Pastor Taiye Olayemi, General Overseer of Ever Increasing Anointing Ministries, has urged privileged ministers to refrain from using guilt-driven messages when addressing the less-privileged on issues of church treasury and ministerial finances. Olayemi started his ministry about 30 years ago in Kogi State. Born and grew up in a Christian home in Maiduguri, Borno State, his mother, a prayer warrior till date, was a staunch member of Christ Apostolic Church (C.A.C), she was one of the people that C.A.C to her community in Maiduguri. In this interview with ADEOLA OGUNLADE, he reflects on salvation, material success in ministry, and other pressing matters in the body of Christ as the church marks its 30th anniversary. Excerpts:
Was there any prophecy about your birth that you would serve the Lord?
I’m a twin. My twin sister is also a pastor at the Redeemed Christian Church of God. Our mother carried us in her womb beyond nine months. Her father; an herbalist, said she could only be delivered in a church. So, a particular woman took her to C.A.C and the prophet warned her against using medicines for her delivery.
He encouraged her to use prayer water alone for her delivery. When she eventually delivered us, I cried for hours but my twin sister was inactive. The prophet said until I stop crying she wouldn’t come alive. Immediately I stopped crying, my twin sister sneezed and came alive. It was when they were about to pack her as a dead child that I stopped crying. That is the mystery of our birth.
While growing up, I often had convulsions. Our mother would give me just water and I would recover. Whenever I cried for hours she would give me water and I would stop crying. At one occasion while Prophet Babajide was preaching in a revival and I was crying, the prophet said people should leave me alone. He said the spirit in me is stronger than my body. He gave my mother a prophecy that I would serve the Lord. It was this particular prophecy that calmed down my mother that my childhood illnesses were connected to God’s calling upon me to serve Him. Since I yielded to the call I enjoy divine health. The evidence of my calling is divine health. My mother raised us in the way of the Lord. She made us live on regular fasting and prayer retreats.
How did you personally accept Christ before accepting the call to ministry?
After I graduated from the University of Maiduguri in 1988 I had my youth service (NYSC) in 1989. I worked with the now defunct People’s Bank. Eventually, some of us were relieved by the bank. When I returned home, I picked up the Peugeot 504 car that my late father left to start running commercial transport from Ilorin to Osogbo. While on a trip from Ilorin, I heard a voice say to me, “Why carry people instead of Bible to preach the gospel?” I replied, “I have seen pastors whose lives are nothing good to write home about.” Unfortunately, when I was close to Alase Epo the car clutch surprisingly packed up and that ended the trip. That was how my journey into ministry began. I shared this encounter with a certain man of God (now late) for counseling. I had previously served as a prayer leader at Soul Reconciler Ministries while working at People’s Bank in Kogi state. I also served at Isanlu branch under Rev. Samuel Babaniyi. Subsequently, I joined Rev. Love Abiodun to start his ministry at Iyara, Kogi State. The ministry thrived with many branches and I was posted to pastor Lagos branch. While pastoring the Lagos branch, the Lord spoke to me, “start here” after a series of encounters with the Lord prompting me to start my own ministry. It was that voice that birthed Ever Increasing Anointing Ministries for about 30 years.
Share with us your experience as the church leader in about 30 years now
The experience is one that thrives on focus, genuine relationship with God through the Holy Spirit and contentment. Like Paul said, I have learned to be content. We have had our share of challenges. The experience has shown that in ministry your relationship with God must come first. Your communion with God must supersede. Your relationship with the church members and people generally must be cordial. Ever Increasing Anointing Ministry will clock 30 next month September 2025. It is a journey of focus, consistent relationship with God and discipline to come this far.
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What should fellow church leaders and ministers, particularly the younger generation, know about leadership based on your experience in ministry close to 30 years?
Every church leader has their style of leadership based on their different encounters and relationship with God. That is why I don’t criticize. I’m not in the position to judge any leader because we have different encounters. However, what should be paramount to us as church leaders is we should bring the world into the church but take the word into the world while leading in our different styles. Material success should not be used to determine who is a man of God. What you call success might not be what God calls success. It’s an error to covet the successes of others because God will only assess and judge you according to what he has called you, for your rewards here but not for heaven. As for heaven, it’s your salvation. You may be materially successful in ministry in the estimation of people but not saved. Reward does not take one to heaven; if it does there wouldn’t have been any need for Jesus to die for our salvation. Achievement in life is not a guarantee of going to heaven.
What is your take on church leaders living on their church offerings/tithes?
There’s no sin in pastors eating from the church altar. There’s no sin in pastors depending on the church’s offerings and tithing for their sustenance. How can pastors without a sustainable salary survive with their families if the church treasure does not fend for them? The scripture supports those who work at the altar to partake of the altar. Those who claim they do not touch their church money for their livelihood should be sincere to close their sources of income outside ministry. Some pastors had strong financial foundations and connections before coming into ministry. Several others do not have such privilege. How do you expect the pastors who God called into ministry without the privilege of a sustainable financial background to survive? Privileged ministers should desist from preaching guilt to the less privileged. How do they survive without touching church money? Of course, some members support their pastors financially which in many causes them the loss of their respect. If you don’t take out church money to sustain your family, then you should tell us the source of your finances outside ministry. If you are privileged don’t preach guilt to the less privileged. It’s not all pastors that are privileged to do business outside ministry.
What are the expectations from the 30th of the ministry?
It’s going be a gathering of thanksgiving unto God for helping come this far. It will feature Prophetic Eagle’s Summit 2025. It is a three-day Leadership Training programme where we discuss Christian Leadership and Authority. We will also hold revival service every evening and the grand finale thanksgiving.
