Wikipedia bio of Joseph Ayo Babalola, with his age and profession
The first General Evangelist of the Christ Apostolic Church, also known as CAC in Nigeria, was Joseph Ayo Babalola (25 April 1904–26 July 1959). He was said to possess healing abilities.
EARLY LIFE
Babalola was born in Odo-Owa, Kwara State, Nigeria, to Yoruba parents. He was raised as an Anglican. In 1914, he applied for an elementary school in Oto-Awori, Lagos State, near Badagry Road. He got to Standard Four before he became a blacksmith’s apprentice, and he learned it for two years before he became a steamroller operator under the PWD (Public Works Department), then under the control of Great Britain, learning to become a steamroller driver.
He was able to operate the caterpillar on his own after 15 days of learning how to do so. He attained master status in his class after nine months. On April 1, 1928, he received a steamroller for the first time so he could work on the Osogbo-Ilesha road. On June 14, 1928, he was transferred to Akure – Ilesha road. Babalola was baptized in Lagos lagoon in December 1929.
MINISTRY
Faith Tabernacle joined The Apostolic Church in 1931, whose global headquarters are in the United Kingdom (and not the British Apostolic Church, as erroneously called by some authors). After a division in the Apostolic Church occurred around 1940, Babalola joined a group led by Pastors J.B. Akinyele and D.O. Odubanjo to found the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), where he carried on his healing and revivalist work until his passing. Babalola is regarded as an apostle by the CAC, but according to legitimate church ordination, he was never historically appointed to that position. At Ipo Arakeji in Osun State, where Babalola was first addressed in 1928, a CAC retreat facility was erected. However, Babalola was not the sole founder of CAC as many claims today but one of the trio of CAC Founding Fathers.
The Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola did not pass away in 1959, and neither has the Christ Apostolic Church. In actuality, it has expanded quickly over the years, with numerous congregations operating under the Christ Apostolic Church name, each with its own branch name. In his honor, the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) Worldwide established the Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU), a private university in Nigeria located in the Osun State communities of Ipo Arakeji and Ikeji-Arakeji. It is situated where he claims he received a call from God in 1928. He was laid to rest in the mausoleum on Erekesan Street in the town of Efon Alaaye, Ekiti State.
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