How God Touches Lives Through Gboromiro – Pastor Seyi Bakare

It no doubt catches the fancy of any keen observer that the C&S church is no longer just a spiritual entity, but that which now prioritizes the primary assignment of winning souls to the Kingdom of God. This, of course, has been engendered by clerics of note in the fold through their dispositions, overtime. One of those towing this path is the Minister in Charge of Chapel Of Joy, Oluwamayomikun Parish, Oke Itunu, Apostolic Mother Oluwaseyi Bakare. The name of the parish may not ring a bell that much, but at the mention of Gboromiro, you can be quick to confirm the knowledge of a prayer ministry that has not only earned the reputation of providing succor to the spiritually downtrodden, but has equally portrayed the C&S church in good light through its spiritual interventions. Being the head honcho, Pastor Mrs. Seyi Bakare, as she preferred to be called, has stayed true to the vision of Gboromiro Prayer Ministry as inspired and handed down to her by God. Situated in the city of Ibadan, the Ministry has gained prominence even beyond the shores of Nigeria. Also of significance is how members of other denominations have come to identify with the ministry, just as their numbers continue to swell by each passing day. The female cleric in an Interview with Seraph Dayo Oyewo shed more light on how it all started.

Excerpts..

Interviewer – Can we meet with you ma?

Response – I’m Apostolic Mother Ebunoluwa Oluwaseyi Bakare, but I choose to be addressed as Pastor Mrs. Seyi Bakare. Born over six decades ago into the family of Most Senior Apostle, now Late Fredrick Akinwunmi Coker and General Reverend Apostolic Mother E.A Coker, She’s still alive, She’s also a prophetess. I have HND in Business Administration in 1982. I’m a prophetess by calling, I’m married, blessed with children and grandchildren. I’m fully into the ministry now but I use to work before for some years, I became a very successful business woman, very successful. I had the voice of God in year 2000 to start a ministry to get people together every Tuesday. So, it went on till around 2010 when God said I should gather together women for prayers. Shortly after that, the Lord told me to choose between Him and my business. He gave me three(3) months. So, I deliberated for the three months, I choose to stay with Him and it’s been a beautiful story since then. So, here is Pastor Mrs. Ebunoluwa Oluwaseyi Bakare. I am the visioneer of Gboromiro prayer Ministry. I’m now the Minister in charge of C&S Chapel of Joy, Oluwamayominipo Parish, Oke Itunu, Ibadan. God bless you.

Interviewer – Now the vision behind Gboromiro Prayer Ministry, when did it all started?

Response – It started in the year 2000. It was a cross-over service Dec. 31st – Jan. 1st. As I was leaving the church to our mercy land, I just heard the voice – maybe I should chip in this – my mother was barren for a number of years, twelve (12) years to be precise before she started bringing forth her children. When she was to have me, she was told that the girl inside her womb would be a prophetess of note. She told me that. Then from my birth, I knew I’ve been gifted in prophecy but I wanted to be a career person. I didn’t just like the idea. But in January 2000. I heard it myself, “get together people to pray every Tuesday” and to let them know they could seek God on their own, that they don’t have to run helter-skelter. They don’t have to resort to fetish means; that they could cry to God and He will hear them because He’s the one that will take our calls. So, we started the programme every Tuesday, gradually. Now, the Lord has been so faithful, Gboromiro is so big now.  It has taken me out of the country, to United Kingdom and United States of America. Some years ago, we started a new branch in Maryland, America.  The Lord has been faithful, he brings people across denominations. People who before would not have nothing to do with white garment churches are now coming. Different churches, I don’t want to start mentioning names but they come here every week.

At times, we have two services every Sunday. We have one in the morning, for people of other denominations and later on the one for C&S. That’s how it has been so far.

 When you got a call, where you that convinced that it will go this far?

 No, because we started small and you know because I’ve been used to small settings. I was born into C&S, though, my mother didn’t attend white garment church before my birth. She was barren and the Lord told her, go to a white garment church and I will open your womb. So, that brought her to C&S. That was where she married my father. Though, my father, Coker, had been in C&S and he was a follower of Moses Orimolade. The church I was used to is one church, a small setting, nothing to write home about, not impressive. So, I didn’t really think much. I was thinking of having 20, 30 people, much like mothers, wives, gathering them together to talk to God but God started expanding it, overtime. People were coming, He was touching their lives. They were having miracles and they were the one going around and telling people about it. Later on, I went on air and my programme became very popular on air. So, the Lord has been faithful.

Interviewer – So how have you been able to expand your horizon through the ministry by having branch outside the country. How about here in Nigeria?

Response – We are thinking of it; of having branches but I’ve not heard from God. The one in US, actually, I didn’t go there to start it. My people that left here to the US actually started the small one there. So, it’s not as if I went there to start it. But every year, I go to US. Some Pentecostal churches usually invite me there to minister.

Interviewer – So, if I may ask ma, what are the caliber of people that attend Gboromiro? Are they people that are just looking for the fruit of the womb or ……?

Response – No, different type of people. They come to listen to the word. Some come for breakthroughs. Different types of people from different cadres. These days, they feel at home being in the white garment settings. There is a programme I hold every year. I will invite you for the one I do have in January. You will see everybody in white. I will just tell them I want you to stay a while with me and everybody will put on a white garment. So, they no longer feel ashamed putting on the white garment. It’s not what they normally were thinking of, you know they used to think we are fetish, but now, they know better that we’re not. I believe in the word, I  believe in prayers as well as praises.

How have you gone this far?

People inside felt I wanted to turn the church into a Pentecostal setting; I had to attract those people by telling them they could put on their normal cloth, not necessarily white, so I was able to attract them by that. But they thought I was turning it to a Pentecostal church. There were criticisms. I’m strictly a bible based C&S person. Even though I was criticized, I never quit since winners do not quit, I don’t give up easily; those who encouraged me were group from other churches not even from white garment.  At times during this programme, 60% are always people from other churches and 40% are from C&S, they later understand the fact that we must be liberated.

Interviewer – How do you see C&S in a couple of years to come?

Response – The things used against us are things they are now practicing; they do most of our programme, you see them going into trance, you see them using water now. They now use oil, these are things they were against before some of their pastors even put on white now. They can now see that C&S stand by the truth, even though few still engage in things capable of staining the church, but nowadays, some people are standing up that things must be done. So, I see us up there, we are getting there sooner than expected.

Interviewer – What are the things you’ll like to tell the youths.

Respoonse – I will tell the youths that they should be careful of the false prophecies and teachings around. That whatever they stand to gain outside can be equally gained inside. That they can also contribute their own quota to taking C&S to the level we wish to. That the youths  should stay focused and not be carried away. Let the youth arise and take up the challenge and let them take back the glory. We the old ones are handing down to them already. If the Elders are successful but don’t have good successors, then it’s not a good story. We are encouraging them. I love encouraging youths. I love to sit down and watch them do it because I know they can do it better.

Interviewer – We have those who are also doing one or two things in C&S to give it a good face. What do you have to say about their influence so far too?

Response – Well, I know I’ve never met her, but I have learnt about her on social media. Iya Adura Abimbola Ajayi, I’m so proud of her. There’s another woman who dresses like me, hmmmmm is it Seyi or Seye…… Oluseye Sholoye. I’ve never met her too but sees her on social media. It seems we look alike. I’m also proud of her. I’ve seen a couple of other people too who are doing wonderfully well. So, in my own little way, I pray for them. They are sources of pride to us. Some 20 something years ago, people like that were not there. But these days, we have some. So, we can do it better . We’re everywhere and shaking nations. That’s why I know we are getting there. God bless the two of them, God bless others too. There are some young men too. I know of Cherub Obadare, he has come to me before. I know of this young man, Damilola Karonwi.

Interviewer – Thank you so very much ma.

Response – You are doing very well too, Acts of Seraphs. More grease to your elbow.

Interviewer – Amen ma . Thank you so very much ma.

Interviewer – Having asked the last question. Is there anything you want to share with us?

Response – Not really. Just that we should join hands to win the world. We’ve decided in this church that we will learn the word, teach the word, live by the word and walking the word. So, as a member of white garment churches, let the food of the spirit be in us. Let the outsiders see us as people who know what they are doing. I just want us to carry the word in us, let the word reflect in us. Let us be good ambassadors of the church. Some people do not have time to read the bible but they can actually read us. Thank you.