BISHOP SOLA ORE GOES HOME IN A BLAZE OF GLORY – By Bola Adewara

In an unprecedented gesture of gratitude to God, the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, (PFN) Lagos, sent forth its chairman, Bishop Sola Raphael Ore, from the terrestrial divide to the celestial realm in a blaze of glory.

The leadership of the fellowship made it clear from the beginning of the final rites that they were not mourning the passage of their chairman because it was fixed in them as their bones that he is with the Lord, where all mortals who know Christ would be someday. 

In a gallant effort by the vice-chairman of the fellowship in Lagos, Apostle Dr. Enyinnaya Okwonu, the secretary, Rev. Toyin Kehinde, the Central Working Committee, leaders of all the Pentecostal provinces and women in the fellowship, the Lagos Pentecostals organized one of the best celebrations of life for the Bishop of love who navigated the Pentecostal and Christian milieu like a colossus.

SERVICE OF SONGS
The burial rites began Thursday, November 26th with a service of songs, which was held at his church auditorium, Love Aglow, FESTAC, Lagos.

A large crowd turned out to accord him love and respect. With heavenly music from Pastor Chigozie and his group, the event which started at about 2:00 pm saw Pastor Dele Ajayi and Rev. Mrs Asiwaju as the comperes.  

Amidst songs of praise and hymns, the widow was accompanied into the Church by the outgoing Lagos CAN chairman, the inimitable Apostle Alexander Bamgbola.

So many people paid tributes to Olusola Ore who was copiously described as a good man and humourist. 

The message of the day was delivered by Bishop Reuben Oke, the South West chairman of PFN. In his homily, Oke asked the congregation how would they be remembered when their times were up on this terrestrial divide, adding that it is not how long we live that matters but how well our lives benefitted others.

PICTURES OF BURIAL PROCEEDINGS

* Pictures from Service of songs 

* Pictures from Burial services at The Apostolic Church, Ketu Lagos

* Pictures from the Internment of the body of Bishop Olusola Ore

* Pictures from the Reception after glorious exit

BURIAL SERVICE

The burial service came up Friday, November 27th at The Apostolic Church (TAC) Lawna, Olorunda, Lagos. Gbenga Osinaike of Church Times reports:

The General Superintendent of Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor Williams Kumuyi, Former General Overseer of Foursquare Gospel Church, Rev Wilson Badejo, Founder of Christ Life Church, Bishop Wale Oke and the outgoing Chairman of Lagos Chapter of Christian Association of Nigeria, Apostle Alex Bamgbola were among several dignitaries who graced the burial Church service of Bishop Sola Ore. 

 Speaking at the ceremony, Wale Oke who described Bishop Ore as his spiritual son said believers don’t die, adding that when a believer dies he has only changed residence.

Describing Ore’s personality, Oke said ‘he was a jovial and engaging personality. Nowhere Ore entered that would not be lightened up.

He was a man of high-level integrity noting that though he cracked jokes, he was a principled man. In all my years of relating to him, I can tell you that he was a Christian indeed. He never told a lie to my knowledge all through the time I knew him.’ Oke said.

Quoting from John 14, he said the thought of death should not give any believer cause to worry.

‘If it is death, don’t be troubled. When you see death or if it happens, don’t be troubled. Death is a promotion. It’s like you’re stepping from your room to your sitting room. Bishop Ore is with the Lord.’

Speaking further, Oke said that when believers die they go straight to heaven. ‘They don’t go to paradise again. It was before Jesus’s death that people go to paradise, a waiting place.

After Jesus’s death and resurrection, believers have access to go to heaven straight after death just like Stephen when he was stoned to death. He asked the Lord to receive his soul.’

Pastor Kumuyi led the congregation in prayers for the family members of Bishop Ore asking the Lord to continue to glorify Himself in the life of those he left behind.

INTERNMENT

Internment of the body of the Bishop of love followed at a cemetery in Ojodu Abiodun, Ogun state. The procession was led by His Lordship Stephen Adegbite of the Methodist Church, one of the close friends of the Olusola Ore.

It was witnessed by a motley crowd of families and friends, including Apostle Alexander Bamgbola, Bishop Wale Oke, Bishop Reuben Oke, Bishop Abraham Olaleye and wife, Rev Dr Peace Goodey, who left her birthday uncelebrated to attend the burial of her chairman. 

The brief service saw the widow and children pay their last respect and pass their last farewells amidst dust to dust, bringing the earthly sojourn of Bishop Olusola Raphael Popoola Ore to final closure.

Internment was followed by a reception for family and friends at Daystar Event Centre, Ikosi Road, Lagos.

Watch out for an e-life special edition on the life and times of Bishop Olusola Ore coming out on December 5.