Part 4
Prior the year 2000, Pastor Dave Heman Ackah, the Founder of Rainbow Christian Assembly, Warri was known as the right hand man and second-in-command at Word of Life Bible Church after Papa Ayo. Having served faithfully over the years, Pastor Dave Heman Ackah was sent forth by Papa Ayo and Word of Life Bible Church with a sum of 500,000 Naira (an equivalent of $5,000 then) and prayed for. In solidarity, over 500 congregants of Word of Life Bible Church were also in attendance at the inaugural Service of the Rainbow Christian Assembly founded by the outgoing second in command.
After the departure of Pastor Heman Ackah, there has been no known appointed second-in-command at the Church till date. However, it is worthy to note that Mama Helen Oritsejafor, wife of Papa Ayo rose in prominence in the Church leadership over the years after Pastor Ackah’s departure before their recent separation.
On our inquiry into the succession plan in place for the Church leadership, we were informed that Papa Ayo was yet to disclose that. This came as no surprise owing to the length of time it took (exactly 30 years after inception) for Word of Life Bible Church to ordain Pastors and create 80 new branches around the world – a peculiar situation which Papa Ayo attributed to be the prompting of God through the Holy Spirit. Although, for many years, Pastor Segun Braimoh, a very senior Pastor who once managed the Lagos branch of World of Life Bible Church (The Lord’s Chapel), Moloney Street, Lagos was considered as a likely successor to Papa Ayo. However, recently a much younger Pastor, Ifeanyi Okochi, has been sent to manage the Lagos branch.
Currently, Mr Bayo Adewoye, the Personal Assistant to Papa Ayo who is considered as the closest person to him, although not a Pastor cannot be overly considered or ruled out as a possible successor to Papa Ayo. So far, there are many permutations regarding the possible successor to Papa Ayo who is 78 years of age going on 79, however, no one is being projected and no one is generally known enough to confidently be considered as a likely successor as long as Papa Ayo continues to lead the Church.
Source:
Rainbow Christian Assembly YouTube page
Church Gist Archives
The Lord’s Chapel Facebook page.
#PapaAyoOritsejafor
#WordOfLifeBibleChurch
#ChurchGist
