A SHORT BIOGRAPHY OF LATE REV. S.K BECKLEY
(23rd April 1958- 28th June, 2015)
“Man is like a breath; His days are like a passing shadow” (Psalm 144:4).
Late Reverend Samuel Kayode Beckley was born on April 23rd, 1958 into the Anglican Christian family of late Pa Eliot Akanbi Beckley and Late Ma Abigael Agbeke Beckley in Gusso, now Zamfara state in Northern part of Nigeria. His parents are from Beckley Compound in Wasinmi Ake, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria.
He began his primary school education with Sudan Interior Mission (S.I.M), now ECWA in 1964 but could not complete it as a result of the family relocation to Lagos due to Biafra war. In 1968, he later re-enrolled with Salvation Army in Ebute Meta, Lagos, where he completed the Standard 6 education. Thereafter, he proceeded to learn Mechanical Engineering and became a well-trained mechanic; a profession he was fully engaged in until he answered the call of God into full time Christian Ministry- A call that would later stand him out among many sons and daughters in the Beckley Family.
Prior to his call into ministry in 1976, he had a major encounter that brought a radical change to his life. This happened at a crusade organized by some Christian group in Lagos. There he heard the Good News of what God did for the whole humanity and decided to give his life to Christ! It was a memorable day! Immediately after his conversion experience, he joined Deeper Christian Life Ministry (an interdenominational Christian ministry then) where the man of God, Pastor W.F Kumuyi really taught him the basics of Christian Faith line upon line and precept upon precept on a weekly basis.
In 1978, one of the converts he witnessed to in Lagos requested that he would come and preach the same message to his parents in their village called “Ageri” very close to Olodo village in Odeda Local Government of Ogun State. Thereafter, the same convert said he sensed God would have him start evangelical work around Olodo area and he would want Pastor Beckley to join him but he declined the offer. However, in 1979 he came for a crusade in the same Olodo Village on the platform of New Life In Christ Ministry. After the crusade, it became necessary for them to be coming frequently for the follow-up of these new converts for them to be grounded in the teachings of the Bible. By 1984 he finally left Lagos to come and settle down in Olodo village as a Christian Missionary! But according to him, not before he had already confirmed the call of God to ministry there. Meanwhile, during those periods, he was already a committed Christian worker in the Deeper Life Bible Church Lagos. So on arriving Olodo village, he started the Christian Ministry on the platform of Deeper Life Bible Church.
With dogged determination of heart, sincere love for the salvation of men, selfless sacrifice, great endurance, and in the mighty Power of the Holy Ghost, Pastor S.K Beckley labored as a Christian missionary in Olodo village and its environs to bring the gospel Light to many a people who were neck-deep in idolatry and occultic practices. In the face of great and many spiritual and financial challenges, Pastor Beckley endured as good soldier of Christ in other to fulfill the ministry God has called him to. When asked how he was able to endure the many afflictions he encountered, he replied, “I have laid all on the altar before I came and vowed to be a true soldier; and if need be to die at my post! Also remember Jesus said whosoever put his hand on the plough and looks back (for whatsoever reason), is not fit to be His disciple. But God saw me through those days; I survived it!” The gospel work became fruitful and many indigenous Deeper Life Bible churches were planted.
In 1995, Pastor S.K Beckley left Deeper Life Bible Church and started Path Restorer Bible Church which presently has 18 branches scattered across Ogun, Oyo and Benue State. In his life time, Pastor S.K Beckley was known for his bold declaration of the word of God without favour or fear of men. He stood for the truth he believed not minding whose horse is gored. He was a valiant man of prayer. It was the valiancy of his prayer life that earned him the sobriquet “Bulldozer”. Whenever he said “Thus saith the Lord”, it never fell to the ground. Many mighty signs and wonders were wrought by God through him: the sick got healed; the oppressed were delivered; several demon possessed were set free. above all, the many hundreds of souls delivered from the kingdom of darkness and translated into the Kingdom of the Son of God to serve the only living God are undeniable proves of his apostolic calling!
When I once asked if he ever had any regret coming to the “jungle” of Olodo, this was his response: “Regrets? Not at all! The point is that no man who obeys God ends up regretting! Any action and journey in direction of obedience to God can never end in regrets! By the grace of God I have reasons to be happy. God has established and blessed His work in my hands even though village work is very challenging. Moreover, I came into this community and having nothing as a single man, but later I got married to a wonderful woman of like-passion and God blessed the union with two gorgeous male children who also know the Lord and are part of the ministry! Men from far and near and of rank and file in the society are now coming to seek my God even in this jungle. God indeed, has been faithful all the way!” At another time when asked if he had any reason to envy fellow ministers who are doing God’s work in the cities, he laughed and said, “Envy? The reverse is the case. Once you understand the purpose of God for your life and you are faithfully committed to fulfilling it, you will have no reason to envy your colleagues. Another very important thing is the issue of location. As a minister of Christ, you must know where God wants you to be; for in your location is where you will find your allocation! Failure at this point can bring about frustration and unnecessary hardships. You must identify your location to access your allocation for life and ministry.”
Like Joseph in the Bible, Pastor S.K Beckley came to Olodo town as a single unmarried person but God multiplied him. It could be said of him like Abraham that God had blessed him in all things. From Olodo the word of God sounded out from him to many states in Nigeria, some part of Africa and even to United Kingdom. He was a regular host of the “Time of Restoration”, a weekly radio programme on Rock City FM, Abeokuta, Ogun State. Aside being the General Overseer of Path Restorer Bible Church, Pastor S.K Beckley was a father of many fathers; a leader of many leaders; a mentor of many mentors; and a spiritual figure to thousands of people.
On Sunday, the 28th of June, Pastor S.K Beckley was suddenly and unexpectedly raptured by death at around 4am. His death was like the catching away of prophet Elijah. His death was another confirmation of his “Sure word of prophecy” that he would not die by accident or sickness; people would just hear that he died! O, let me die the death of the righteous; let my last end be like his. Pastor Beckley died the death of the righteous! He is survived by wife- Pastor (Mrs.) Bernice Olusola Beckley; children- Daniel and Charles Beckley; brothers and sisters. Like David, Pastor S.K Beckley, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on asleep, and was laid unto his fathers among the saints triumphant! Because a life of faith never dies; Samuel Kayode Beckley lives on! Though he’s physically dead; yet he will continue to speak to this present generation and the one unborn.
The tributes continues, watch out for the next episode…
