The late General Leader of the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church, Surulere District Headquarters, Ayo Ni o, Prophet Sunday Funsho Korode, who passed away on Sunday, November 26, 2023, was laid to rest on Friday. His first child, Joshua, in this interview with ACTS OF SERAPHS’ Bolaji Joseph, speaks about his attributes, his inspiration as a songwriter and the narratives surrounding his sickness. Excerpts…
Could you tell us a little about yourself?
My name is Joshua Femi Korode, and I currently reside in the United States. Professionally, I practice law, and in terms of ministry, I serve as a youth minister, worship leader, and Bible teacher. I am blessed with a loving wife and two sons, and I hold the position of the firstborn in my family.
How did you receive the news of your father’s death?
I received a call from my siblings in Nigeria informing me that my father had stopped responding. We had to verify the information with a medical practitioner. It was on a Sunday evening in Nigeria that I confirmed my father’s passing. The experience was incredibly painful, especially considering I wasn’t there with him, although my family was by his side. Realizing that our father figure would no longer be there for us was disheartening. My father, who always reached out, was no longer part of our lives. The same sentiments were felt by my mother and the rest of the family, as he had been an exemplar of strength and faith. My mother was profoundly devastated and pained by the loss.
After spending almost a year in Nigeria following his time in the US, my father’s health showed signs of improvement, bringing us a sense of hope. However, the doctors advised us to keep a close eye on him daily, as the timeline for his full recovery remained uncertain. Some days, he displayed remarkable strength, while on others, he seemed a bit more fatigued. We remained vigilant, praying for his complete recovery, all the while understanding that it would be an ongoing process requiring daily monitoring.
When was your last interaction with him?
My last interaction with him occurred a few weeks before he passed away. Upon learning from my mother that he wasn’t eating, I would call him to offer encouragement and devise strategic ways to motivate him to eat.
What would you miss about him?
The examples he set continue to resonate with us, serving as a testament that one can excel in their career, ministry, and as a family person. These are the aspects of him that I truly miss. Having him with me meant there was always something to aspire to, as he could offer advice on any matter. While many express condolences with a simple “sorry for your loss,” in his case, it was more like, “Oh, this is the man that God used to help me when I was broke when I was sick… he did this, he did that.” These were the testimonials from colleagues and people around him. He was a man who prioritized maintaining his good name over compromising his integrity. What I miss most about him are his care, wisdom, and the love he showered upon all his children. Despite his busy business endeavours, he established rules that reflected extraordinary love for his entire family.
How would you describe his relationship with you and your siblings?
One cherished memory my siblings and I have of him is from the time he worked as a group manager many years ago. Despite being given lunch vouchers to buy meals for himself at work, he rarely used them. Instead, he would bring the vouchers home, creating a tradition where we eagerly awaited his return. On many occasions, we discovered he was fasting, but the joy of receiving him at home was heightened because we knew his bag would be filled with goodies. His practical and thoughtful nature was evident in the numerous tributes people wrote on the website we opened for him. In fact, we had to increase the website’s capacity to accommodate all the heartfelt messages people wanted to share.
What are the values he applied as a father?
My father was a strict disciplinarian, known for his unwavering principles and integrity, both at home, at work, and in the church. I recall a distant memory from when I first attempted to learn how to drive. I mistakenly shifted the car into neutral, causing it to dash into the gate and incur some damage. In a hurried attempt to rectify the situation, I, along with my siblings, returned the car to its original position before our father returned. Upon his arrival, he inquired about the incident, and we all feigned ignorance. However, when he eventually discovered that I was responsible, he gave me a good spanking. After I had finished crying, I approached him, apologized, and explained that I was only trying to learn how to drive. He responded, “I didn’t punish you for damaging the car; I punished you because when I asked, you were quiet.” This incident left a lasting impression on me regarding the importance of integrity and the lesson in being honest and truthful. It motivated me and made me realize that this man valued one’s actions more than the mistakes made.
Can you highlight some of his unique attributes?
He is forgiving, provided you are truthful. Throughout my life, my father has only administered physical discipline to me twice, and on both occasions, it was impactful. He didn’t resort to beating or spanking as a mere reaction to punishment but rather as a method of teaching. If he ever spanked you, it was to ensure that you grasped the essential lesson in that particular situation. Both my mother and father possessed this ability. They didn’t rely on physical punishment, but rather, they aimed to ensure that you understood the message they were conveying. Once the lesson was learned, there was no need for further physical discipline.
Could you recall any fond memories of him?
In contrast to those who recall their parents as strict, our memories are filled with a father who was principled yet lighthearted. We shared laughter and played together, an experience not shared by many of my friends. The way he cared for my mother served as a powerful model for us, demonstrating what it means to take care of our future spouses when we get married. Despite the knowledge that they had their share of issues, we never witnessed them engage in conflicts; they were adept at keeping disagreements private. This uniqueness struck us, as we had never observed any signs of discord, even when we tried to play detective and speculate if they ever had any potential disagreements.
We even had house helps whom we eventually referred to as “aunty” because we couldn’t distinguish between ourselves and them. He truly exemplified a good life to us, emphasizing the importance of preserving the family’s reputation and our own. He instilled in us the ability to say no to enticing offers that could lead to negative consequences. This lesson was particularly challenging to grasp, as visitors often came to our house seeking prayers or blessings, and, as children, we were frequently offered money and gifts. However, he insisted we decline such offerings, believing that accepting gifts could compromise our honesty with the givers.
It’s not that he didn’t value money, but he worked hard to build himself and achieve financial success. His belief was rooted in the idea that exchanging one’s integrity for money would lead to regret, so he consciously avoided it. Everyone was aware that approaching Prophet Korode’s house for prayer to offer money might even result in him avoiding you. He was not one to appreciate the ostentatious display of wealth, oppression, or similar behaviours.
As a busy person, how was he able to combine career, church and family?
When I reflect on Baba, the words that come to mind are self-discipline and his remarkable ability to compartmentalize tasks. When it’s time for work or ministry, he approaches it with utmost seriousness, never compromising on the proper placement of things. He is a meticulous planner, using a journal to organize his activities. There’s also a creative side to him, evident from his days as a poet, a skill that translated into the hymns of the Ayo Ni o album, where he served as one of the chief songwriters for its successful songs. His success can be attributed to his discipline and the meticulous segmentation of his tasks within specific time frames, ensuring he was always on point. He excelled as a marriage counsellor, with my phone often inundated with messages from people thanking my father for his invaluable advice that helped salvage their marriages. When couples sought his guidance, he would pray with them and then inquire about their individual roles as husbands and wives.
He was known for his practicality and methodical approach to things, making it all the more challenging to bid him farewell. I believe perfection and excellence elude us all, but S.F. Korode provided us with a masterclass in these aspects. He had a unique approach to discipline; if you were late, he would ensure you faced the consequences. As a disciplinarian, he sought to instil these values in others as well.
What factors do you think influenced the trajectory of his life?
His journey as a prophet, serving as a choirmaster, and preaching across various denominations shaped the trajectory of his life. Despite suggestions for him to start his own church, he declined, stating that God had not instructed him to do so. He consistently stayed within the bounds of his calling, although we were never sure of the exact outcome of his ministry.
My father held a profound love for the Ayo Ni O movement church and C&S worldwide. The roots of this passion can be traced back to his grandfather, a significant figure in the C&S church in Omu Aran, and my father carried this legacy throughout his life. He was resolute in ensuring that the glory of God in the C&S Church was widely recognized. Wherever he went, he took pride in the C&S church and devoted himself to promoting its well-being.
Moreover, he had a strong inclination towards mentoring and empowering the youth. Acknowledging the generation gap, he openly admitted that there were aspects of the younger generation’s experiences, particularly in technology and social media, that he couldn’t fully grasp. In response, he actively invited and encouraged the youth to take on leadership roles, recognizing their strengths and contributions in these areas.
What do you think were the sources of inspiration for his songwriting?
The inspiration for his songs came to him through various channels. During my childhood, I would often see my father sitting on the balcony of our house with a pen and paper, gazing at the bustling street, and starting to write songs. He had a fondness for reggae albums and old-time American gospel music, often playing them repeatedly. The creative process involved collaboration with individuals like Bro. Sam and Uncle Niyi. Occasionally, he would even dream of specific lyrics during his sleep, waking up to search the scriptures where those particular words could be found.
There have been narratives linking your dad’s illness to his position as General Leader. What do you have to say about this to set the record straight?
All I can assert about that is that God understands the timing and seasons in our lives. The fact is that he was officially designated as the leader of the church in 2015, during which he carried out his responsibilities with strength. It wasn’t until around 2018 that symptoms of his illness began to manifest. Therefore, it would be impractical for someone to directly link the two events. Rumours and conspiracy theories are commonplace, and anyone can claim anything on social media. However, the reality is that certain aspects remain unknown. People often try to connect things to create a narrative that makes sense to them. From my perspective, life and chances happen to us all, and whether or not he assumed a leadership role doesn’t necessarily correlate with the deterioration of his health. We appreciate everything and are thankful that he has found peace. As a lawyer, I find speculations amusing, and rumours even more so. What irks me is lazy conspiracy work that hastily attributes his demise to the leadership position. How could someone assert that without concrete evidence? In our Nigerian culture, there’s a tendency to assign specific meanings to every situation, making it easy for such conspiracies to surface. While it’s not true, some may choose to believe it because it aligns with their understanding and makes sense to them.
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