Meet The Ten Founding Members of Mount Zion Ministries 35 Years Ago and their Families

Mount Zion Films Ministry, the producers of “Agbara Nla”,” Ide Esu”,”Ultimate Power”, “Abejoye”,”Shackles”, “The Train” and other classic gospel films is one of the major gospel drama ministries we have in Nigeria. It is reputed as the first indigenous drama group in the country formed to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to Nigerians. The ministry started 35 years ago on August 5,1986, with the name Mount Zion Christian Productions and its debut drama, titled Hell in Conference was staged at the National Christian Teachers Conference in 1986 at Ilesa in Osun State.

Mount Zion first ever drama,July 1986

The founding members of the ministry

This Ministry took off with Mike Bamiloye and Gloria Obembe (now Gloria Bamiloye) and another sister, Grace Adeyemi (Now Grace Femi-Akintunde) who joined the ministry the day another Sister member withdrew. The sisters were then students of the College of Education Ilesha in Osun State. Afterwards, people with same visions and calling joined the ministry between 1985 and 1986.

Today,the ministry has produced over 150 films and owns Africa’s first Christian Movie Channel. Also, its training arm, Mount Zion Television drama institute ,which has graduated over 3,000 drama ministers has been accredited as a degree awarding institutions affiliated to Ajayi Crowther University.

The founding members 35 years after

Here are some of the People Who started the ministry 35 years ago:

1.Mike Bamiloye

Mike was born on April 13, 1960, at Ilesa . He was trained at Divisional Teachers Training College at Ipetumodu where he began his career. He founded Mount Zion on August 5, 1985.He is the President of Mount Zion Film Institute.

He is married to Gloria Bamiloye, a Nigerian film actress and evangelist, with children (Damilola, Joshua and Darasimi Mike-Bamiloye).

2.Gloria Olusola Bamiloye

She was born at Ilesa, a city in Osun State southwestern Nigeria. She attended the Divisional Teachers Training College at Ipetumodu where she was trained as a school teacher.

Gloria co-founded Zion Drama Ministry on August 5, 1985, with her husband. She had featured and directed several Nigerian films and drama. In year 2002, she authored a book titled “The Anxiety of Single Sisters.

3.Mrs. Grace Femi-Akintunde

The then Grace Adeyemi was one of the first three members of the ministry in 1985 with Mike Bamiloye and Gloria Bamiloye (Nee Obembe)

Grace Akintunde acting as “Ayamatanga“

She was the woman who played the Ayamatanga role in the ever green film, “Agbara Nla” (Ultimate Power) which was first released in Yoruba Version in 1993 and later subtitled in English in 1994.Grace Femi- Akintunde is happily married to Evang. Isaac Femi-Akintunde who is also a founding member of the ministry and the current head of publications at Mount Zion Institute of Christian Drama.

They are blessed with wonderful children. They are identified as Seye Femi-Akintunde and Anjola Femi-Akintunde.

4.Evang. Joseph Yemi Adepoju

Evang. Yemi Adepoju had been Program Coordinator for Mount Zion Faith Ministries since 1988 National Festival of Christian Drama (“Harvest ’88”). Later on, he joined the ministry full time in 1991 and has been the Deputy Director of Mount Zion Faith Institute since 1993.

5.Evang. Mercy Bola Adepoju.

She was the first member to join the Ministry full-time in 1988 after she had been serving on part-time since 1986. She resigned her teaching job, packed all her loads from Ibadan and came to Ile-Ife, to work full time as the officer in charge of welfare of brethren.

She got married in the ministry to Joseph Yemi Adepoju. And got her children in the ministry. The Children ,Glorie Tobiloba (Puppeteer); Anderson Oluwajoba (Fiery Force); and OluwaRuth (Editor of The Train, Shackles) all schooled and graduated from University .

6.Evang. Israel Ore Adewole

EVANG. Israel Ore Adewole, was one of the pioneer of Gospel drama in Nigeria. He was commonly the lead actor in most of Mount Zion films in their early days.

He started his tertiary education in college of education,Ilesha in September 1984 and when he got there he joined the Mount Zion Faith Ministries (MZFM) as a part-time actor in 1986. Afterwards, in March 1989, he joined the ministry full-time.

However, in June 2009,he left MZFM with his wife and started Great Light Ministries. Evang. Israel Ore Adewole was diagnosed with Retrostrenal Goitre in 2016 and in the process of surgery; the vocal cord was damaged, resulting in loss of his voice

7.JERRY OLUWAGBEMI

Jerry Oluwagbemi is a Movie Director, Producer and Actor. He joined the ministry in 1986 and became the first unofficial driver of the ministry at its inception. He is now the Dean of Students Affair at the Mount Zion Institute.

8.FEYI OLUWAGBEMI

Feyi Oluwagbemi is a welfare officer at the Mount Zion Institute of Christian Drama. She is a movie actress and Producer.

9.EBENEZER BAYO ABRAHAM

He is the Registrar Of Mount Zion Film Institute

10.Moses Adebayo

He is a founding member and the present technical officer of the Mount Zion Institute of Christian Drama.

Also worthy of mention is Mathew Bamidele;

MATHEW BAMIDELE

Mathew Bamildele who acted as the husband of “ayamatanga” in the Classic film, Agbara Nla is not actually a founding member, he joined the ministry in 1992 ,but he has been at the forefront of all activities of the organisation . He is now the Audio Visual Officer at the Mount Zion Faith Ministry.