CHAPTER 3
THE CALL AND HIS YIELD
LIFE IS LIKE A MIRROR, WE GET THE BEST RESULTS WHEN WE SMILE AT IT
UNKNOWN
The Oyo – Okeho Baptist Association had a meeting at Okeho and one of the agenda was the baptism of people who were prepared to be baptized but had no ordained pastor in their church to conduct such service. Revd D.T. Okediji baptized John Adegoke amongst others from different towns in the Okeho area on the 15 of August 1945.
Being a teacher at Ilua town, he was engrossed in church activities, he was a Sunday school teacher, he became the Superintendent after a while, and he assisted the pastor, Pastor Adegoke a native of Ara in present day Osun State. His involvement in the church made people comment. Their comments were thought¬¬ evoking. At this time, John Adegoke was registered as a Part C teacher, which implied he was getting close to becoming a headmaster.
He was a helping hand to the pastor and the comment of people made John Adegoke think more of going into the ministry in 1951. It became evident that he had nowhere to turn, he was feeling called of God, he had nowhere to hide, everybody saw a priest in him. Mr. Aborode, a native of Idiko, was his role model; he discovered how sound he was, later to know that he was a student of the Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary. He made up his mind and he went to Ijio, to tell his father, Moses Majaro, of his decision to go into the ministry.
On a weekend, he got to Ijio, met his father in his parlour. He greeted him and they exchanged pleasantries, after all this, John broke the silence.
“Baba, I want to go into pastoral ministry”
“On what ground? What have you seen? What informed your decision? Who advised you?”
“But Baba….”
“You know all the problems I have encountered in this job, you know the dangers involved. You know how I have laboured in this profession and none of these has scared you out of this idea. Why don’t you continue with your teaching job, you have a very good prospect…?”
He could not go any further that he had to pause. In a little while, he said,
“I have no option, if you want to go into the ministry, no problem. I will pray with you and will keep praying for you”22.
The decision of John Adegoke made his father discuss with Revd J.O. Oladoja of First Baptist Church, Isia, Okeho who contacted Revd Powell, the missionary at Oyo. The form of the Seminary was obtained and an examination was later conducted at Isokun in Oyo town with all intending students all over Oke Ogun region and Oyo town.
John Adegoke was successful in the examination. He went for medical test and was told when the school would open for another session. In January 1952, he made his way through the motor part at Akesan market, Oyo.
THE FUTURE BELONGS TO THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN THE BEAUTY OF THEIR DREAMS
BART FUCHS