My Commitment Turn Success In Writing A Book "Attaining Greatness" - Rev Afolabi Solomon

A trained baptist minister, he holds a bachelor of theology degree (B.Th) from Baptist College of Theology, Lagos an affiliate of the Nigeria Baptist Theological Ogbomoso. A bachelor of Arts (BA) at Christan Theological Seminary Ibadan an affiliate of Olabisi Onabanjo University Ago Iwoye Ogun State, Master of Arts (MA) in pastoral studies from ECWA Theological Seminary Igbaja, currently pastor of Faith Baptist Church Ibeshe in Ikorodu Lagos state.

Rev. Afolabi-Kehinde Solomon Bukola Speaks with Timileyin Oriowo to admonish individuals on his book "Attaining Greatness" and share others of his experience, view. 

What's your experience being born into a baptist cleric family?

Is not by accident for me to be born into a priest family my father thou he's late now Rev David Kehinde Afolabi served in various churches of the Nigeria baptist convention meritoriously for good thirty five years with good records, is not that I wish to become a pastor but God has ordained it. I was the third child in the family but among all God called me to be His mouthpiece I count it has a great grace that God grant me.

 In life I wanted to become an engineer, I never knew that God had a profession better than engineer for me. He made me someone that will be leading the professors, teachers, doctors, and all kinds of professions in the world, for them to be under my ministration to tutor them up in a spiritual manner, I want to thank God for that.

Concern your book titled "Attaining Greatness" that has been read by many persons. What quality do you think a youth should possess in attaining greatness In life?

Let me start with this word, life is a journey and a journey of a thousand miles start with somewhere, you cannot reach the destination a day, its a gradual process. The book I titled attaining greatness Is a product of grace, those who read this book has shared with me a lot of lessons they gathered from the book. Something keeps me moving in life, when the lord lay anything in my heart to do I always go ahead doing it whether the resources is there or not I will try all my best."I'll ensure my commitment doing it "

So that people can know the value of what they have I said a journey does not start one day is a gradually process. While I was writing this book what I had in mind is that you can become successful in life without dubious character, cheating people, marching people down and think you want to move forward. The sky has a space for everyone of us to operate, when we're born God has blessed us with all we need to be successful in life so it depends on individual how you use the potentials the lord has created in you, I was never a brilliant student but I always strive to become an excellent in life when I finished this book, I read it times without numbers and ask my self series of questions. I project it for the young ones and adults for them to learn a lesson. When you have a focus of where you're going in life you should be able to follow your focus it will enables you to become a better person in life.

What's your memorable experience in the ministry?

Many people sees Pastor as a person who has no challenge but if many of them tell you the challenges they faced it will be very surprised. My memorable experience ever is that God is my sustainer in time of all challenges. In the area of provisions, heath, finance God as been in all, I never regret serving God.

In the course of your travels, which places have you visited by virtue of your ministry carrier?

I know that more open doors is coming, during my student days ministry while I was a pastorate at fist baptist church pakuro I was privilege to travel out of Nigeria for a mission trip through the Sunday school department of Gideon two baptist association to Burkina Faso, we spent a more than a week for the mission trip, to the glory of God it was a good experience for me to evangelise apart from staying in Nigeria.

How best have you appreciate your wife?

My amiable wife, the mother of my children. I will never be ungrateful to her for sustaining the vibes that nourished the idea of my success in life. Her presence in my life is a divine blessing, she's the best woman I appreciate most in my world.

What's your experience as the pioneer and former pastor of First Baptist Church Pakuro?

I resumed my ministerial carrier in 2006 and I was introduced to the church pastor of first baptist church Agegunle in ikorodu Lagos by a senior colleague in the ministry to become a Pastorate of thier planted baby church first baptist church pakuro in Mowe, Ogun state. I was recommended to the mother church pastor through his friend, I resume FBC pakuro in 2007 and I pastored the church till 2011.

Pioneer work is a tedious work, because you're gathering things that is not there and you want it to be there. I could remember, how many family I met in first baptist church pakuro, it was only one family that is completed the other two or more family I met there their husbands were not attending the church service even the wife's were not always punctual in the church but God helped us to gather them together and am always happy been the pioneer Pastor of the church.

What's your take on domestic violence?

What I believe is that the society did not just come into being, everything that happens in the society begins in the home, apart from the book titled 'attaining greatness' I received an inspiration by the Holy Spirit to write another book I titled 'work your marriage out'. When we're talking about domestic violence, if you see a father that is not well nurtured before he get married, he will behave irresponsible so likewise the mother too, the children will be the product of their father and mother because whatever we carry out from the home will manifest outside.

Is there anything your mate will remember you for in your school days?

I have many memories my school mate and friends could remember of. Thou my education career wasn't stable in a global due to the nature of my father's job, I could recollect while I was in Ogbomoso baptist high school, Awoyaya we do have a joint where we eat tuwo and gbegiri we're a regular customer there at Awoyaya garage, I have some other colleagues whom we become band boys through the royal ambassadors in the church we play in an occasion like funerals, wedding, birthday party, house warming. 

After I finish my ssce I attended Government technical college Oyo in Awe, being there I was a member of the drama group in the school, I could remember I acted in a scene of a playlet my dressing was kit through that I was named Londoner, since then everyone do call Londoner, through that I got a name.

 In my school days people knows me to be a very funny type, you can never see me quelling with anybody I do have a slogan then 'be peace with people in life'. There are many memory my friends can remember about me In all my academic carrier.

Do you have any preference for any music?

I so much love gospel music, out of many the song I cherish most is 'Am pressing on... ' 'Motesiwaju Lona na' is in our baptismal hymnal. That's part of what formed my book attaining greatness.

What is your message to parents?

I advice husband and wife to be peacefully living with each other, I want their home to be peaceful. I will like to share with the parents all over the world that we should go back to our first love, we should not allow our first love to lost. I encourage the wife to be respective and submissive to her husband there's a woman in the bible to the best of her knowledge she call her husband my lord, after God in the home your husband is the next person.

The husband also should love his wife. A home where peace reigns the husband is the servant of the family, you're there to serve your wife and children. I will encourage the father and mother to join hands together to train their children in a right manner.