Rev’d. Dr. O. O. Odebiri

Pastor Gbenga Odebiri was born in Ilorin to the family of Late Pa Michael Yakubu and Mama Grace Abeke Odebiri of Idogun, in Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State on 3^rd of March 1960. He is thankfully married to Mrs Adenike Olusegun-Odebiri and the union is blessed with two children: Newman/Toluwani Dieyi  and Oluwaseyi with a grandson I’an Araloluwa

CONVERSION EXPERIENCE

Although born into supposedly a Christian family and thus grew to know going to church, I did not have a personal saving knowledge of Christ Jesus until my third year in Secondary School in 1975 at one of the Students Fellowship meetings (FCS). Since then till now I have by His grace remained in and for Him.

EDUCATION: Secular and Theological

Formal education began for Him at about the age of five in the church kindergarten. He proceeded to primary school at the age of six and completed it in 1972 at St. Michael Primary School, Ilorin. His Secondary School Education was at Oro Grammar School, Oro and had his School Certificate in 1977. He obtained an Ordinary National Diploma (OND) in Mechanical Engineering from The Polytechnic, Ibadan in 1982 and a Bachelor’s Degree in Agricultural Engineering in 1990 from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

Consequent upon his inner persuasion of call to the ministry, he ventured into Theological Studies. He had his Bachelor of Theology in 1994 from UMCA Theological College, then UMTC, Ilorin. He furthered on this and did a Masters in Theology (M.Th) from Theological College of Northern Nigeria (TCNN), Bukuru, Jos in 2011. He finally went to the Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary (NBTS), Ogbomosho for his Doctors of Philosophy (Ph.D) which he had in 2017.

A very simple and seasoned Discipler, Teacher and Servant of God, an Engineer by discipline, a graduate of Obafemi Awolowo Unversity (OAU) Ife.

WORKS AND SERVICES

After his Secondary School education, he worked as librarian in Cherubim and Seraphim College Ilorin between 1978 -1980. He was also a Science Teacher at Arandun Gramar School in 1983.

Pastor Odebiri has been involved in Christian service quite early in life. While in the Secondary School, he was the Fellowship’s Treasurer and Bible Study Secretary at different points. At The Polytechnic, Ibadan, he served as the Visitation Secretary, coordinating visit to secondary schools, hospitals and Prisons. At the University, he served as the Prayer Secretary, Vice President and President to the Evangelical Christian Union (ECU) at different points.Along with serving as President in ECU, he served as the Western Zonal Coordinator of the Evangelical Fellowships under NIFES comprised of the present Ondo, Oyo, Osun and Ekiti States.

In the United Missionary Church of Africa (UMCA), he served as Pastor of UMCA Chapel, Tanke for about two and a half decades (1994-2019). Alongside this at a period he served as the District Superintendent of Chapel District for nine years (1998-2006). He served as the Vice President for nine years (2014-2022).

He has passion for souls both for conversion and consecration to the Lord as true disciples. He sees the church as a solid platform for men to be conformed to the image of Christ. He holds that if the church fails at this, the church has actually failed.