Popular evangelist and founder of The Word Commission International, The Word Assembly Churches in Ilorin, Kwara State, Rev. Isaac Omolehin, has recounted his life’s journey—one marked by trials, rejection, and eventual triumph. Speaking during a recent online programme celebrating his 74th birthday, monitored by ADEOLA OGUNLADE, Omolehin reflected on his past struggles and how those who once despised him are now among those celebrating him.
There is nothing that God cannot do in a man’s life. Up till today. I still wonder how I got here; how I got to where I am is still a puzzle and it surprises me because nobody gave me a chance in life to become anything from day one when I was born, so my early life was rough,” he said.
Omolehin, who was never accustomed to celebrating birthdays, described this year’s milestone as unique. “This year’s birthday has been so special because people all over the world are celebrating me. People sent money to me. Someone said he was sending me money for chicken but sent enough for a cow,” he said.
Humble beginning
Born in Iluke Bunu, Kabba Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria, Omolehin is the President and Founder of Word Assembly Ministries in Ilorin, Kwara State. His early years were filled with hardship, although his father was a known and reputable man, he did not invest in his children’s future—not out of neglect or dislike but that was the same experience all the children had. This left young Omolehin without the financial or emotional support he needed.
Life was further complicated by constant threats, forcing his mother to move him from town to town to protect him from those who sought his life. His siblings were not as fortunate; some fell victim to the evil forces that haunted his family. Omolehin attended five different primary schools due to these frequent relocations, yet he consistently excelled academically, always securing the top position in his classes.
During his childhood, he suffered from a mysterious illness. His mother, desperate for a cure, sought the help of a prophet who recommended a ritual bath in a river. However, Omolehin, despite not knowing God nor does he know the Bible at the time, resolved to defy the ritual. “I reflected within myself that ‘is it because of the sickness that I would be taken to the river and bath in the river?. I said it should not be that difficult. As a primary school pupil, I told myself that I would recover.” To everyone’s amazement, he miraculously recovered before his mother returned with the ritual items.
Life of hardship, determination
About 50 years ago, Omolehin found himself in Ilorin without a clear agenda, with no house and nowhere to sleep, where he took on the role of a farmhand for a family.
He also assisted in frying and selling puff-puff. It was during this humble phase that he met his wife, then an undergraduate at the University of Ibadan, Oyo State. Their relationship faced opposition, with some ridiculing his wife for choosing him. His close friends told his wife while they were courting “They told her she was yet to find a human being to marry, and asked, when would I make it in life?” Omolehin recalled.
However, she remained steadfast, and today, even those who mocked them witness the extraordinary ways God has blessed their lives.
Struggles in ministry
Omolehin’s early years in ministry were marked by financial struggles, but never a lack of anointing.
He shared how he encountered a disciple of Apostle Ayodele Babalola, who warned him never to engage in fights or try to defend himself. “He told me never to fight for myself because God would always fight for me. Over the years, I have seen that all those who wronged me never ended well. I am not an ordinary person and that is why God kept seeing me through all dangers till this very moment. Things that should have killed me had happened to me, but God spared me. There was nothing I ever lacked that I now lack. That is the reason; it is not easy for me to backslide. God led me through things that should have killed me. Now, I knew that there were only tests of faith.
Marriage built on faith
Reflecting on his marriage, Omolehin attributed much of his success to his wife’s unwavering support. “If I am celebrating today, it is because of my wife. She is the one to be celebrated.”
He recalled their wedding preparations, which were fraught with challenges. When they informed his wife’s uncle—who was to stand in as the father of the day—he refused to see them. “My wife is the one to be celebrated. Before our wedding, we went to one of her uncles who was to stand in for us as the father of the day on our wedding day to tell him about the wedding. The uncle did not come out to see us. We waited for hours. He did not come out. I told my wife to let us leave. We left the place. “But 40 years after, the same uncle needed my assistance. He is the monarch of their town.”
He desperately sought Omolehin’s intervention after a series of mysterious deaths plagued their community. A CAC prophet had declared that until Omolehin prayed for the town, the deaths would persist.
Omolehin eventually visited, prayed, and saw God intervene. To commemorate the occasion, he donated two cows, rice and other condiments for the town’s celebration. The plague of death in the town ceased.
Wedding of miracles
Their wedding, held at St. Luke’s Anglican Church, Ilorin, was sparsely attended by his wife’s relatives, many of whom could not fathom her choice. “Many of the relatives of my wife did not come because they could not imagine that she would marry me.”
When he took her to meet his father, the old man gave her N2 but gave Omolehin nothing.
One of the most striking moments was the ring saga. The couple traveled to Lagos to buy wedding rings but could only afford one—for the bride. On the wedding day, someone purchased a ring for Omolehin, but it turned out to be a hunter’s ring, unsuitable for the occasion. A kind woman in the church lent him her ring, which he returned after the ceremony. Since then, he has never worn a ring, despite now being able to afford multiple.
From lack to abundance
Omolehin recounted times of extreme lack, recalling a day when he begged for food. A brother initially agreed to give him raw beans but later reneged, following his wife’s disapproval. “Ironically, I still see that man today,” he mused.
Legacy of impact
Despite his early struggles, Omolehin pursued higher education, studying Animal Science at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology. During his National Youth Service, he served as a Traveling Secretary with the Nigeria Fellowship of Evangelical Students (NIFES).
Married to Dr. Mrs. Christie Omolehin since October 1982, he was ordained in 1985 by Rev. Mike Oye. Today, they are blessed with four children, all of whom are pastors and missionaries serving in different nations. Beyond preaching the gospel across the world, Omolehin and his wife also run an orphanage in Ilorin, continuing their mission of service and compassion.
Rev. Isaac Omolehin’s story is one of perseverance, faith, and divine transformation. From rejection and suffering to global recognition, he remains a testament to God’s grace and unwavering faithfulness.
