Biography
PARENTAGE
Reverend (Dr) Johnson Owolabi Olatuyi was born on Saturday, September 9, 1950 into the Royal family of Oyeleke of Ootunja Ekiti and was raised by his late uncle of blessed memory,
His Royal Highness, Oba Edward Ogundeji Olatuyi, Alasin of Asin Ekiti in Ikole Local Government, Ekiti State, Nigeria. He was the first born of his father’s twelve children out of whom eight are still alive. His father, late Pa Joseph Ojo Oyeleke owned a successful tailoring business and his mother, late Yeye Usinbaka Ajeigbe was a successful petty trader. His parents feared God, prayed every morning and took them to church. The young Johnson and his siblings were disciplined whenever they did wrong.. Their parents taught them the slogan: “Always remember the son of whom you are.”
EDUCATION
Rev. Johnson Olatuyi attended Anglican Primary School , Imila Aiyedun Ekiti, from where he proceeded to Secondary Modern School Aiyedun Ekiti 1963-65. Thereafter, he attended Egbe-Oba High School – Ikole Ekiti 1966-69. After his secondary school education in 1969, Johnson went to Lagos under the care of a close relative Pa Jacob Ojo Davies & Mama Comfort Olajumoke Davies of blessed memories. He attended Maryland School of Tech. Lagos where he studied Building Technology with a concentration in Land Survey. He was also an alumnus of Christian Faith Theological Seminary School Nigeria where he obtained a diploma in Ministerial studies, Bachelors in Pastoral Theology and Doctor of Divinity.
As a lifelong learner, He was an alumnus of Graduate Realtor Institute, Washington DC 2007 and was licensed Realtor in the states of Maryland, Virginia, Texas and the District of Columbia. He was also a professional chaplain with CICA – International Chaplaincy Association class of 2013. He also had a Roberta’s House Certificate of Completion in Bereavement Facilitation for Children & Adult Groups.
MARRIAGE
In 1981, Rev Johnson Olatuyi met with Miss Victoria Olukemi Ogunkanmi. They were joined in holy matrimony at the Headquarters church of Christ Gospel Mission Int., 14 Akinsola Crescent, off Palm Avenue Mushin Lagos on April 28, 1984. The marriage was blessed with 4 wonderful biological sons. The couple also had the privilege of raising up a newly born baby girl whose mother passed on at delivery for the first twelve years of her life. They were also blessed with two daughters-in-law and his first Grandchild, a Granddaughter before his demise.
Rev Johnson Olatuyi was a loving husband who cherished the company of his family . He was a strict disciplinarian and ensured order in the home at all times.
SPIRITUAL JOURNEY
Johnson’s parents worshiped in the Anglican Church where his father was an officer in the Men’s Fellowship. He taught him good morals and the whole house prayed in the morning.
Most important for him was his personal conversion in September 1969, when a woman invited him to her church called The Gospel Faith Mission (GFMI) in Ayantuga, Mushin, Lagos for a revival meeting. The Revivalist was Evangelist Ade-Ogun, who preached from the book of 1 Timothy 5:6 on the topic “He that lives in Pleasure is dead while still living”. He emphasized that punishment awaits those who die without Christ, and that Christ is ready to receive whoever comes to Him. An altar call was made and Johnson accepted Christ as His LORD and Savior. His first Pastor, E.O. Abina, now the General Overseer (GFMI) followed him up and got him baptized in water. Pastor Abina discipled him and others by setting up a bible training class which helped him discover his spiritual gifts of teaching and evangelism. He was later appointed a Sunday School teacher and participated in Monday street evangelism, Tuesday Bible studies, Wednesday Gospel Service, Friday Prayer and fasting meetings. His active involvement in those activities contributed to his Christian growth. He was thirsty to know God more, so he did some Bible correspondence courses. The evangelical activities grew and gave birth to the Gospel Evangelistic Team (GET). This led to planting of several churches and preaching points in areas like Oshodi, Apelehin, Agege, Festac and Aradagun. Johnson Olatuyi was one of the outreach leaders of those endeavors.
At the University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, where he worked, Johnson inaugurated a lunch hour fellowship. He preached in the hospital wards and in the community. He also used his organizing skills to join two others in securing permits to preach in Lagos buses from the Lagos Municipal Transport Corporation (LMTC) in adherence to the law of those days.
He later joined Christ Gospel Mission Int (CGM) in 1979, where he met his wife Victoria Olukemi Ogunkanmi whom he confessed, was his greatest support and backbone in the ministry and throughout their marriage.
In 1988, Johnson was called into the ministry and was ordained as a Pastor in CGM. He was later promoted and ordained as a Reverend minister on August 10, 2001. He was involved in the pioneering work of local churches in Lagos and Ogun States and invariably became the Divisional Evangelist. He planted churches in Abule Egun now Ipaja District Headquarters Mosan, Ayobo, Morogbo, Ijegemo, etc. The last branch he planted before migrating to the United States of America (USA) in 2002 was Mowe along Lagos-Ibadan Express area.
To many, he was a mentor, church planter, and a missionary with a global vision. He served as Chairman of CGM Campground Development Committee, a Student Pastor in Lagos & Ogun Division Evangelist, Assistant National Evangelist, National Overseer USA and a member of the General Advisory Council under the leadership of Rev. Victor Ogunkanmi as the General Overseer. Rev. Olatuyi enjoyed his various roles which gave him ample opportunities to express his passion for preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which transforms lives. He had opportunities to disciple people, helped them discover their spiritual gifts and trained them to disciple others in Christ, thereby growing the body of Christ.
Rev. Olatuyi served the Christian community in Nigeria as the Lagos State Treasurer for Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) and proceeded to serve as a member of PFN National Executive Council in the position of National Treasurer under the presidency of Pastor E.A Adeboye, Archbishop Benson Idahosa and Bishop Mike Okonkwo.
On his relocation to USA in 2002 as a CGM missionary, Rev. Olatuyi served the christian community as an executive in the African Ministers’ Fellowship and many other groups. He believed in the unity of brethren and served to foster it. Before he started CGM in Lanham MD, he served in Gospel Faith Mission Int. under Pastor Sunday Adu as an Assisting Pastor. He groomed members of the Sunday School department and trained members to discover and grow their potentials. Until his passing to glory, he served passionately as the National Overseer of CGM International churches in the United States of America with branches in Chicago Illinois, Houston Texas, and Lanham, Maryland where he mostly fellowshipped.
Rev. Olatuyi was known by many for his fearless missionary calling, a pathfinder, mentor, full of generosity, a trailblazer in soul winning and discipleship, uncompromising and passionate leader, helping others make impact in all the places he served. Many of his students and mentees are pastors and leaders in different churches and ministries today.
FAMILY VALUES
Rev. Johnson Olatuyi was a committed husband, father and grandfather. He loved his family in words and actions and was quick to acknowledge it both publicly and privately. As a husband and father, he led his home with discipline and purpose. Although he loved his family passionately, his family knew that his first love was the LORD. His priorities were the things of God. As a father, he modelled and inculcated studying of the Bible and praying in his children during their formative years, setting aside times for morning and evening prayer and one evening of the week for bible studies. He encouraged his young children to write down their understanding of the scriptures. He monitored and encouraged them to be the best they could be academically and to pursue ministry.
He was a model of sacrifice and love for his family and k neighbors as well. He always found a reason to encourage and mend relationships.
As a husband, he was a constant source of confidence for his wife, helping her around the house, supporting her career and ministries in every way he could.
As a grandfather, although far away, he made dedicated times to video-call his grand-child, sing to her, tell her that Jesus is the Lord and Savior and always prophesied God’s blessings to her and other grandchildren yet to be born.
The whole family remembers late Rev Johnson Olatuyi as a man of prayer- always praying for all; a man who stood by his convictions. He meant whatever he said. He worked for the LORD most of his life and was content in all things as God satisfied him with His abundance. He left precious legacies for his family, which he deemed much better than silver or gold.
TWILIGHT OF GOD’S GENERAL
His last night before passing on to glory, he called his wife for prayers and testified that his spirit was awakened. Little did she know that his spirit was indeed awakened in the presence of his Lord, Savior, Master and King. On Tuesday 17th Aug 2021 around 9 AM EST, he breathed his last breath here on earth – resting from his labor of love. We shall meet him on that resurrection morning when Jesus gathers all who believe in him home.