Pastor Paul Adebowole Kolawole is in charge of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Zone 5, Area 005, Pillar of the Truth, Bodore, Ajah, Lagos. He recently celebrated his 50th birthday with the launch of three books to commemorate the special day. Pastor Kolawole used to be a staunch Muslim and he was being prepared by his family in Kogi State to take over from his grandfather as chief imam. To live up to that office, he frequently persecuted Christians but, miraculously, he had an encounter with God and converted to Christianity.
In this interview with Cornerstone, the pastor gives a graphic account on how he left Islam and became a fervent preacher of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He also explains why those practicing Islam are more dedicated to their religion than many Christians, how he died and came back to life during a pilgrimage to Israel and many other topical issues. Excerpts:
How God used Pastor Adeboye to bring me back to life
I went on a 21-day pilgrimage. I had been having issues with appendicitis before I left Nigeria but my doctors had advised that I did surgery. At that time, I was not prepared, financially and physically. Because I had quite a lot of programmes and I said going through such surgery would lay me down for some time, I was looking for a convenient time like two to three months, to empower my assistant, then I could move on. I was moving it up to the end of January the next year. The doctors told me I could manage it with the drugs I was given. So, I was on those drugs and medical therapy when we went for the pilgrimage.
Mountain climbing is strenuous in Jerusalem. After the strenuous mountain climbing in Jerusalem, I began to feel pain by the side of my stomach. The next day, the appendix ruptured into my bowel. I felt feverish, threw up and others. I was rushed to Adasah Medical Centre. Since it was when Ebola was ravaging Nigeria, my friend and I got there and they quarantined us just like that. I would have died there.
But while we were there I began to feel very weak. My body was already getting cold from my legs. I told the doctor he should allow us to return to the camp. The pastors there would pray for us; if God had mercy on me, I would live, if not, I would go. I was ready. We remained in quarantine for four hours. At midnight, about 1 am, we removed the nose mask and the gloves they put all over our bodies. It was after we walked away, they took those gloves and performed some medical examinations and they realized they had made a mistake by putting us in quarantine.
I was shouting then that I was an appendicitis patient but it fell on deaf ears. Before we got to the gate, I lost consciousness and collapsed. My friend (a doctor) left me on the ground and went to the road in an attempt to get a taxi to pick me. I had said my final prayers. I begged God to take care of my wife and children.
Later, I was told that the doctors asked the security man about the two patients that left. The security man told them only one person passed through the gate. He was instructed to check for the second person. It was on his way to check that he found me. They wheeled me to the theatre. And because it was already prolonged, I went into a coma.
Having been in a coma for three days, my friend went camping and the report got to Pastor E.A. Adeboye. He came to the hospital himself, entered my ward and prayed for me and I woke up. A bright light shone on my eyes while Adeboye was praying for me, I saw myself walking down a beautiful, nice clean long lonely road. When I woke up, everyone was surprised and the surgery was successful. I would have died if not for Adeboye.
My 50th birthday
I consider 50 years as a milestone and the launching of the book is to create a memory that will be unforgettable. I had a major incident on May I7, 2016. I was on pilgrimage in Israel. I took ill and passed on. I was dead for three consecutive days. But God brought Pastor E.A. Adebayo to Jerusalem for pilgrimage. He was brought to the hospital to pray for me and I woke up. The book launch is in recognition of that special grace and mercy of God. I would have gone just like that but God’s mercy gave me a second chance. The book is to commemorate this event and add value to the body of Christ.
When you look at the title of the book, you will know that it is also timely. I have written eight other books before now. The Handbook for Christian Men is to impact men all over the world, while the Handbook for Christian Women is to impact women all over the world. The Handbook of Prayer for Personal Deliverance is for everybody. This book is a package with relevant prayers to combat all forms of afflictions.
You don’t need to pester your pastor for prayers always
Reacting to the title of his book, Prayer for Personal Deliverance, the Pastor noted that although there were situations in which one would need extra help, the book explains to readers that there are circumstances that you can handle yourself. It is not every time or for everything that you should go to your pastor. Do it yourself (DIY) is what this book encourages.
Fake prophecy
On the numerous prophecies some men of God gave that never came true Pastor Kolawole explained that as there are right prophecies, there are wrong ones. The Bible says we must check the spirit before we believe it. There are three criteria to check the spirit: the message, the messenger and the compliance with the word of God.
How I was called
I have been in Christianity since 1998. I was a Muslim scholar, a cleric, an Alfa. I had an encounter with Jesus. He appeared to me in my dreams. My lecturer in the polytechnic was always disturbing me to give my life to Christ. One day, he gave me a track with the big question boldly written on it, ‘If You Die Now, Are You Sure You Will Go to Heaven?’ I wasn’t sure. I fasted in the month of Ramadan, I persecuted Christians, I tore and threw the Bible into the latrine. I was a persecutor of Christians.
But quite a lot of people were praying for my salvation, especially my eldest sister. She was born again, while I was meant to be the imam, after my grandfather. I did womlimat in 1977, finished the Quran in 1976. All was set for me to become an Imam. I recited the Quran at the juma’at mosque every Friday.
Because I lost my peace, I had to pray in the Muslim way, ‘guide us in the right path.’ It was one of the verses in the Alfatia, and it occurred to me that Muslims prayed five times a day. We said the fatiat like almost 10 times in the prayer. But one of the verses said, ‘show us the right path.’ Did it mean we did not know the right part? Why are we praying every day, ‘Lord show us the part’? So, I slept. And Jesus appeared to me in my dreams. At 1 am, a white man in a white garment walked into my hostel and he said, you are looking for the way, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the father except by me.
I looked at him. I was scared, and he smiled. He said, come unto me all ye that labour and I will give you rest. He turned back and left. I woke up quickly, turned round in my room, my roommates were asleep. I jumped and ran outside. There was no one.
I didn’t sleep again. In the morning, I took my bath and went to the mosque. I did my normal prayer then went to school. I was walking when I saw brother John, a Deeper Life member. I approached him and asked him if I could borrow his Bible. I also asked him to help me search for John 14, and the rest is history.
I knew everything about Islam at a very tender age. That is how Islam is wise. Those practicing Islam catch the children young, at a very tender age. That is why they are more dedicated than Christians. The children would be indoctrinated at a very tender age but Christians will say their children are still tender before you know it the children have already deviated. To bring them back becomes very difficult. Anyway, since I gave my life to Christ, I have never had any cause to regret.
