AKINWALE ABOLUWADE
The President of Sword of the Spirit Ministries and National President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Bishop Francis Olubowale Oke, has been elevated to the office of Archbishop after more than 27 years in the episcopacy.
The elevation was conferred on him by the Calvary Grace International College of Bishops during the ongoing annual Holy Ghost Convention of the Sword of the Spirit Ministries in Ibadan, Oyo State.
A statement issued by the Media Bureau of the ministry read that the honour recognises Bishop Oke’s years of spiritual leadership, episcopal service and mentorship of bishops in Nigeria and other parts of the world.
Oke, who accepted the elevation at the convention attended by members of the College of Bishops and other Christian leaders, described the new office as a call to greater responsibility in advancing the cause of Christ globally.
He said he had repeatedly declined opportunities to become an archbishop since his consecration as a bishop in 1999, choosing instead to focus on evangelism and preaching the gospel.
However, he said he had accepted the elevation because it was the will of God and the collective decision of the College of Bishops.
The elevation was proclaimed by the South-West Presbyter of the Calvary Grace International College of Bishops, Bishop Felix Adejumo, after Bishop Julius Abiola presented the statement of purpose for the elevation.
Bishop Abiola described Oke as a “father of fathers, pastor of pastors and bishop of bishops,” saying his episcopal ministry had produced and strengthened other episcopal leaders.
The College said the elevation was not merely the conferment of a title but a formal recognition of a ministry tested by time and demonstrated through service, spiritual fruits and the raising of other leaders.
It noted that since his canonical consecration in 1999, Oke had demonstrated longevity, stability, maturity and faithfulness in episcopal ministry, with his influence extending beyond local congregations and national boundaries.
The College added that Oke had participated in the consecration and establishment of bishops in different parts of the world and provided spiritual oversight and fatherly leadership to many of the more than 50 bishops associated with the organisation.
It charged the new Archbishop to strengthen fellow believers, encourage bishops, defend the Christian faith, promote unity in the Church, preserve godly episcopal order and raise future generations of faithful ministers.
In his response, Bishop Oke expressed gratitude to God and members of the College, stressing that the organisation maintains strict standards in the selection and consecration of bishops.
He said prospective bishops are thoroughly examined by presbyters before admission, noting that the College remains committed to admitting people with proven integrity and impactful ministries.
Recalling his journey into the episcopacy, Oke said the late Archbishop Benson Idahosa had wanted to consecrate him as a bishop as far back as 1988, but he avoided the elevation because of his passion for evangelism.
He said he eventually yielded to the prompting of the Holy Spirit and was consecrated a bishop in the United Kingdom in 1999, with the consecration repeated three months later at the Garden of Victory in Ibadan.
Oke said the Calvary Grace International College of Bishops grew out of his desire to mentor younger ministers.
According to him, the mentorship fellowship, initially known as the Calvary Grace Covenant Fellowship International, later evolved into the College of Bishops following a meeting at Premier Hotel in Ibadan.
He said the College now has members across Nigeria, Africa, North America, Canada, the United States and Europe, with its first European member recently consecrated as a bishop.
