Revd Bola, you will be greatly missed by everyone who had the opportunity to know you, your devotion to God, your way of life, and your endearing simplicity that endeared many to you . With you, what you see is what you get. You were one of the most decent, gentlest and humblest person I have been privileged to know. You were marked out by a life of service, simplicity, poise and gentleness. You carried God everywhere you went, and you represented Him well. You truly loved and believed in people. You were ever ready to pour into people.
I can never forget as someone who newly came into the family, who at the time had just married into the Odunayo / Akindeinde family. You gave me my very first preaching invitation invitation to the church you pastored unto the very end. You looked past my inexperience at the time, you saw the grace of God upon my life, and trusted me with your sacred pulpit to minister to your congregation. You even came to support me and my wife when we started our ministry in England. Even after that, everytime you visited England, you always made time to check on me and my family. Your love was pure and genuine, and you never looked for anything in return. I still treasure your teaching on Evangelism, and I have kept the audio tapes you gave me ever since. I am glad that our paths met, and I am eternally grateful for the impact your shortlived life has had on me and my family. My children could not believe it when your passing was announced. They could remember our last visit to you and your lovely family in the summer of 2019. Your hospitable spirit was impeccable. You will forever be in our hearts. You were there for me and my family when my father passed onto glory in 2019. You invited myself and my family to your home before we left back for England and we were truly received and felt loved by you and your lovely family. Little did we know that that was going to be the last time we would see you on this side of eternity.
Your sudden departure has only affirmed the truth of God's Word: that whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord (Romans 14:8). You achieved what any great father dreamt to achieve and your investments into everyone that came around you was never a waste, because you raised champion children who love God and serve God. For that, your rewards awaits you.
It's truly a moment of sadness and deep reflection for us all, but we hold on to the Word of grace that admonishes us never to sorrow as people who have no hope, for our hope is in Christ Jesus (1 Thess. 4:13). Let us all be encouraged knowing fully well that God loves us too much to allow us to go through this by ourselves. He is the Comforter of the comfortless; He is the Hope of the hopeless; He is the husband of the widows; He is the Friend of the friendless; He is the God of all grace and comfort. He will be our everlasting hope and joy. He is with us to hold our hands. For underneath us are His everlasting arms and He will carry us until the end.
Revd Bola, Heaven is celebrating you as you have finally laid down your sword at the feet of Christ, after a life of triumphs and conquests you lived in Christ and for Christ. Your love for souls and evangelism was inspirational. I have been most blessed by your quest for soul-winning, you talked it, you lived it, you walked it. Now. a crown of glory awaits you as you have finally joined the cloud of witnesses (Hebrews 12:1) and the spirits of just men made perfect (Hebrews 12:23). Revd, I celebrate your life of victory and purity in Christ. May the remembrance of the pure and faithful life you lived in Christ, continue to encourage and inspire us your family and friends to live for Christ in this present world, so we can also finish well, and finish strong in Christ, in the precious Name of Jesus (Amen).
Revd, you have fought a good fight and you have won the race Your legacy of kindness, generosity, purity and total devotion to Christ lives on in our hearts. Rest on in the bossom of the Lord your God. Until we meet to part no more, sleep on, G.O
Tunde Akiode
England