Friday, November 7, 2014

I Give You My Son

In 1997 an older African man sat next to his son in my sitting room in Abeokuta, Nigeria. He was a man of character and love, and though he had worked hard all of his life, struggled to care for the needs of his children. His son, Segun Babalola, as an elementary student had gone to live with an aunt in Abeokuta, more than 2 hours away from home, and was attending a school nearby. I had met his son along with other boys one day while soulwinning. Segun asked Christ to be his Savior, and had began attending church faithfully. His father came to see me this day to ask me to allow Segun to come and live with me, and to help rear him for the Lord. After sharing his desire with me, and after I willingly and gratefully agreed to do so, he took his young boy by the shoulder and said to me, "I give you my son".

For the next five years I would become like a father to Segun. His father would later go to meet the Lord after his passing. This week, my son, Olusegun Matthew Babalola is marrying a sweet young lady, Tayo Koleosho, who also, grew up in the same church where I pastored in Nigeria, The Solid Rock Independent Baptist Church in Abeokuta. My prayer is that Segun and Tayo will live their lives for Christ. I wrote this poem for Segun on the week of his wedding. I love you, son.