Born on June 16th 1935 in Aradagun, Badagry, Lagos Nigeria to the family of Abraham Abina, like many God’s general, he had a poor background.
After his primary school,he had to survive on menial job trekking 6.5km everyday between where he lived(Ago ijaye)and work (Ago owu) in present day Ogun state.
It was in the course of Papa Abina’s apprenticeship that Pastor Reuben Akinwalere George invited him to a newly formed fellowship, which eventually developed to become the Gospel Faith Mission International (GOFAMINT), where Papa Abina encountered the God-heads under the ministration of Pastor Onashinwo and on June 1956, Pastor Oludele Abina repented from his sins and accepted Jesus as his Lord and Redeemer.
He was later baptized by immersion by Pastor Yilu of the C.A.C movement same year..
After his conversion, Papa Abina demonstrated great zeal and commitment to his new found faith.
He was sold out to evangelizing the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
He preached and invited his childhood friend from Aradagun and the main drummer of the Rising Star Mambo Orchestra and his wife, Richard Godunu and Elizabeth Akapo who later became the first General Evangelist of GOFAMINT.
He demonstrated his faith by dropping all his medication in a toilet when he had a chronic stomach pain that was coming intermittently over the years.
God demonstrated His faithfulness and he was instantly healed and that was the end of the problem.
While battling with poverty and life’s trouble, Pa Abina took solace in a scripture that have became part of his everyday life,
“Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus” (Phil. 1:6).
Papa Abina who had always had the urge to work for God in full time capacity since his conversion was hunted by his poor background.
Additionally, most full time pastors of that time were financially poor and he did not want to continue the same way he was raised. More so, he thought he would break the heart of his parent if he decided to take up the work of a Pastor on full time basis because he was desirous to take of his on family, his poor parents and his extended family members.
Papa Abina knew he would end up as a full time pastor, but he decided to defer this until he was much older, a time thought he would have saved enough money to support a good living and establish a thriving business for his wife.
But on the contrary, on one Wednesday afternoon in 1962, while at work at Arbico Ltd. On 15, Warehouse Road, Apapa, Lagos, he was on his way to the toilet when he heard a voice said to him; “would you, because of your parents, reject my work?”
He became trouble and could not ignore what he heard.
After the evening service that day, he called a meeting of the ministers where he narrated the experience he had at work that day.
He told them that he was convinced of God’s call on his life and was ready to resign his employment with the construction firm for full-time ministry.
In fact his close associates, Pastor Akinremi and Evangelist Akapo added that they had wanted to urge him to resign and take up the full time appointment but were not courageous enough to tell him since they were also engaged in their circular works. His wife also consented to the call of God for his life.
Papa Abina’s entry into the ministry was unanimously applauded by members and ministers of the Church.
He got all the needed cooperation to move on and the Church was fast growing under his leadership.
In the course of his ministry, he had an unforgettable encounter with the Holy Spirit that marked another important milestone in his spiritual and ministerial journey.
On Sunday, November 24, 1963, the Church had her normal workers meeting before the evening service.
While leading the workers in prayer for the baptism of the Holy Spirit after a short exhortation on the importance of the Holy Spirit in God’s service, the Holy Spirit came upon the congregation in a manner similar to Apostolic experience in the chapter of Act of the Apostles.
In fact, as in the apostolic days, people around the neighborhood gathered round wondering what was happening in the Church.
Some other workers too were baptized by the Holy Spirit and Papa Abina interpreted as they spoke in new tongue.
The experience was so real and so much that he could not read when he was led to read the book of Acts, chapter two.
Each time he tried to open his mouth to read, he found himself speaking in new tongues.
The move of the Holy Spirit continued for over two hours such that the normal evening service could not hold that day.
The experience ignited the Church for more commitment and greater service through Papa Abina.
After the three-day marathon fasting and prayer that launched him into full time ministry, Papa Abina continued steadily and steadfastly in the work with great zeal and commitment. His main focus was for souls to be won and for the enlargement of the kingdom of God
He stayed with Matthew 6:33 till date.
He lived his life based on faith alone, spreading the gospel of the Lord Jesus.
Dr. Elijah Abina is the General Overseer of Gospel Faith Mission worldwide.
He is one of the founding leaders of Pentecostal fellowship of Nigeria.
Baba is 88yrs today.
His life is the story of faith that no one is disadvantaged if you walk in faith.
Blessings
AT Joel
Thanks to Pastor Taiwo Holo, Baba personal Assistant and biographer for helping me with his biography and Mrs Remi Oyedotun.
