By Grace Aideloje
Today, I want to honor a father, a mentor, and a truly humble man of God, Bishop Daniel Okayi. He preached the sermon that led me to Christ in 1994, and God used him to change my life. Since becoming a Christian, I had the privilege of serving under him and living with him and his wonderful wife, my mother, during a very trying period of my life. Even when I left the faith, he pursued me, encouraging me back into the arms of Christ, and by God’s grace, I returned like the prodigal son.
From that point on, they have journeyed with me through every phase of my life—standing by me in difficult times, supporting me through my waiting periods, and being a constant source of strength. Today, as I turn 54, I am blessed to share the same birthday with my Father, Bishop Daniel Okayi of the #abidingwordoflightchurch Wuye Abuja.
I reflect on how much I have learned under their spiritual guidance. His wife, Mummy Felicia Okayi, taught me the patience and dedication needed to support a husband in ministry. I remember the days without food in Lokoja in 1995/96. With Sunday offering in Daddy’s custody, he wouldn’t touch it to feed his family. Yet, by faith, Mummy would go into the kitchen and create delicious meals from very little. Their home was a haven for the hungry, and I personally experienced the “feeding of the 5000” miracle many times.
One of those days, we traveled to Port Harcourt for a program, and on our way back, Daddy, who was driving, called out to me, “Mayo” (an abbreviation of my home name, Mayowa) and said, “You are going to marry a pastor.” By divine inspiration, I simply answered, “Yes sir.” I was 25 years old, and seven years later, I got married to my husband, and we had our honeymoon in their home. By then, of course, things had changed for the better for them.
I am privileged to be a most cherished daughter in the family, and I am always eager to return home to Abuja whenever I can.
I just want to celebrate Bishop Okayi and his wife, to express my deepest gratitude, and to ask you, my friends and followers, to join me in thanking and celebrating this wonderful man of God, who also marks his birthday today.
Happy Birthday daddy!
Thank you for fathering me rightly.