The Scripture in Romans 5:18b, “By the righteousness of one the  free gift came upon all men unto justification of life”, can be applied to the  life of Rev. Timothy Gbadebo Oshokoya. Through him, God brought the  doctrine of practical salvation—freedom from sin—to Nigeria.  

Without mincing words, we can rightly say that God raised up Rev.  Timothy for the salvation of Africa in general and Nigeria in particular.  Like Moses, his predecessor in spiritual leadership role, God made him  pass through the school of experience where he acquired varied  experiences of life. Those experiences made him an exceptionally  versatile spiritual leader. The most outstanding leadership qualities and  characteristics which propelled his work and ministry and made him stand  tall amongst his peers were his undaunted spirit and indomitable  disposition. 

He was the only child of his parents. He was so dear to their hearts  that they wanted him to be a clergyman. To realize this desire, they sent  him to the Baptist Seminary at Ogbomoso, but a relation dissuaded him  and so he came to Lagos instead. In spite of this diversion, God's eyes were  upon him until He brought him to the realization of his need of practical  salvation, which is deliverance from sin. He was thrilled by God's  revelation to him and he acknowledged that he was a sinner heading for  destruction. Consequent upon this conviction, he confessed his sins,  renounced them and prayed pleading the Blood of Jesus Christ for the  remission of his sins in 1939. Jesus saved him. When he came in contact  with the Apostolic Faith where he learnt about all the fundamentals of the  Gospel, he embraced all the doctrines wholeheartedly. He later prayed  through to the deeper Christian experiences of sanctification and the  baptism of the Holy Ghost. He made restitution of his past crooked life. 

That was how Brother T started his ministry with a humble  beginning through these God-given induction course which was later  strengthened by the contact he had with the Apostolic Faith with  headquarters in Portland, Oregon. His work and ministry are best  summarized by this verse from a song: 

This perfect heav'nly seed 

Shall grow to a big tree 

Like the blessed leaven 

Shall spread all o'er the earth 

Till God the Son comes back again 

It will go on Amen, Amen (2ce). 

Through the special grace of God, the humble work begun by this  illustrious son of Africa has spread far and wide on the continent. No  wonder he himself gave the Church the motto, Africa for Christ.  

Brother T preached and practised practical Christianity until he  breathed his last on November 16, 1983. As you read the biography of this  great man of God, may you too catch a vision of what role God would want  you to play in winning Africa for Christ. 

J. O. SOYINKA 

 (Africa Overseer, 1983-1999)