Celebrating a father, a theological mentor, and a spiritual father in Christ, Very Rev Amos Niyi Oladipo, at 70, is an honour. Thank you for your godly influence on many lives and organisations. I know Very Rev Oladipo as a man who faithfully models the Spirit-filled life he passionately preaches about. In our day, when ministry, public words, and private actions are seldom consistent, Very Rev Oladipo remains a man of his word and calling. He is a gentle mission giant of a man. He is a scholar, but he is much more than that to me. He is a spiritual father, showing all that comes after him and what a man of God should be like. He and his wife of over 40 years, Mrs Toyosi Becky Oladipo, unpretentiously love God with their minds but also their hearts.

Very Reverend Oladipo was born on March 2 1955, at Alapo Compound, Ile Ife. His father, Pastor Samson Awodiji Oladipo, a farmer and pastor, Ethiopian Church, Ile Ife, and his mother, Mama Limota Maria Oladipo lived at Abaloran compound, Ile Ife. Ethiopian Church is an independent Christian church in sub-Saharan Africa that originated before the European colonisation of the continent. The church is Orthodox in tradition and believes in the Holy Spirit. It is Monophysite, which means it sees Christ as purely divine.

Very Rev Oladipo started schooling at Ethiopian Primary School, Iyekere, in 1960. He attended Olubuse High School, 1967-72. He was a student chaplain at Immanuel College of Theology, Ibadan, 1980-1983; Student Pastor at Agodi Methodist Church, Ibadan, 1981-1982. He was Associate Pastor at Trinity Methodist Church, Tinubu, Lagos, in the summer of 1983. He married his wife, Mrs Olutoyosi Oladipo, on May 19, 1984, at Methodist Church, Obalufon. His Grace, Most Rev Akinnigbagbe, solemnised the marriage. Very Rev Oladipo served as Pastor of Methodist Churches in Gbongan and Ipetu during his student’s days at the University of Ife. He earned his bachelor’s degree in religious studies from the University of Ife, which is now known as Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife – 1983-1986. Prior to moving to the United States, he taught at the Methodist Theological Institute in Sagamu, Nigeria, from 1986-1989.

Very Reverend Oladipo earned his Master of Divinity from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas – 1989-1991. Before relocating to Chicago, he began his doctoral dissertation at SMU, PhD ABD Historical Theology, 1991-1995. He also obtained an Executive Certificate in Business Management from Loyola University Chicago. He initially worked with the United Methodist Publishing House before transferring his ordination to the Northern Illinois Conference of The United Methodist Church in 2005.

Very Reverend Oladipo is a clergy member of the Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church. He has served on the Conference Council on Finance and Administration and was a past member of the Chicago Northwestern District’s Connectional Table. Currently, he is a member of the Lake South District Committee on Ministry.

Very Rev Oladipo attended the Loyola University of Chicago Executive Mid-Management Certificate 2007 and the NIC Graduate of Congregational Development and Redevelopment 2007. From 2005 to 2008, he was part of the Northern Illinois Conference’s Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns and was chairperson from 2008 to 2012. Additionally, he is a member and past president of Ecumenism Metro Chicago (formerly known as the Ecumenical Millennium Committee) and a past president of the Brookfield-Riverside Rotary Club.

I was blessed to fly with Very Rev Oladipo to the 2020 Methodist Conference at Aba and sat with him at the Conference. I saw the result of the encouragement he gave to some of his students over 40 years ago, who are now archbishops and bishops, and how they came to embrace and honour him. Among them were Archbishops Akin Akindeko, Obafemi Adeleye, and Bishops Dapo Babalola and Olanrewaju Babalola. Very Rev Oladipo gave his students at MTI Sagamu the theological foundation they needed. The students learned much more than systematic theology from the Very Rev Oladipo. He encouraged his students to expand their thinking and engage in serious discussions and practicals. He allowed his students to present dissenting views. He prayed for his students and brought the Holy Spirit into the classroom honestly and tangibly.

Very Rev Oladipo’s teaching of theology is to shine with the light of the Holy Spirit. Very Rev Oladipo’s teaching ministry is countercultural to ‘theologians who treat the things of God as something to be examined and dissected, as one might study the desiccated remains of an ancient mummy. The difference is that you have come to know the One about whom we seek knowledge. You know Him as the great I AM, the living God. You have glimpsed His beauty and majesty. You know Him as the God who reveals Himself, yet it largely remains a mystery to us. You have experienced His Holy Spirit, flowing as living waters to those who seek Him with all their hearts. You know He is to be sought and feared and loved.’ Very Rev Oladipo set high standards of scholarship at MTI Sagamu. He balanced head knowledge with heart knowledge shaped by his personal humility and holiness. Very Rev Oladipo’s deep Christian love, warmth, integrity, and strong commitment to the spiritual well-being of his students and colleagues has been a powerful testimony to the accurate measure of this great man. Very Rev Oladipo’s innovative approach to his very popular and edifying Holy Spirit and theological courses has changed the lives of hundreds of students.

On reflection as a lecturer at MTI Sagamu, Very Rev Oladipo explained that it was not a bed of roses. His experience has inspired him and his wife to engage in some benevolence endeavours, namely, The establishment of the Very Reverend Oladipo and Family Scholarship for students at the Methodist Theological Seminary in Sagamu; Donation of streetlights to the Methodist Theological Seminary in Sagamu; Donation of choir pews at the Methodist Church, Obalufon, Ile-Ife, Nigeria; Donation of a customised four-bedroom building, along with three plots of land, to the Methodist Church, Obalufon, Ile-Ife; and sponsorship of the Diocese of Ilesa, Children Retreat.

 Very Rev Oladipo, a cousin to Patriarch Professor Bolaji Idowu from Ile Ife axis, aptly described Patriarch Idowu as a spiritual and prayerful man. According to him, he joined Patriarch Idowu in regular prayer and intercession in the Chapel at Ikorodu. According to Very Rev Oladipo, ‘I saw the depth of Baba spirituality and dependence on God especially during the Methodist crisis. Because I lived with him for some time in Ikorodu, he always called me to join in the prayer, prostrating together before the presence of the Lord. God protected him from every attack and accusation. His book on African Traditional Religion is an academic exercise and a protest against the colonial misrepresentation and interpretation of African religion.

Very Rev Oladipo pastoral appointments include: Assistant Pastor, Historic African American Church in Chicago, St. Mark UMC, Chicago 1996-2005; Pastor, Brookfield UMC, Brookfield, 2005-2009; Pastor, African Community UMC, Chicago 2003-2014; Pastor, Epworth UMC, Chicago      2009-2013; Pastor, Mandell UMC, Chicago &Faith UMC of Lombard; 2014-2017; Pastor, Thornton UMC and Grace U Protestant Church   2017-2019; Pastor Grace United  Protestant Church – 2019 to date.

Very Rev Oladipo served as a member Conference Council on Finance Administration 2012-Present; Chairperson Commission on Christian Unity and Interfaith Concerns (CCUIC) 2008-2012; Member, Bishop’s Task Force on Immigration 2005-2010; Conference’s Group Commitment:  Treasurer, Black United Methodist Pastor 2008-2012; Member, Chicago NW District Committee on Ordained Ministry (DCOM) 2008 – 2017; Member, Chicago NW District’s Strategic and Visioning Team 2008 – 2017.

Very Rev Oladipo’s ecumenical experience included his membership as Bishop’s delegate to Turkey:  October 19-29, 2008; A pilgrim to the Holy Land:  May 3-19, 2009; Past President and Member of Ecumenism Metro Chicago 2008-Present; Treasurer Council of Ghanaian Churches, Chicago 2008-2014; President, Brookfield-Riverside Rotary Club 2009-2010; President, African students, Southern Methodist University (SMU), Dallas 1993-1994; President, International Students, Perkins School of Theology (SMU)1990-1991.

Very Rev Oladipo was the pioneer Coordinator of the Methodist Church Nigeria, USA, Mission from 2016 to 2022. He is happily married to Mrs Toyosi Becky Oladipo, and they are blessed with three children and three grandchildren.

At 70, dear Very Rev Oladipo, ‘If no more books come from your pen, we will not be unduly alarmed, for there are so many books, but if you stopped preaching or preached less, that would be a real loss to the church. Our greatest need today is to preach the gospel with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven.’

Happy renewing 70th birthday celebration.