…Went to Ibadan to celebrate with Rev Emiko on his 70th birthday.
A man whom Pastor Olubi Johnson in giving his tribute rightly said his role in the shaping of the Charismatic and Pentecostal expression has been largely unappreciated.
He said and I agree that the three men who laid the foundation for what we all are benefitting from today are, Pa Elton, Arch-Bishop Benson Idahosa and Rev Emiko Amotsuka.
Many of the leading ministers in the nation today came regularly to Ibadan to get knowledge from Rev Emiko. It was the foundation upon which they built their ministries.
It was a thing of great honor to spend the day with him honoring him.
A TEACHER OF THE WORD OF FAITH
It is an honor to pen words to describe the man Rev Emiko. He has been an integral part of my Christian experience. I grew up as a Christian on Arigidi street Bodija and his office and home was within walking distance from my house.
I remember there were times as a young believer I would get stuck with some scriptures trying to understand what they really meant, and when I had tried and tried, I would leave my study and take a walk to Rev Emiko’s house just to ask him what the Bible was saying.
The first day I knocked on his door, I had never met him nor did he know who I was. I simply described myself as a young believer in the neighborhood and he received me into his home and taught me.
There is no better teacher of the word of faith than this man. He simply makes spiritual things simple to understand. Depth in all simplicity.
The first errand I ever ran in ministry was in 1988 and that was to go to the bank for him to withdraw 500 naira, he had written the cheque in my name. I hurriedly rushed to the bank to get it done.
In my days as a campus fellowship leader, 1991 to be precise I went to invite Bishop Oyedepo to our meeting. He asked who he will be speaking with, and I replied Rev Emiko. He smiled and said to me “if you can get Rev Emiko to come to your meeting I will accept to speak”. I rushed back to Ibadan and secured Rev Emiko to attend that’s how Bishop Oyedepo started attending our conferences.
I also went to invite Archbishop Benson Idahosa and he asked “what do you believe as a fellowship?” I brought out a photograph of Rev Emiko speaking at our fellowship and as he saw it he called his secretary and said give him a date.
God used Rev Emiko and the Koinonia ministries to lay the foundation of the word of faith emphasis and the teaching ministry in this country. Many carry the grace his insight into the scriptures brought.
I will close with the words I heard a minister say about him several years ago which registered in my spirit and is so true.
He said Rev Emiko is a man your secrets are safe with.
Thank you for the work you have done in this nation.
God bless you sir.
Source: Pastor Poju Oyemade’s Page
