INTERVIEW: Becoming Acting Spiritual Leader Is a Higher Call To Service – Elder Kassim

The newly appointed Acting Spiritual Leader of the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church Worldwide, Most Senior Special Apostle Dr Gabriel Olayinka Kassim, in this no-holds-barred interview jointly conducted by Acts of Seraphs and Cheser Media, speaks on his emergence as Acting Baba Aladura and his vision for the church. Excerpts.

Q: Sir, congratulations on your appointment. To begin, please tell us about yourself.

A: Thank you. My name is Most Senior Special Apostle Dr Gabriel Olayinka Kassim. I was born in Ikare, Ondo State, and I also had my early education there. Before travelling to the United States, I taught at the Apostolic Secondary Modern School in Ikoro-Ekiti from 1962 to 1967. Afterwards, I trained in nursing at the Seventh-day Adventist Hospital from 1967 to 1971. I worked there after my training, and that was where I met my wife. I travelled to the United States on January 1, 1972, arriving on January 2. My wife joined me in 1974, and we got married in 1975. By God’s grace, we have remained together ever since. Spiritually, I was born into the Christ Apostolic Church and attended a CMS school. I was actively involved in church activities from a young age. I was a choir member from 1949 until I travelled abroad, and while I was in Victory College, I became involved in pastoral work through the Young Christian Society, where we preached and carried out evangelistic activities. I also continued pastoral service while attending the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and it was through that ministry that I eventually had the opportunity to travel to the United States.

Q: How did you eventually become part of the C&S church?

A: Yes, I was not originally a member of the C&S Movement Church. I grew up in Christ Apostolic Church and later worshipped with the Seventh-day Adventist Church. After my wife and I got married, we experienced a delay in having children. During that period, the Spirit of God directed us to join the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church. We joined the church in 1976, and by God’s grace, our first child was born in 1979. Since then, we have remained committed members of the church and have continued to contribute to its growth and development.

Q: Looking back now, did you ever imagine that you would one day become the leader of the church?

A: I would say yes and no. I say yes because of an experience I had many years ago. On May 2, 1959, the day my mother was buried, I had a dream. In that dream, I found myself in a very large field filled with young people. All of them were dressed in white and were kneeling down, while I was also dressed in white but was the only person standing. When I narrated the dream to my father, those who interpreted it believed spiritually that it signified that I would one day occupy a higher position. At that time, however, I was only a secondary school student. I had no idea that I would even become a member of the C&S Movement Church, let alone emerge as its Acting Baba Aladura. Interestingly, I am from Ikare, which is also the birthplace of St Moses Orimolade, the founder of the Cherubim and Seraphim Church. My mother was from Okorun Street in Ikare, the same area associated with Orimolade’s family. Looking back, one can only appreciate how God orders the steps of people.

Q: Take us through the events that led to your emergence as Acting Baba Aladura. When did you receive the news, and how was the decision reached?

A: The Board of Trustees held a meeting on Thursday. It was supposed to be a physical meeting, with all members present in person. Because I live in the United States and could not travel immediately, I joined the meeting through Zoom while every other member was physically present. One of the final items on the agenda was the selection of the Acting Baba Aladura. The process followed and afterwards the Board announced that I had been chosen.

Q: What does becoming the Acting Baba Aladura mean to you personally?

A: It means a great deal to me. It is a higher call to service and will require greater dedication, commitment and responsibility. I understand that members of the church will expect more from me because this office comes with a greater mandate. For me, it is an opportunity to serve God and the church at a higher level while remaining faithful to the calling that God has placed upon my life.

Q: What specific mandate or directives did the Board of Trustees give you regarding this interim leadership, and how do you intend to approach the assignment?

A: There were no extensive directives given immediately after the announcement. However, from my understanding of the church constitution, the responsibilities are very clear. We are expected to maintain integrity, promote the moral and spiritual development of the church and serve as worthy examples wherever we find ourselves. Leadership must be by example. The church must continue to represent Christ through discipline, unity and righteousness. That is the foundation upon which I intend to carry out this assignment.

Q: There has been public discussion about your acting status, the burial of the late Baba Aladura and your residence in the United States. Can you clarify how these issues are connected?

A: The reason I am presently referred to as Acting Baba Aladura is that the late Baba Aladura has not yet been buried. His name is still on official church correspondence and documents, and it would not be appropriate to fully pronounce a new Baba Aladura before the burial rites have been concluded. Regarding how long the acting arrangement will last, I honestly cannot specify. It depends largely on when the burial takes place. At the moment, representatives of the Unification, the Movement and the family are working on the arrangements for the burial. There have been suggestions that it may take place in October, although that has not yet been officially announced. The expectation is that the burial will take place before the annual convention and before the pilgrimage scheduled for November 2 to November 10. As for relocating to Nigeria, it was not expressly stated during the meeting, but I understand that the office requires closer presence in Nigeria. By God’s grace, I hope to move home after the burial arrangements have been concluded.

Q: Does your emergence as Acting Baba Aladura automatically mean you will become the substantive Baba Aladura after the burial?

A: At this stage, I believe we should be careful with terminology. The Board of Trustees has conducted its voting and announced its decision, but because the late Baba Aladura has not yet been buried, we are still operating within the acting arrangement. After the burial, the church will appropriately make the full pronouncement in accordance with its constitution and procedures.

Q: You worked closely with the late Baba Aladura for many years. What kind of leader was he, and what lessons from his life would you like to carry into this new office?

A: My relationship with the late Baba Aladura was one of close spiritual and administrative cooperation. I knew him as a genuine man of God who dedicated his entire life to bringing people closer to God through his teachings, actions and counsel. He was obedient to the calling of God, deeply committed to the church and always respected the constitution and directives of the organisation. He was also very open-minded and courageous. If you needed correction, he would tell you the truth without fear. He believed strongly in discipline and led by example. Those are some of the greatest lessons I have taken from his leadership, including obedience to God’s call, respect for the constitution, openness, discipline and leading by example.

Q: What are the major things you hope to accomplish during your tenure, even in this acting capacity?

A: My foremost desire is the continued progress and development of the church. One area that is very important to me is the future of the church, and that future lies with the youth. Young people are the tomorrow of the church. Therefore, I believe there should be greater investment in training, mentoring and motivating our youth so that they will be spiritually grounded and adequately prepared to continue the legacy of the church. I also believe there is room for improvement in the identity of our ministers. When you visit churches such as the Catholic Church, CMS or CAC, ministers are easily recognised because of their uniform dressing and established identity. Within our own church, there are different styles of dressing among ministers. I would love to see greater uniformity so that Special Apostles, pastors and other spiritual leaders have a clearly identifiable and standard appearance. Another important area is our mode of worship. Since we are one Movement, I believe our services should reflect greater uniformity in structure and organisation while still preserving the spiritual heritage of the church.

Q: You currently hold several leadership positions in the United States, including Chairman of the C&S Movement Church in the US and Chairman of the Council of Churches. What happens to those offices now?

A: Constitutionally, those positions cannot simply be handed over by me. The same process that brought me into office will determine whoever succeeds me. I was nominated and elected through due process, and any replacement must also emerge through the constitutional process. Within the Movement in the United States, there is already an established hierarchy, and I believe the appropriate senior members will follow the right procedure. The same applies to the Council of Churches, where there is also an existing leadership structure. I have confidence that the church will handle those transitions peacefully and orderly.

Q: Every Baba Aladura works with a team. Do you already have plans to appoint a new cabinet or make changes to existing church positions?

A: No. At the moment, I am not making any decision regarding appointments or changes to positions. When I eventually get to Nigeria and study the situation properly, if there is any need for changes, they will be made according to the constitution and established procedures. I do not want to create unnecessary problems where there are none.

Q: With your new position, do you have any insight into what the C&S Unification will decide concerning the leadership arrangement?

A: I would rather not speak on that because I have not been directly involved with the Unification leadership in Nigeria. I do not know what decisions they are considering, and I also do not want to speculate about constitutional provisions that are outside my direct responsibility. Those matters will be addressed by the appropriate authorities.

Q: Finally, what is your immediate message to members of the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church Worldwide?

A: My message is one of peace, unity and hope. The passing of Baba Aladura is part of God’s divine plan, and while we mourn his departure, we must remain steadfast and continue to trust in the Lord. I want members to know that there is comfort in God, and tomorrow will be better if we remain united. I desire that this period of leadership will be peaceful, productive and fulfilling for every member of the church. I love unity, and I believe that together we can continue building a stronger Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church for generations to come.

Q: Thank you very much, sir, for granting us this audience. We appreciate your time and pray that God grants you wisdom, strength, good health and a successful tenure.

A: Thank you very much. God bless you all. It has been my pleasure speaking with you.