Tag: Accolades

Christian faithful from across Nigeria gathered at Ilesa, Osun State to celebrate the 80th birthday of a renowned British missionary, Ruth Elton. ADESOJI ADENIYI was there.

No distance was too long for admirers of Mama Ruth Elton, a British born missionary, particularly those who have benefited from her generosity and benevolence, to be part of her 80th birthday anniversary. ýGuests came from all parts of the federation. They particularly came from towns where Mama Ruth Elton had patiently served in spreading the gospel of the Lord – from Kogi to Ondo, Oyo and Osun States. The celebrant who arrived the shores of Nigeria in 1937, aged three years, when she accompanied her parents  Pa Sydney and Mama Hannah Elton on a missionary journey into the country, was introduced to Christian faith by them. And she proved herself a worthy enthusiastic assistant to her parents in spreading the gospel in many parts of the country, particularly rural communities, where residents were yet to hear of the words of the Lord.

The King’s Event Centre in Ilesa, Osun State, the venue of the thanksgiving service and reception, three Saturdays ago was filled to capacity. Adorned in their best attire, the guests paid glowing tribute to ýthe woman described by the preacher at the ceremony, Rev. Mike Oye, as smallish in stature but giant in faith.

After Pastor Joseph Ali said the opening prayer, Rev. Oyeý said he had known Mama Ruth for four to five decades and could testify to her selfless service in the vineyard of the Lord.ý Quoting from the Bible, Revelation 7:9, he said the Church’s mission, by God’s design, is to save lives but lamented that the Church today, particularly the Pentecostal pastors, had derailed and abandoned this path, instead raising selfish, self centered and disobedient members. The cleric said Mama Ruth understood the need to save the perished and those lost in darkness. Rev. Oye said the celebrant knew that the redemption of the world cost the Lord His blood and, therefore,ý was prepared to do same for the people.

The preacher said: “How to know the love of God is to be prepared to die to save lives. In God’s words we are made to know that ‘That He laid down His life for us to live.’ So we too, like Mama Ruth, must be ready to lay ours too for others to live. Ruth was raised by wonderful parents. They came to suffer, to teach, to help people, first class evangelists. Ruth was raised in an environment of love. She grew under parents who lived by God’s principles.”

Speaking further, Rev. Oye said there was an urgent need to raise children in the fear of God just as Timothy’s parents in the Bible and Ruth’s parents had done. He said Mama Ruth’s parents emphasis was not on material values but promoting Christian standards.ý Chiding Christians, who laid back and did nothing about the insurgency of the dreaded Boko Haram terrorist group ravaging the north eastern part of the country, he said “soldiers don’t sit, they go to fight, they suffer, and come back to shine after conquering the enemies.ý”

“Boko Haram don’t sit they go to fight, soldiers don’t sit but must go and conquer. I pity those who say Boko Haram can’t come to them in other parts of the country before the rapture. They are coming so it’s important to go out win souls and help others. The problem with us is being disobedient to the words of the Lord. This smallish woman (Mama Ruth) sitting here is a giant of faith, a lioness like David fighting and receiving wounds. One of the reasons why we are not making advances is fear of suffering and love of luxury.ý Even Jesus suffered. If there is any Christian not suffering for (the) faith then something is wrong. Ruth Elton stands out in this regard. The Christians in the South are not talking and doing enough about the evil of Boko Haram in the North. We are not helping the Christians affected by this evil. It is not Pentecostalism but holiness and impeccable character that will speak to people. If not for her patience and courage, Mama Ruth would have gone back to England thirty years ago. She faced great challenges, some of which even threatened her life. So, as Christians, we are to endure persecution, suffering and difficulty.

“If you live for God any where you go you will suffer for righteousness. Look at Daniel’s example in the Bible. So words to take home for all of us here is ‘what profits a man to win the whole world and loses his soul.’ I therefore enjoin you brethren to work hard and endure hardship,” Rev. Mike Oye concluded.

In their tribute, Pastors Sarah and Olubi Johnson of the Scriptures Pasture Christian Centre, Ibadan said: “Mama Elton, by the Spirit, doggedly weathered opposition of indigenous religions, occultists, and even physical violence, to pursue her missionary passion. She has also overcome challenges to her personal health, notably Hepatitis and eye problems both of which were miraculous healed. Once, she was clubbed unconscious by a thief that stole her car but miraculously the car was recovered by an alert policeman.ý Mama Ruth Elton is also involved in training missionaries and sending them to work in rural areas. Sadly however, at this time there are not many volunteers for missionary work. She is concerned that the saints are not passionate enough about getting the job of preaching the gospel of the kingdom done.”

Sam Kputu, the International Director of the Calvary Ministries, said: “There are two ways to spend your life. You either waste or invest it. That life is wasted that is spent just on transient things and ephemeral glories. That life is invested that is spent fulfilling God’s eternal purpose, the redemption of the nation’s. Sister Ruth Elton, like her parents before her, is an example of a life well invested. Many servants of God in Nigeria today as well as many churches and ministries, including ours, Calvary Ministries, are either direct or indirect fruits of the labour of the Eltons in this land.”

According to Emeka and Bade Nwankpaý of the Intercessor For Nigeria: “The story of our lives cannot be told without the testimony of the immeasurable deposit that God made in us using Pa S. G. Elton of blessed memory. We, therefore, appreciate the Elton family more than words can describe.”

Pastor Dejo Akande of the Christ’s Ambassadors Evangelistic Team said: “The contact with Mama Elton encouraged the interest of CAET in missions that culminated in a series of mission trips to the Okene-Keton mission field, beginning fromý 1988. The trip exposed us to great works Mama was doing over the years, especially among the Ebiras, Bassa Komo people and others around the Middle Belt of the country.”

Also, Bishop Joel Ejingwon of theý Gospel Assembly Intercontinental, Agasa-Okene, Kogi State said: “Mama, you have positively affected the lives of the entire Ebira nation and it’s environs through your passion for soul wining. Your labour for the kingdom gave birth to the church now known as the Gospel Assembly Intercontinental.”