Elijah: Would you like to visit with Elijah?
When I first went to Africa, in 1988, I asked God to lead me to a man who had unquestionable integrity, who had pristine character, who could be trusted implicitly, and, who would do the will of God, uncompromisingly. A major motivation for this was the fact that I wanted to commit the copyright privileges, and many copies of my books into the hands of someone who would be trustworthy. So it was that I was asking the Lord God to lead me to such a person. About the second week I was there, the Lord brought me into the presence of exactly the right person. Elijah was God’s answer to that prayer. I was present at Dr. Obadari’s monthly conference, during which there were thousands present in an out door meeting, although there was roof over the immediate central proceedings. There, in the midst of all of the pomp and ceremony, was a young man, dressed in fine regalia, who obviously possessed authority, without parading that authority. The Lord spoke to me that this was the man I had been looking for, and that I needed to meet and speak with him a direct and specific word of prophecy from the Lord. I asked if we could meet. We did so, at a restaurant, located at a motel owned by a Christian couple. The name of the motel was Modulore, located on the northeast side of Akure, in Ondo State. Here is the word I gave to Olufemi Elijah Bankole: “You are to do the will of God, uncompromisingly!” I told Elijah, that, in no uncertain terms, that it was very important that he was especially called to obey God at all times and in everything.” This word happened to strike a special chord with Elijah, for it confirmed that God was dealing with his heart about obeying God, and that he should leave the ministry of which he had a very high position of authority and influence, and, instead, to walk, by faith, out into the Unknown, into a pioneering ministry, starting from “scratch’, that is, like Abraham, going out, “not knowing whither”. Elijah had been dragging his feet about this issue, because he knew the price, the sacrifice, the courage, the difficulties that he and his family would face. As it turned out, he did leave Obadari's ministry, and all that he feared came upon him. Elijah and his family faced incredible hardship and sacrifice, sometimes continuing to this day, because Elijah has had a tendency to put money into the ministry that was meant for his family. But, in the 20 years since that time, God has given to Elijah, nearly 30 churches, two Bible schools, a number of pieces of land for home and ministry, and he has successfully hosted me, some 21 times in Nigeria, and twice to Ghana, and the Republic of Benin.