Don’t Send Me… Back

By Dr. Ronald Barnes

Oba Adegboyega Dosunmu was born to Prince Benjamin Okelana Dosunmu into a ruling family of the late Adesunmbo Dosunmu, Amororo I, who reigned between 1918 and 1924. Benjamin Okelana Dosunmu was the third son of the late Oba Adesunmbo Dosunmu, Amororo. Growing up in the palace was less glamorous than one might think. As a young man, Prince Dosunmu determined to distance himself from that palace and all its rituals, idols, and witchcraft.

Saved at a young age, even as a young person he knew the lostness that surrounded him in that place. It was a dark environment and he was essentially a prisoner due to his status as a prince, which left him unable to travel about unprotected. This was not the life he sought after for his future.

After completing high school, he attended and then graduated from King’s College, Lagos in 1956. He was admitted into Hendon College of Technology in London to study Drama and Television Production in 1963 and then proceeded to Landmark Baptist College in Tennessee, USA, in 1987 where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in Theology.

“Dosunmu” served in the Nigerian Civil Service for two years, then joined a broadcasting organization where he rose to the position of Head of Drama Department. Later he worked as a broadcaster at the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation where he also rose to the position of Head of Drama Department. He was the producer of a popular Nigerian TV show, The Village Headmaster, that holds the record of being the longest running popular TV series for over 20 years. He left the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation in 1975 to establish a private film production outfit, Starline Films Limited, where he wrote and directed many popular Nigerian movies. He later joined politics and was elected as Chairman of the Abeokuta local government in 1976.

As far as the prince was concerned, he was living the dream, far away from the encumberment of royal life and responsibilities and still walking closely with Christ. But in the early 2000’s, his life took an unexpected twist. Leaders among his royal family became convinced he was the most qualified member of the royal family to assume the throne. This was the day he dreaded from the time he was a little boy. He tried to convince them there was a better choice elsewhere, but they were not to be swayed.

He committed this to the Lord and after much prayer sensed that, as challenging as it would be, perhaps the greatest witness and the greatest influence he could have over his own people and family, would be in the capacity of their king. Never could he have imagined that God would choose the role of king as a method to answer His call to serve, nor that he would come to love this role, in spite of its challenges.

In July 2005, Dosunmu was appointed the Olowu of Owu Kingdom and spent the early days leading to his appointment ridding the palace and the grounds of its evil symbols, art, and paraphernalia. In addition, he committed a portion of the royal compound to be used to build a church.

To this day the palace serves as the Headquarters of SLM Nigeria, and King Dosunmu serves as the SLM Director. Together with his wife they have led thousands of people to Christ and disciple them personally and through the Associate Schools they have established throughout the country.

Just over a year ago, SLM Board Member Paul Seger and I had the privilege to teach, encourage, and train dozens of these Associate School directors and staff from around the country, where we were given firsthand, front line accounts of the atrocities that Christians are facing in Nigeria, particularly in the northern part of the country.

But woven in through these horrific stories were stories of God’s grace.

People are coming to the saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ and being discipled so that they too can share their faith. We heard of evangelists and pastors who have responded to God’s call with unwavering commitment to Him, answering with a resounding, “Here I am Lord, Send Me!” And when they have been threatened with death and beatings, they have stood strong. Many have lost all their possessions, had their churches burned, and been stripped and beaten publicly. But still they stand.

Their faith has been and will be tested over and over in these challenging times, but they still are committed to SLM and the work of discipleship and have shared their thankfulness that they get to serve alongside us. Few times in my life have I been so humbled.

So many Nigerians have expressed an utmost thankfulness for that Nigerian prince, who, contrary to his lifelong vow to never return to his childhood evil prison, the palace, answered the call of his people. Ultimately, it was clear that this was the call of the Lord for his life, to return to the palace, to rid it of evil and turn it into a lighthouse for the Gospel and a platform for the work of discipleship through the ministry of Source of Light. What a tremendous testimony to go from a vow to never go back to telling the Lord…

“Here I am, send me!”