polytechnic). I’m married to Mr Olatunde Bakare and we are blessed with children and grandchildren. I’m the lead pastor of Gboromiro Prayer Ministry, the Visioner of Women of Prayer Mission and presently the Minister-in-Charge of The Sacred Cherubim and Seraphim Church, Cathedral of Joy, Oke Itunu, Ibadan. I’m also into radio evangelism through the popular programme, ‘Gboromiro on Air’.
As the head of Gboromiro Prayer Ministry, Men and Women of Prayer Mission and the Sacred C&S Oluwamayomikun Parish, what influenced these big visions; how did they start?
According to my mother, when I was three months in her womb, there was a revelation that I would be a female vessel to be used powerfully by God. So, the calling had been there all along, the normal “alore” in the C&S setting. On January 1, 2000, I heard clearly from God that I should start a prayer programme and He gave me the name of the programme as “Gboromiro”. I yielded to that calling immediately and I was allowed to hold it every Tuesday in our church. The programme grew beyond my expectation and it started attracting people from different churches and denominations. It soon became a household name. Again in 2010, the Lord spoke again that I should go out and get together women to pray for their families, so we made that one a monthly affair. That was how ‘Women of Prayer’ came to being. The programme is called ‘Operation Fire for Fire’. We initially had to rent events halls for this but about seven years ago, God directed me to Iroko town and that was how ‘Wonderland’ came to being. Last year, I was made the minister in charge of our church upon the voluntary retirement of our minister in charge.
How do you manage the three big ministries?
Managing these three successfully as a woman is all tied to the grace of God.
According to reports gathered at the Operation 7 to 7 held in January, your ministry established a school for the girl child at a free cost, ‘Wonderland Gifted Girls Academy, Iroko’. What birthed this vision?
I see the Wonderland Iroko as a missionary work where we can preach the gospel and get across to those who have not been reached. After building the Prayer Center there, the first thing we did was to provide Primary Health Centre for the people in that town free of charge and later God gave me the vision of the tuition-free school for the girl child. I don’t have much but I always want to live a life of positive impacts. I am just glad and grateful to God for surrounding me with people who understand my vision and who are running along with it.
How is the school funded and what support structure does the school have to ensure it continues to be a going concern?
We fund the school with the little we have. I’m the type that believes that when there is a will there will always be a way. We have the structures in place and we know and believe that the good Lord that started it will continue to see us through. It is not only the school fee that is free; we also provide free school uniforms, snacks and exercise books. We are trusting God to provide more. There is a saying that when you train a woman, you train a nation. Though free, the school is about the best in that community for now.
Will there be such a school for boys too?
I have not heard from God concerning that.
With the spate of insecurity in the country and the spread of the pandemic coronavirus, what should be the role of the Body of Christ especially during this Lenten season and would you say we are doing enough?
The role of the body of Christ at this moment is in 2nd Chronicles 7:14. First is that we should humble ourselves; we should pray fervently and ceaselessly in one accord; seek the face of the Lord and turn from our wicked ways. I know the Lord is faithful and merciful. He will hear from heaven and heal our land. Our faith in the healing powers of God can definitely heal us. In this season, Christians are trying their best, especially in the area of prayers, but we still need to do more especially in the area of righteousness.
Tell us how Operation 7 to 7 began and what made you begin the programme?
One thing I am grateful to God for is the fact that I hear from Him from time to time. He directs me and as I follow his instructions I always enjoy His backing. Twelve years ago, the Lord sent one of our members to me that we should have a programme of 12 hours non-stop. I went to God for confirmation and He affirmed it. That was how Operation 7 to 7 came up. And from the beginning, it has always been a night that draws people from far and near. The turn-out is always in thousands. Glory to God.
Are you planning to take it beyond Oyo state?
Well, if I hear from God.
How do you blend your roles as a wife, minister, school administrator and mother?
I don’t know how I go about it. It can only be God. I was first combining it with my business until God told me to pick one out of the two (My job or His work). It was a tough decision but I eventually picked His work. One thing that has helped me is that as I was about going into it full time, my last baby had graduated from the university. I’m grateful to my husband who is an extremely calm, understanding man for allowing me to fulfil destiny.
What can young people, especially those in ministry, do to sustain their marriage?
Your home is your first ministry. As such, you have to be there for your family. Never allow the work of the ministry to jeopardise your love for your family. The work of the ministry can be time-consuming but at the same time, you owe your family your attention and affection.
With the wave of revival presently felt in the Cherubim and Seraphim fold, how can we sustain it?
With the way we are going, I see us taking over totally. The Lord is raising a mighty army in C&S. We understand the word more now and the zeal with which we move now is highly commendable. We only need a clearer and deeper understanding of the word with the power of the Holy Spirit that differentiates us from others. I can say that the revival has come to stay. I see others in the fold who have not seen the light joining this end-time army of God. The glory of the latter shall surpass the former. We are the light of the world and the generation of the C&S that I see now is certainly unstoppable.
As the book of Proverbs states that the glory of young men is in their strength, how would you implore young men and women to act especially in their walks with God and humanity?
Given that they are still in the days of their youth, they should use their energy in serving God and touching lives positively. Timothy in the Bible was young and vibrant and he deployed that for God. Daniel was young and he made positive impacts. Walk with God as Enoch did, stay focussed, waste no time, take over the land for the Lord, have the fear of the Lord in everything you do, be hardworking, replenish the earth and have total dominion. Your possessions are there; go and possess them. The whole world is waiting to celebrate the manifestation of the sons of God.
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