YEMISI LIVES ON
A FAREWELL TRIBUTE TO
PASTOR (MRS) OLUWAYEMISI ADELOYE
FROM REV. DR. MOSES ARANSIOLA
How do we write a befitting tribute to a dear and beloved sister and spiritual daughter upon her passing? And how does one encapsulate a special relationship and interaction of many years in some terse tribute statement? But I’ll somehow begin with a fascinating story of spiritual consolation that I have personally profited from.
A story was told about an incident at St. Louis in the U.S.A. many years ago about two strong men stood embracing each other, and, with faces aglow, sang with all their might, “Hallelujah”! tis done! I believe on the Son”, while others praised the Lord with great joy. The illumination on the faces of these two men was unusual. A light never seen on sea or land, the solar light of heaven lit up their eyes and beamed from their countenances, and they looked to be carefree; two of the gladdest men in the world. Their joy was clean and pure, unutterable and without alloy.
Who were these men? Were they carefree, in the blush and glory of life's morning, untouched as yet by its sorrow and unsmitten in its strife and conflict? With all its full pleasures, triumphs and prizes before them, were they yet to prove the sweet, pure joys of wedded life and home, and listen for the first time to the prattle of their children and the music of her voice who was to be all their own, who was to be their very other self?
Some months before, one of these men left his home early in the morning and returning within a few hours, found his wife and children burnt to ashes. He had drunk sorrow's bitterest cup to the dregs, and had been swept by desolation's fiercest storms. The other was a precious brother who had stepped on to the ship at Liverpool a few weeks before, to return to his darling wife and seven young children, only to be met on landing by the awful word that she was dead and the children were motherless.
They were not young men any more, nor were they old. They were too old to begin life over again with the bounding enthusiasm and confident hopes of youth, and too young to lie down and die. Life's morning was past, and the fierce heat of a noonday sun had smitten them.
What, then, was the secret of their joy? Where is the hiding-place of their triumph? One of them to drown his sorrow had plunged into dissipation and sought to soothe his heartache with liquor, only to find that he had forsaken the Fountain of Living Waters and hewed out for himself, cisterns, broken cisterns that could hold no water.
But that night he had returned back to the Saviour. After a struggle, he had found Jesus, and found peace in believing and joy in the Holy Ghost. And there he and the other brother stood embracing each other, rejoicing, comforted, with their broken hearts healed by the healing touch of His pierced hands, triumphant over all the crushing sorrows of earth and all the malice and rage of hell.
Such depth and exceeding comfort in sorrow, matchless consolation in grief and an incomparable joy in the Holy Ghost is what the Triune God will mightily administer to all who are mourning for the sudden and painful departure to glory of our dearly beloved Pastor Yemisi Adeloye.
Pastor Mrs. Yemisi Adeloye was a beloved sister and spiritual daughter to me. She, along with her exceptional, loving, highly anointed, well-gifted and humble husband, Pastor Ayo Adeloye, who is also my special spiritual junior brother, had played regular and memorable hosts to me and our ministry in their various postings in the Redeemed Christian Church of God for almost three decades.
On hearing of her illness, our prayer network was activated instantly, and we alongside with countless others laboured on in travailing prayers for her healing. But alas! God had His way and has had the final say. After all, He is Yemisi’s Creator, Father, Redeemer and Saviour; He has just claimed (for a closer and sweeter fellowship with Himself) what originally belonged to Him. The unquestionable God! Yemisi’s name is already written in gold in the annals of The Redeemed Christian Church of God. She was an epitome of Christian virtues, an ideal wife, mother, ministry worker and an exemplary woman. She had such an unobstructive, self-effacing demeanour that enabled her to get along smoothly and peaceably with others with whom she had any dealings. She was spiritually deep, well-cultured, soft-spoken, hospitable, versatile, fluent, hardworking and ideal prayer-warrior-intercessor, an addicted worshipper and a giver. In fact, she was a rare combination of multiple graces.
As a wife to an evangelist, missionary, and a global pastor, she manifested to the world what it is to be a Christian woman. She preached the gospel and lived its tenets. Her husband, Pastor Ayo Adeloye loved her passionately, and doted on her always. Her children are not only well brought up by her, but, because of her exemplary life and compelling Christian virtues, decided on their own volition to function in the Christian ministry even at very tender ages.
The Redeemed Christian Church of God and the Christian world have lost a brilliant star, a gem and an ideal Christian worker.
Our consolation is that she surely reposes in the bosom of Jesus Christ who she served with unwavering zeal, single-minded devotion and distinction while on earth. “Vox Populi Vox Dei” Everybody acknowledges that Sister Yemisi “is” a child of God. Yemisi Lives On...
“Requescat in Pace”. Rest in Peace, Beloved Christian Warrior.
Rev. Dr. Moses & Pastor (Mrs.) Funmi Aransiola
President, Gethsemane Prayer Ministries International
National Director, Nigeria Prays