Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo of the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly has retracted recent remarks about the late Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola, the first General Evangelist of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), and issued an apology to the church.

In a now-viral sermon clip, Fatoyinbo had praised Babalola as “anointed… so anointed” but claimed that “all the grace just went like that” because he “had no money.” His comments drew a strong reaction from the CAC, which, in a statement signed by its Director of Publicity, Pastor Ade Alawode, accused him of promoting “a misleading link between ministerial success and material wealth.”

Responding to the criticism, Fatoyinbo released a statement on Thursday acknowledging the church’s concerns and expressing regret for any hurt caused. He stressed that he “did not speak ill of Babalola’s children” and insisted that COZA was “a place of honour.”

“Let me state however that at no time in the sermon did I refer to the children of the late Apostle and Father of faith in bad light. I would never do that. The raw copy of the message is online and this can be verified.
“I would never in any way or manner take lightly the grace over Apostle Babalola, his children or his ministry for granted or speak lightly of same,” he said.

Describing Babalola as a “highly revered father of faith” whose ministry had influenced many churches, including his own, Fatoyinbo prayed that the evangelist’s legacy would “continue to grow in leaps and bounds.” He added:

“I apologise if any other statement made by me has caused any form of distress, hurt or discontentment to the CAC, the family of the late Apostle Babalola or his associates. I will never disrespect or speak of them in that manner either publicly or privately. I pray that this puts to rest the entire episode and we pray that the CAC and the legacy of our father Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola continues to grow in leaps and bounds.”

In the original sermon, Fatoyinbo also recounted a story of a python allegedly drying up after crossing Babalola’s leg, saying:

“I was studying recently about what Apostle Babalola did. I stand to be corrected. What God did through Smith Wigglesworth, if they had documented what God did in the life of that man (Babalola), people would be coming here for pilgrimage. He was anointed. So anointed.
“Anointed man. Heavy-duty grace, but no money. So all the grace just went like that.”

The CAC, in its response, said:

“Ordinarily, we do not respond to social media commentaries or controversies. However, we consider it necessary to address your recent statements, which have been widely circulated on your social media platforms.

“In one of your trending messages on YouTube, you acknowledged that Apostle Babalola was highly anointed but ‘had no money,’ and then went on to ask sarcastically, ‘Where are his children?’ a question that was both insensitive and ill-informed.

“To equate anointing or ministerial success with material wealth is biblically flawed. The words of Jesus are clear: Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” Luke 12:15.

Who Was CAC’s Ayo Babalola?

Joseph Ayodele Babalola was born on April 25, 1904, to David Rotimi and Madam Marta Talabi, members of the Anglican Church. The family resided in Odo-Owa, Ilofa, a small town about ninety kilometres from Ilorin in present-day Kwara State, Nigeria.

His father served as the Baba Ijo (“church father”) of the C.M.S. Church in Odo-Owa. According to Pastor Medayese in his book Itan Igbe Dide Woli Ayo Babalola, mysterious events surrounded Babalola’s birth. On that day, it was said that a strange and mighty object exploded in the sky, shaking the clouds.

On January 18, 1914, young Babalola was taken by his brother, M.O. Rotimi, a Sunday school teacher at the C.M.S. Church in Ilofa to Osogbo. He began his education at Ilofa and advanced to Standard Five at All Saints’ School, Osogbo. However, he left school to learn a trade, starting as a motor mechanic apprentice.

This too was short-lived, as he later joined the Public Works Department (PWD). Babalola worked as part of the team that constructed the road from Igbara-Oke to Ilesa, serving as a steamroller driver.

Ayo Babalola’s Marriage

Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola, a key spiritual figure of the Christ Apostolic Church, remained unmarried until he was around 31. After persistent encouragement from his father, Pa David Rotimi Talabi, he married Dorcas on April 25, 1935.

The wedding at the first Aladura assembly in Efon Alaaye was attended by about 6,000 people, and he received gifts valued at 3 pounds, 10 shillings, and 6 pence. 

Dorcas was from Ilesa (born March 10, 1912), and by tradition, Babalola paid her 2 pounds, 10 shillings as a bride price reflecting Yoruba customs of the time. 

Their courtship and union ushered in a life lived in the public eye. Babalola affectionately called her “Mama Abiye,” while she called him “Baba Abiye.” They settled in Efon Alaaye where Dorcas, despite facing challenges like the constant influx of visitors and little privacy stood resilient and supportive. He has nine Children. 

His Call Into Ministry

In 1928, while working on the Ilesa–Igbara-Oke road, he experienced divine encounters becoming restless and hearing a voice calling his name three times, warning him of death unless he obeyed God’s call to preach.

After initial resistance, he fasted for seven days, had a vision of a man in dazzling clothes who gave him a bell and “life-giving water” which became the tools confirming his ministry’s spiritual nature and his prophetic identity. 

This marked the beginning of his ministry. He resigned from his job to embark on evangelistic work, rising into prominence after the Great Revival at Ilesa in 1930 a movement that significantly altered spiritual life in southwestern Nigeria and beyond. 

Babalola played a foundational role in what became the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC). Initially aligned with the Faith Tabernacle, a branch of the Apostolic Church, he later helped establish CAC following organizational disagreements around the 1940s.

CAC regards him as its founding apostle and central revivalist, though formally, he wasn’t ordained as an apostle 

Birth Of CAC

In 1930, Daniel Ajibola, an elder of the Faith Tabernacle Congregation, resident in Ibadan introduced Babalola to Pastor D. O. Odubanjo, one of the leaders of the Faith Tabemacle in Lagos.

Pastor Odubanjo in turn introduced the young prophet to the President of the Faith Tabernacle at the time, Senior Pastor Esinsinade, who took his time to listen to the account of the calling and mission of the ministry of the young prophet.

He and the elders were impressed, thus welcoming him into their midst. He was later baptized by Pastor Esinsinade in the lagoon at the back of the Faith Tabernacle Church building at 51, Moloney Bridge Street, Lagos.
 

Naming The CAC

Though originally affiliated to an American church, in the year 1931, in the bid to avoid colonial persecution, the Faith Tabernacle of Nigeria switched affiliation to the British Apostolic Church.

However, the fact that British Apostolic Church combines orthodox medicine with prayer didn’t go down well with them, as they saw it posing a compromising stance to their belief in divine healing, thus they parted ways with them in 1939. 

Afterwards, the church’s name was changed to Nigeria Apostolic Church. However, little did they know that the Ghanaian branch of the church wouldn’t have any of that. Thus they had to change it to reflect UNITED APOSTOLIC CHURCH (UAC).

It was only a matter of time however before they would realize that the name doesn’t belong. And that panned out when mails meant for the United African Church (UAC) started finding their way into their Church. 

Thus they decided the name need be changed again, and this time, the name was to stand, earning the church her current name and place; Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) was that name chosen, and it stepped so well into that void created by the demand for a change, and that was the name the church took up, the name by which it’s now known.

It was registered in 1943 with registration number 147. And it did happen that the church came into recognition through Babalola.

Last Days/Death Of Babalola

On Sunday, July 26, 1959 at the age of 55 years Babalola passed away. A day before, he conducted the morning prayer for ministers and members living in the vicarage of C.A.C. Olugbode, Ibadan.

That same day, Apostle Babalola sent two of his followers to one of his ministers, Samson Oladiji Akande (Baba Abiye) at Ede that he should prepare a place for him to sleep. He arrived Ede around 6:30 p.m. into the warm embrace of his people.

He went to bed, but woke up at 4 a.m. on Sunday 26th, took his bath, took some tea and had his morning meditation.

While some of his ministers came to see him, he narrated to them afresh how he started his ministry. He prayed a long prayer for the church and the ministers. After the special Sunday service in that July morning, with humor and smiles he sent off those who came to greet him, and they left for their various destinations cheered. Later in the evening he went to bed.

After having a nap he called Akande, and then returned the corvering-cloth he had given him to use. Surprised, Akande asked, “Baba, why are you doing this?” he replied, “a man should sleep with his own clothes.”

He told Akande to take his leave while he sleep. By this time, every other person had gone to church for the evening service. Moments later, his breath became ladened and he died. His last word was recounted to be : “In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.”