Promise Adiele
Empirical evidence supports the saying that ‘big things start small’. The Bible affirms the foregoing in Zechariah 4:10 “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand”.
In 1989, something significant happened in Christendom that would alter the procedure of Christian worship and prayers. It was physically small but supernaturally big. God moved mightily among his people, to wage a furious war against powers and principalities, dislodge the kingdom of darkness, and liberate humanity worldwide. The chosen vehicle for this assignment that year was Daniel Kolawale Olukoya and the take-off venue was the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) in Yaba Lagos inside his official quarters. It started as a weekly prayer meeting with only 24 members. Every week, they prayed, clapped, sang, and worshipped God with utmost dedication. The result? The power of God moved mightily and the small apartment could not accommodate the increasing number of worshippers. The neighbours also complained about the consistent prayers. So, something had to happen. Relocation. And they moved. When they moved, the power of God moved with them.
Daniel K. Olukoya led his increasing number of prayer-meeting colleagues to 60, Old Yaba Road Ebute-Metta, Lagos. At the new venue, the population of the church exploded beyond the expectations and imagination of his chosen minister. Through the manifestation of the power of God, many people, possessed of different physical and spiritual ailments were set free.
Gradually, the new venue proved inadequate to accommodate the growing population. Again, the church moved. The current location of the International Headquarters at 13, Olasumbo Street, Onike Yaba Lagos was the chosen place. Initially, it was a swampy plot of land overgrown with weeds. But it was God’s chosen place. And God said, let the church start and the church started. On April 24th 1994, the first church service was held there under a makeshift roof and a rickety platform. Like bees attract honey, the church attracted many people to the Sunday service and weekly programs. Multiple challenges from the neighbourhood did not stop the movement of God and the growth of the church. But the purpose of God prevailed and today, Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries is one of the biggest Christian denominations in the world. In Lagos State alone, it has more than 250 branches. Across Nigeria, the church maintains a conspicuous presence in the cities and rural areas. Around the world, in the US, Canada, Europe, the Caribbean, Asia and Africa, Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries is a household name.
Every church or Christian domination has a focus that motivates it. For some churches, the motivation is to preach prosperity and direct members to the importance of material accumulation, luxurious life and ostentatious indulgence. For some churches also, the focus is to preach against sin and direct people to the cross, to live a holy life. For some other churches, the focus is on the pastor, to make him a rich, mega superstar who wears designer outfits from the church’s offerings and tithes.
For Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, the focus is preaching the undiluted word of God which leads to salvation, delivering people from the bondage of evil spirits, and preaching holiness. Since the inception of the church, it has, through its numerous programs in real-time and over various media outlets, liberated millions of people around the world. The testimonies are mind-blowing. Sometimes, one needs to listen to some of the testimonies in the church to appreciate the degree of evil that exists within humanity.
Across the world today, the identity of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries is a danger signal for sundry supernatural wickedness.
The most significant identity of the church is its prayer pattern. It emphasizes the death of evil powers through the refrain “fall down and die”. The refrain is always preceded by everything that afflicts humanity. Originally, this prayer pattern was mocked and ridiculed by members of other churches and their pastors. But today, almost every church has adopted that prayer pattern and other prayer methods designed to wage unrelenting wars against the kingdom of darkness.
D.K Olukoya recognizes the power of the devil which has restricted millions of people, constituting a hindrance to achieving their potential on earth. While many people will simply wish the devil and his powers away, while many people will dismiss the powers and influence of Satan in human existence, MFM dedicates most of its prayer times to warring against the devil and dislocating its operational base to free the captives. The church’s emphasis on holiness and purity of the heart is demonstrated in the life of the General Overseer D.K Olukoya, one of the most educated, humble, and generous preachers in the world. Today, millions of people travel from far places around the world to partake in the Church’s programs in order to have direct contact with God and the Holy Spirit. Asked about the church, the Chaplin of Mountain Top University Pastor Olumide Adesina remarked that “by the grace of God, the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries that I know is a Bethel where we meet God and there, teacheth our hands to war and fingers to fight for destiny restoration and fulfilment to the glory of God”.
Like the church’s humble, small beginnings, the early days of the General Overseer were also humble and simple. Born in Akure Ondo State of Nigeria, D. K. Olukoya, the only son of a police inspector and a petty-trader mother, has grown in leaps and bounds through the grace of Almighty God. Growing up with his only sister under an atmosphere of love and discipline, D.K started his education at the St John’s CAC Primary School Akure where he distinguished himself as a brilliant child. When his father was transferred to Lagos, he moved with the family and continued his primary education at St Jude’s Primary School Ebute-Meta where he finished with excellent results. Thereafter, he was enrolled at the prestigious Methodist Boys High School (MBHS) and he finished with the best result among the graduating students. In 1976 he was admitted to the University of Lagos Akoka to study Microbiology and in 1980, he graduated with First Class honours.
Afterwards, he won a scholarship to study Molecular Genetics for his PhD at the University of Reading in the UK and after three years, he completed the program. Curiously, he returned to Nigeria at a time when many people were seeking opportunities to travel to the UK and remain there. Asked why he missed a golden opportunity to pursue a career in Europe after acquiring a PhD, he responded “God asked me to return to Nigeria. God told me that my assignment is in Nigeria and not in Europe. That was why I returned”. His decision to return to Nigeria culminated in establishing Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries which has today, become an arena of deliverance from the shackles of spiritual captivity. D.K Olukoya is married to the delectable, naturally beautiful Dr Shade Olukoya, a woman of class and elegance whose smile can disarm the devil. They are blessed with a son Elijah Olukoya.
Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries has a robust social responsibility mechanism. D.K. Olukoya is a foremost philanthropist with an exceptional capacity to empathize with the needy.
Therefore, he has translated his philanthropic gestures to the MFM family. Space constraints will not permit a robust outline of all the Church’s social responsibility records. (Google – Philanthropy as Evangelism: The D.K Olukoya example).
The church has a functional private university, Mountain Top University, one of the best private universities in Nigeria and also one of the cheapest. Initially, D.K Olukoya wanted to make the school completely free but the demands of running costs made it difficult to do so. MFM has invested heavily in humanity, especially the youth. According to the General Overseer, the vision of the church is anchored on a seventy-point agenda and youth empowerment is one of them.
During the 35th anniversary and international convention with the theme ‘Power from On High’, D.K Olukoya continued the tradition of honouring youths of the church across Nigeria who made a first class in their courses of study. The anniversary was marked with a mega convention that was held at the Church’s sprawling Prayer City at Ibafo in Ogun State.
In attendance among other dignitaries were Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, and Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State. Indeed, God will continue to affect humanity positively through the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries Worldwide. Congratulations to Prof. D. K Olukoya, and the entire MFM family. More celebrations ahead.
Promise Adiele PhD
Mountain Top University