THE FOUNDER
Apostle John Ajayi Agbona was born on Wednesday, April 21, 1920, at Okelemo in Oke-Emo, Ilawe-Ekiti, situated in Ekiti South-West Local Government in Ekiti State. He hailed from the family of Pa Agbona and Madam Maria Alege Agbona. He was popularly known as Adu by his contemporaries because of his shinny ebony skin tone. He was born into a polygamous family with other paternal siblings. His mother gave birth to sixteen children out of which he and his sister, Alice Arebisola survived. In those days, at birth, parents would inquire of oracles to foresee the future of their children in order to know what to do if the future is bad. The parent of Ajayi inquired of the family oracle about his way of life (akosejaye). The oracle said that he saw bright light around the little child and a multitude of followers. In retrospect, this revelation is a reflection ofthe light of Jesus Christ, the One to whom Ajayi gave his allegiance and the congregation of people within the Churches that God founded through him.
The father of Ajayi died while he was three and a half years old and was left to the care of his mother.
Ajayi spent his early years in spiritual, social, financial, psychological agony. He was faced with social rejection among relatives and neighbors. Ajayi was a man of destiny, God was very much at work in the dark days of his life. There were revelations given to his mother, himself, and other people concerning the glorious future that God had for him.
Ajayi wanted western education at all costs. His desire for formal education and the promise of assistance by Captain Akinwunmi of Salvation Army who saw the innate potentials of Ajayi inspired Ajayi to follow the Captain from Ilawe-Ekiti.
According to Apostle John Ajayi Agbona, the manifestation of divine presence in his life dated back to his youthful age. He recalled dreams where he found himself sitting on a highchair surrounded by people, he counselled and comforted. In a particular dream, he was given a cutlass to cultivate maize farm with which he feed several people. In another dream, about forty people were pursuing four people but God used him to rescue the four people. When Ajayi resided at Ilesa, living with Mr. Joseph, a bricklayer and Mr. Ojo Awi,a mechanic, these men observed the strange hand of God on Ajayi because he often stood up in the night to preach and pray aloud though he was unaware of what he was doing. At Iropora,while living with Mr. Samson, a strong member of Christ Apostolic Church; the prophet in the CAC they were attending asked the members to pray for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Five of the members received the Holy Spirit that evening.
Ajayi continued his quest for the Holy Spirit when he got home, and he received the grace that night. He was instructed by the Holy Spirit to secure a bell and go out to preach to the villagers that night. His action offended the village head because Ajayi preached in loud voice throughout the night.