Pastor Josiah Akindayomi (1909–1988): The Founder of a Global Church
Early Life — A Child of Idolatry Josiah Olowofela Akindayomi was born in 1909 in Ondo Town , Ondo State, Nigeria, into a deeply traditional and idolatrous family. His family worshipped traditional deities. His father was a respected farmer and devotee of Ogun, the god of iron . As a child, Akindayomi was dedicated to idols and was expected to become a herbalist. He received no formal Western education and never attended school. He could not read or write English fluently, though he later learned to read and write in Yoruba . Despite these limitations, God would use him to establish what would become one of the largest Pentecostal churches in the world. As a young man, he left Ondo and travelled in search of work as a farmer and trader. Conversion and the Divine Call In 1927, at the age of 18, Akindayomi joined the Cherubim and Seraphim Church (C&S), the white-garment church founded by St. Moses Orimolade . He was drawn to its emphasis on prayer, healing, and spiritual devoti...