Bishop Francis Oke Elevated to Archbishop After 27 Years in Episcopacy

 

Bishop Francis Oke Elevated to Archbishop After 27 Years in Episcopacy

 

 

The Prelate of the Calvary Grace International College of Bishops and President of Sword of the Spirit Ministries, Bishop Francis Olubowale Oke, has been elevated to the office of Archbishop in recognition of his more than 27 years of episcopal service, spiritual leadership and mentorship of Christian leaders across the world.

The elevation was conferred on him by the Calvary Grace International College of Bishops during the ongoing annual Holy Ghost Convention of the Sword of the Spirit Ministries in Ibadan, Oyo State.

 

 

The development was contained in a statement issued by the Media Bureau of the Sword of the Spirit Ministries, Ibadan.

Oke, who accepted the elevation in the presence of members of the College of Bishops and other Christian leaders, described the honour as a fresh call to greater responsibility in advancing the cause of Christ globally.

 

 

The new Archbishop, who is also the National President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), disclosed that he had repeatedly declined opportunities to become an archbishop since his consecration as a bishop in 1999, choosing instead to devote himself to evangelism and preaching the gospel.

 

 

He, however, said he accepted the elevation because he believed it was the will of God and the collective decision of the College of Bishops.

“I accept the elevation with all my heart. Since it seems good to you and to the Holy Spirit, it seems good to me also. I concur with you,” Oke said.

 

 

The elevation was proclaimed by the South-West Presbyter of the Calvary Grace International College of Bishops, Bishop Felix Adejumo, following the presentation of the statement of purpose by Bishop Julius Abiola.

 

 

Abiola described Oke as a “father of fathers, pastor of pastors and bishop of bishops,” noting that his episcopal ministry had produced, nurtured and strengthened other episcopal leaders.

He said the elevation was more than the conferment of a title, but a formal recognition of a ministry tested by time, demonstrated through service and validated by spiritual fruits and the raising of other leaders.

 

 

The College said Oke had, since his canonical consecration in 1999, demonstrated longevity, stability, maturity and faithfulness in episcopal ministry, with his influence extending beyond congregations, denominations and national boundaries.

 

 

It noted that he had participated in the consecration and establishment of bishops in different parts of the world, while providing spiritual oversight and fatherly leadership to many of the more than 50 bishops associated with the College.

According to the College, Oke’s ministry had become “an episcopacy that has produced episcopacies,” having identified, nurtured, mentored, affirmed, consecrated and commissioned other spiritual leaders.

 

 

It charged him to use his new office to strengthen the brethren, encourage bishops, defend the Christian faith, promote unity within the body of Christ, preserve godly episcopal order and raise succeeding generations of faithful servants of God.

 

 

In his response, Oke expressed gratitude to God and members of the College for the honour, stressing that the institution maintained high standards in the selection and consecration of bishops.

 

 

He explained that prospective bishops undergo thorough examination by presbyters before admission, insisting that the College remained committed to admitting only individuals with proven integrity and impactful ministries.

“The door is still open to anyone who is interested, but the standard remains the same,” he said.

 

 

Recalling his journey into the episcopacy, Oke disclosed that the late Archbishop Benson Idahosa had wanted to consecrate him as a bishop as far back as 1988, but he resisted the move because of his passion for evangelism.

 

 

He also recalled participating in the consecration of Bishop David Oyedepo in Kaduna, where Idahosa reportedly told him that he should be the next bishop.

According to Oke, Idahosa told him: “You are next.”

 

 

He said he subsequently avoided opportunities for his own consecration for about a decade before eventually yielding to what he described as the prompting of the Holy Spirit.

 

 

Oke was consecrated a bishop in the United Kingdom in 1999, with the consecration repeated three months later at the Garden of Victory in Ibadan.

 

 

Tracing the origin of the Calvary Grace International College of Bishops, Oke said the institution grew out of his desire to mentor younger ministers after responding to the call of God in 1976.

 

 

He explained that the mentorship fellowship, initially known as the Calvary Grace Covenant Fellowship International, expanded as ministers increasingly sought spiritual guidance and leadership.

 

 

The fellowship later evolved into the Calvary Grace International College of Bishops following a meeting at Premier Hotel, Ibadan, where members agreed to formally constitute the body and adopt its present name.

 

 

Oke said the College has since expanded its membership across Nigeria, Africa, North America, Canada, the United States and Europe, with its first European member recently consecrated as a bishop.