Pastor Taiwo: Pastor Funke Ige Encourages Church to Draw Strength from God

The August 17 Thursday Showers service was dedicated to celebrating God for the life of the Senior Pastor of The Fountain of Life Church (TFOLC), Pastor Taiwo Odukoya, who passed on to glory on August 7, 2023.

The church also prayed for his family and the body of Christ.

While admonishing the worshippers from Hebrews 4:16, Pastor Funke Ige said the church needs to come boldly to God’s throne for the grace to soldier at the trying moment. 

‘Death Is A Transition’

Speaking on the “Oil of Joy” as recorded in Isaiah 66:1-3, the Co-Lead Pastor of The Grace Family, TFOLC’s Ogba Parish, said the Holy Spirit comforts His children when mourning.

She explaned that this is to strengthen them to continue their journey.

“This gives you a paradigm shift in understanding what life and death is. Death is a transition process, and our time and how we depart the world is different.

“The earlier you understand and imbibe this, the earlier we rise and get to work. Pastor’s death is a call for us all to wake up to attention. We are still on the battlefield, snatching souls from the mouth of the devil. Please, keep in mind your calling. You must be found faithful,” the cleric declared.

‘We Don’t Mourn Generals’

The author further cited King David’s loss of his child despite praying and fasting as seen 2 Samuel 12:20-21.

She admonished the congregation not to mourn Pastor Taiwo but celebrate his life and legacies.

“We don’t mourn generals; we celebrate generals,” the Principal Consultant at the Reconciler Company said. 

Pastor Funke, an emotional intelligence practitioner, added: “You have the oil, the anointing, the Holy Spirit, not only for others, but for you.

“So, you can’t have the Holy Spirit and be perpetually sad or depressed. When you engage with the Holy Spirit, you will be comforted and helped”.

‘It’s Time To Rise!’

Corroborating this with Galatians 5:22 and Isaiah 61:1, the preacher, better known as PF, said believers can stay joyful by consistently being in the Holy Spirit which helps them observe the patterns of joy.

“The Holy Spirit helps you to produce the fruit of the Spirit,” the clergywoman said.

She, therefore, challenged the congregation from Hebrews 12:1-2 to keep their gaze on Christ, the author and the finisher of their faith who can keep them in the rough journey of life.

“You need to know that this journey of life is not smooth, but you need to keep focusing on Jesus Christ so that you won’t stop running or get stuck,” the mother of three posited. “It is time to rise. There is no reason to be ashamed.”