He could be said to be a man of many parts. Born about 50 years ago in Oshogbo, Osun State, into the reputable Coker family from the ancient city of Abeokuta. Reverend Afolabi Samuel Coker grew up in |
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Ilorin, Kwara State. The first of five children, he had the intention to make the best out of life so that he could assist his parents in the upbringing of siblings. And so he did everything possible humanly to build a dream of a promising career in Oil Company- After completing his primary education at Bishop Smith Memorial Primary School, Ilorin, and Secondary education at Government Secondary School, Ilorin, respectively, he got admitted into the University of Ilorin where he graduated With a first degree in Geology with a second-class upper division. Not contented with his academic attainment yet, he proceeded to the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University, O.A.U, Ile Ife) for his Masters degree programme in Applied Geology (Mineral exploration Option), where he also finished as the best student. Having graduated, he lectured as a graduate fellow in O.A.U., Ile Ife, Costab - (now UNAAB) as a part time lecturer and the University of Ilorin as Lecturer ll. During this, he was less conscious of spiritualism and therefore relegated God totally to the background in his life. However, God had another plan for this chosen vessel who today is a leading soldier of the crusade of salvation of mankind. Today, Reverend Coker is a minister of the gospel who has been called as a prophet to the nations of the world. The Senior Pastor of the King's Chamber, the Church arm of the Redemption Inheritance Ministries situated in Ilupeju, Lagos , is also the visioner of the Settle Me, 0 Lord! (SMOL) - a prophetic outreach programme. In this no-hold-barred interview, the servant of God spoke on various issues that cut across his ministry and as a man that rose from grass to grace by the help of the Almighty God. |
Could you give us a brief history of the Church?
The King's Chamber started on 27th October, 2002 at Access Hotel, Town Planning Way, Ilupeju, Lagos . However, the official inauguration of the Church was on 22nd March, 2003. We are called to give direction by The Word and The Spirit. This explains why our utmost policy is "Hear (God) and Do (what He say).
Obedience is the key here. Once God speaks, we don't question authourity or directives, but we immediately take action. Our mission is to
- fulfil the great commission of our Lord Jesus Christ by obeying Him
- foster love within and withal
- develop a system that can evolve itself and if possible, outlive its visioner
- fulfillment and effectiveness in life and ministry for all grow warmer through fellowship
- grow deeper through discipleship grow stronger through worship
-grow broader through ministry
- grow larger through evangelism and awareness
-doing the word with the "total man"
- demonstrate and manifest the responsibilities and price of following Jesus Christ and its benefits (Redemption Inheritance)
- Express and demonstrate the compassionate nature of Christ for the uplift of the people.
How did the vision start and how have you been able to sustain it?
After receiving a strong conviction from the Lord and been subjugated to test, I got my release from the President of the Ever-Increasing Word Ministries on 19th October, 2002.
Thereafter, in the evening of Sunday the 20th October, 2002, friends who believed in the call of God upon my life and in my ministry gathered for prayer and the vision was shared. On October 27, 2002, we held our first service. From then, I have been faithful to God and His vision for the work. I hear and do.
Since He (God) called me as a prophet to the nations, I have been operating by His Grace with speed. I ensure I seek counsel from my Father in the Lord and my mentors and have been abiding in grace consistently. I have consistently abided in grace. I thank God that the work has been thriving without stress.
What has been your challenging moment in this work?
Shortly after the work started I was seriously "strong" but to the glory of God, I overcame the illness and ever since, I have been bubbling in the strength of the Lord. This made me to know that it is not by works but by His grace.
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My desires are not only to do the work the Lord has commissioned into my hands with ease but to make sure that I am not found wanting in any area of my ministry. I want to achieve the same results these men had achieved and probably surpass it. |
You were noted to be close to great men of God like Pastor Enoch Adeboye, Bishop David Oyedepo, Bishop Francis Vale Oke, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, Pastor Taiwo Odukoya, Rev. George Adegboye, Pastor Sam Adeyemi, Pastor Amos Fenwa, Pastor Yeside Staveley, Pastor David Adedeji, Dr. Albert Odulele, the list is endless. What has the relationship been like with these great generals of the gospel?
One of my spiritual principles in life, which has been working for me, is to tap grace wherever it is found in abundance. Remember the Bible says the lesser is blessed of the greater. These great men of God you have mentioned carry great grace upon their lives and ministries.
When you take time to study where they have come from, how they were called into the ministry and how the work commissioned into their hands have been going on with great signs and wonders and Without stress, you cannot but covet such great grace.
One of the ways to tap from this grace is to sow your time, strength materials, etc, in you into their lives. My desires are not only to do the work the Lord has commissioned into my hands with ease but to make sure that I am not found wanting in any area of my ministry. I want to achieve the same results these men had achieved and probably surpass it.
This of course explains why every year, during our annual convention when we gather to celebrate God's faithfulness and His steadfast love that never ceases, some of these men of God are usually invited to impact grace upon the Church.
The impact of this could be seen in our ministry today. Recently, another branch of the Church was opened at Akowonjo while Outreach Mission Centers are also flourishing with God's grace. God has never failed us, we have been enjoying uncommon grace with extraordinary new speed accentuated with signs and wonders by the Holy Spirit.
Let's talk about "Settle Me, 0 Lord" your Prophetic Outreach Programme. What informed this programme and what is it all about?
Settle Me, o Lord! is an inspiration driven by the Spirit of God for such a time as this to give direction by the word and the Spirit. In the days we are living in, I came to realize that people do not really have the knowledge that God has their welfare and well-being in mind. This, most of the time, had made man to think that with hard work, he would be able to make meaningful impact in life. But you and I know that hard work is not necessarily the needed ingredient to making it in life.
Personally, I have come to the realization that God has done His own part by making available unto us, all that we need to walk in the covenant of peace, good health, prosperity, et cetera.
My attention has been drawn, over the years, to the cases of Jabez, Joseph, Jacob, Cornelius and Dorcas, to mention a few, who had desperately made demands on God for a change in their situations. The Bible records favourable and successful answers to their demands. It is unquestionable that the God that turned their situation around for good is still alive today. All you need to do is make a desperate demand on Him, believe in your heart that He can do it, and you will not be disappointed.
In the days we are living in, I came to realize that people do not really have the knowledge that God has their welfare and well-being in mind. This, most of the time, had made man to think that with hard work, he would be able to make meaningful impact in life. But you and I know that hard work is not necessarily the needed ingredient to making it in life. |
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The knowledge of God's welfare package with it attendant principles, if effectively applied, will deliver us from the bondage of sickness, poverty, unemployment, stagnation, marital troubles, e.t.c. That is exactly what SMOL is addressing.
The task the Outreach seeks to achieve is to help people keep their hope alive that God takes Special interest in them and to ascertain their total settlement in all life endeavours. The Outreach seeks to produce men and women who will show forth the glory of God in all facets of their lives.
How have you been achieving this?
The broad objectives of the Outreach are achieved through quarterly prophetic Outreaches. We started initially at the Church auditorium, but some part of the state (Lagos) had been privileged to host.
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