Her Eminence, Dr. Mrs. Eunice Olufunke Babayemi JP. (
Until her call into the service of God in 1974, she was a trader. She suffered temporary barrenness which made her become really worried that she went about for help so that she could have more children. This problem made her leave her former Church (Anglican) for the Church of the Lord in 1974. On getting there, God bestowed on her the gift of the Holy Spirit, having fasted for 40 days (nights and days.) God performed a lot of miracles through her. God also answered her by giving her the fruits of the womb. To show appreciation to God for answering her prayers, she vowed that she would remain in the Church and take people with problems, especially, barren women, to the mountaintop to meet the Lord for solutions to their problems. She has maintained her vow faithfully till today. This is the secret behind our mountain services.
The Church of the Lord organization became worried about her success spiritually, as she started to have followers who rather than go to the prophets in the Church of the Lord, preferred to see her about their problems. They set up a committee to investigate the type of spirit that uses her. They discovered that the power that controlled her is the power of God through the Holy Spirit. No one lights a candle and puts it under a table. So God directed in September 1986 that she should proceed and establish her own Church. (Isaiah 61, verses 1-end). The words of Isaiah in this chapter is true of our Mother, Dr. Mrs. E. O. Babayemi, the Primate. At that time while still in Dallimore Street, she woke up one day to find a candle in her hand. This is a symbol of light. God called her to establish an International Church, and she answered the call willingly. God promised that as no one shall be able to count the sand of the sea or the stars in the sky, no one will be able to count the number of Jerusalem branches for a multitude throughout the world.
No one can write the history of our mother without Jerusalem Church of the Lord International. It is like "No Nile, no Egypt". We have Jerusalem Church of the Lord today because God has found in our mother the true Spirit of the Prophets of old; humility, a deep reverence for God, and love of mankind rather than love of money. All these made God to be delighted in her and chose her to lead His people, Jerusalem.
It is noteworthy that where the church's headquarters is today was not the original site. The original site was behind Alhaji Ajibola's house opposite the road, work there was stopped because of strong opposition to our building a Church behind a Muslim's house. When all efforts to continue there failed, God opened the road to this site for us through the benevolence of late Pa. Adesina who was the then occupant of the sawmill near us. May his soul rest in peace.
Jerusalem Church of the Lord International is a fully registered and incorporated Church with a Board of Trustees of ten members initially, now increased to seventeen for administrative purposes. Jerusalem Church of the Lord International within the first seventeen years of its establishment has got branches in Ekiti, Ondo, Oyo, and Lagos state, The Federal Capital, Abuja, Nigeria, London, U.K, and in the U.S.A.
You may be surprised that our Mother is also known as Iya-Ewe. In fact, this was the first title that God gave her in the Church. He also endowed her with the power to deliver and take care of babies, pregnant women, and nursing mothers without undertaking any training for it. Indeed, more than a thousand babies have been safely delivered by her in our Maternity Home. It is the power of the Holy Spirit. Some deliveries were very difficult and unique. After one such delivery, our mother had gone home to have her bath when she heard the voice, "doctor," "doctor," "doctor." It was on 11th January 1991. That was the first time she started bearing the title of a Doctor. It was a divine calling.
Whatever she is today is a gift from God. God works thousands of miracles through her for which we give glory to God and pray that as long as she lives, God will continue to use her for His people. She is a very dear mother to all Jerusalem, a rare gem, a salt to all people. For more than two decades, she has featured on Ondo and Ekiti State radio and television giving messages of hope and Salvation to the world. Most of her audience easily recognize her signature tune which goes thus:
"Oba to jiwa si imole alaaye , (The King who has woken us up to the dawn of the living)
ogo ni fun o o Baba o se , (Glory to You O Lord, thank you)
Oba to jiwa si imole alaaye , (The King who has woken us up to the dawn of the living)
ogo ni fun o o Baba (Glory to You Lord)"
Things to know about our Mother:
- That God established Jerusalem Church of the Lord International, Ile-Ewe through her in 1986 and as of today, we have many branches of the Church in Nigeria, besides the other branches in Ghana, London, the U.S.A &
Australia . - That she is the Chairperson, Board of Trustees of Jerusalem Church of the Lord International.
- That she is Three Times Jerusalem Pilgrim 1994, 1995, and 2001.
- She is a Life Member of 3000 years of King David in Jerusalem City, Israel.
- That she is a life member of the Bible Society of Nigeria; And Matron, Ado-Ekiti Bible Auxiliary.
- Matron, Student Union of the University of Ado-Ekiti.
- Matron, Federal Polytechnic, Ado Students Union.
- Matron, Federal Polytechnic, Cherubim and Seraphim (Unification), Ado-Ekiti.
- Matron, Ado-Ekiti Students Union of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
- Matron, Nigeria Automobile Technicians Association, Ado-Ekiti.
- Matron, Jesus Missionary Club of Nigeria.
- Matron, Ijigbo Tailors Association, Ado-Ekiti.
- Matron, Ekiti Radio and Television Ewi Exponents.
- Souvenir recipient of Ekiti State Achievers in Religious Propagation.
- Woman of Substance awardee in 1996 by the Board of Governors of Prosperity Time, Hall of Fame Fellowship, Ondo State.
- Life matron of Organization of African Instituted Churches, western zone.
- Christ Evangelism awardee on outstanding contribution to Christ Evangelism
- On 25th October 2003, she received an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Christian Evangelism from the School of Theology, International Deliverance College and Seminary in Ibadan Oyo State, Nigeria.
Proprietress , Jerusalem Nursery and Primary School, Ado-Ekiti (one of her visions)- Head of The Seminary JCLI.
Posterity will not forget Dr. (Mrs.) E. O. Babayemi for what God has done for mankind through her. How can we forget her humility? How can we forget her love and concern for all, her indiscriminate care of the old and young, rich and poor? Her ability to endure times of hardship and her leadership qualities that make her very successful where many have failed. Can we easily forget her meticulous attention to neatness in the body and in mind? She has no time for malice because according to her it will hinder one's prayers. It is our candid belief that God will grant her the grace to live many more years so that the world around her will be more blessed.
The biblical Deborah is remembered today for her leadership role in Israel, especially for saving Israel from the hands of Sisera. Ruth is remembered for her faithfulness to her mother-in-law. With what shall we remember our beloved mother? We shall remember her for what God has done for us through her with the power of the Holy Spirit. Through her, God has granted the barren to become mothers of children. Prolonged and protracted pregnancies have been delivered safely. People whose businesses have collapsed have become blessed and their businesses buoyant. God has promoted many civil servants through her prayers. The hopeless have become hopeful. God has opened up the way to prosperity for those that the world used to look down upon. Even the headquarters of our Church, a beautiful edifice, is something to write home about as an indicator that our mother is God chosen. She is a truly spiritual and orderly administrator, who has monitored the Church fund and made sure that it is wisely spent for the growth of the Church. Chronic cases of illness that are defiant to medical prescription have responded to spiritual treatment in Jerusalem, e.g. asthma, sickle cell anemia, goiter, stroke, appendicitis, premature menopause, etc. For these and many other mercies, we give glory to God in the Highest, Halleluiah.
In the course of her ministry, the Primate has been well recognized for her devotion to the work of God, her humility, tolerance, moderation, Spirit-filled life, and her tremendous positive impact on the life of countless souls. This is reflected in the various awards bestowed upon her over the years, from different organizations and bodies cutting across the public, private and ecumenical sections of Nigeria. Amongst these awards/awarding organizations are the following:
The Bible says, "Seest thou a man or a woman diligent in his ways, he or she will stand before Kings and not mean men" (Proverbs 22:29). So it is for Dr (Mrs) Eunice Olufunke Babayemi, the Primate and Founder of Jerusalem Church of the Lord International, (Ile-Ewe);
| AWARDS | |
| Afe Babalola Beneficiaries Worldwide | Bible Society Of Nigeria (BSN) Ado-Ekiti Auxiliary |
| Broadcasting Service of Ekiti State (BSES) | Celestial Church of Christ |
| Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Award of Honour | Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Zone Eleven, Ado LG |
| Egbe Akewi (Ipinle Ekiti) a.k. | EKITI FIBAN 2017 |
| Ekiti State Council Of Chambers Of Commerce, Industry Mixes And Agricultural (EKCCCIMA) | Eminent Builders Of Modern Ekiti Award |
| Evangelical Anointed Church Inc. MOUNT ZION | Great Minds International Foundation (GMIF) |
| Ijigbo Tailors Association, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State | Jerusalem Church of The Lord International Akure Branch |
| Jerusalem Church Of The Lord International (JCLI) Surulere Branch | Jerusalem Hands Of God, Award of being a Superb Example for All! |
| Jerusalem Host of Heaven | Jerusalem Good Women Fellowship |
| Jerusalem Youth Fellowship | Nigerian Army Resource Centre |
| Nigerian Society Of Professional Tailors, Ado-Ekiti Chapter | Organization Of African Instituted Churches (OAIC), Woman of Integrity Award |
| Organization of African Instituted Churches {OAIC} Women and Children Department | Prosperity Times Hall of Fame Fellow |
| Redeemed Evangelical Anointed Church Inc. MOUNT ZION | The Church of The Lord {ALADURA} |
| The Fellowship of Christian Ministers of Ado Ekiti Origin | The Harvesters Theological Training Institute Training Arm Of Announcers Ministers (Discovering God's Hidden Generals) |
| 15th Edition of KAYEGBO INTERNATIONAL Award Day | |
The Bible says, "Seest thou a man or a woman diligent in his ways, he or she will stand before Kings and not mean men" (Proverbs 22:29). So it is for Dr (Mrs) Eunice Olufunke Babayemi, the Primate and Founder of Jerusalem Church of the Lord International, (Ile-Ewe);
A Mother in Israel, the Deborah of our time;
A Christian in truth and indeed;
A Chosen and dedicated daughter of God;
An epitome of love, humility, and radiance;
Honourable, responsible, and respectable;
Truthful, hardworking, persevering, prayerful, and devoted
A lover of the young and old,
Above all, God-fearing and Holy Spirit controlled and directed
Long live your eminence
May you continue to grow from strength to strength in the spirit
and wisdom of God;
May your life continue to be a blessing to mankind.
And, may the eternal crown of glory be yours in Jesus' name
Glory be to God in the highest, Hallelujah.