Mr.& Mrs. Oyelude traveled to Mali in June 1991 on holidays. Mali is a landlock Country of about 13Million people in West Africa. About 90% of Malians are Moslems, about 8% are African Traditionalists and only about  2%-Christians. While in Mali, Mr. Oyelude had some meditation about the fate of the Millions of the "good" Malian people who did not know the way of salvation. He was so disturbed and he began to pray, asking--"Father, wouldn't you do something to save these people? After some days of meditation and prayer, suddenly one afternoon, he sensed The Holy Spirit telling him "son, you are the one who has to do something about the salvation of these people."

 This left him disturbed even the more as he wondered what was he capable of doing towards the salvation of the "good" people of Mali who are the parents, brothers and sisters to his darling wife (Mrs. Fanta Bouare Oyelude).

 On their return to Nigeria, the Oyelude family started to pray regularly for the salvation of the Malians. The burden grew stronger and pressing by the day. This culminated into Mr. Oyelude accepting the call of God into the Gospel Ministry at The Central Baptist Church, Benin City under the pastorate of Revd. B. O. Ekhator (JP) in 1994. Mr. Oyelude was later admitted into The Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary, Ogbomoso; where he graduated with Master of Divinity (M.Div.)-Theology Degree in June 2000.

 Thereafter Pastor Oyelude, members of his family and other mission-minded Christians have been going on Mission Trips to Mali spending about four weeks annually, witnessing to the Malians. This has led to The Mission To Mali initiative.

 Pastor Oyelude was ordained into the full Gospel Ministry at The New Reservation Area Baptist Church, Iyaganku Ibadan, Oyo State Nigeria on Saturday, July 17, 2004.

Pastor and Mrs. Oyelude resigned voluntarily from their secular engagements as a Banker and a Senior Secondary School Teacher respectively on December 2005 having been adopted by the Global Mission Board of the Nigerian Baptist Convention to open up the Pioneering Mission Work in Mali in January 2006.

 The vision of The Mission To Mali therefore is, to work with and under the leadership of The Holy Spirit to mobilize the Nigerian Baptist Convention in particular and Christians all over the world in general towards the evangelization of the Republic of Mali to reach the over 12Million Malians for Jesus Christ and God's eternal kingdom. 

The Oyelude family had another opportunity to travel to Mali in August 2000. During this time, newly graduated Pastor Oyelude and his wife were able to share God's plan of salvation with their Malian family members for the first time. Of great significance was their extensive discussion with Pa. Adama N'Tio Bouare (of blessed memory), who after many days of witnessing to him eventually declared on the fateful night of August 12, 2000 that "I have listened attentively to you this past couple of days. I now believe that faith in Jesus Christ is faith in Allah (God)." 

 Pa. Bouare thereafter happily accepted a bold print copy of the Holy Bible in French language, presented to him and he promised to read it. Sadly Pa. Bouare died only two months later in a ghastly motor accident during his first but unsuccessful attempt to visit his daughter (Fanta) and her family in Nigeria.

 The events turned out to be a case of 'double tragedy' for the Oyelude family. They returned from Mali on September 10, 2000 only to learn that their Father in Nigeria, Pa. David Oyelude Oyelowo had died shortly after their departure to Mali. Pa. Bouare, hearing about the demise of his Nigerian friend (as he fondly referred to him, even though they never saw each other physically) decided to travel to Nigeria to pay a condolence visit to the Family.

 Pa. Bouare and his first son, an Engineer who accompanied him on the trip traveled on road for two days and two nights to arrive Cotonou, Republic of Benin from Bamako, Republic of Mali. They both boarded a car in the morning of the third day of their journey at Cotonou heading for Lagos, Nigeria on Monday  November 20, 2000.  Although Pa. Bouare was happy to enter into Nigeria, he was not privileged to step on Nigeria soil alive. The car in which they traveled lost one of the front tires on top speed, a few kilometers to Badagry; the first town on Nigerian soil from her border with Benin Republic. The driver in the process lost control. The vehicle swerved off the road, somersaulted a number of times down the slope and finally landed on it's back.

 Pa. Adama Bouare sustained severe head injury. As fate would have it, he died a few hours later in the Casualty Ward of The General Hospital, Badagry, Nigeria. However, to the glory of our merciful God, the young Engineer survived the accident with only light bruises on different parts of his body.

Pastor & Mrs. Oyelude were saddled with the responsibility of conveying the body of their deceased Father back to Bamako, Mali for burial. Painful as the experience was, it was one wonderful opportunity for the Oyeludes to see The Living God being practically involved in the affairs of those who trust in him. The journey could be described as any thing but easy.

The party left Badagry in a chartered bus, one adjudged to be the newest and the best in the fleet of the "Cotonou-Bamako" regulars on Thursday, November 23, 2000. Being a direct drive, the journey was expected to last at most about 48 hours. The company however did not arrive in Bamako until the early hours of Sunday, November 26, 2000 after about 68 hours. About 24 hours was lost on the same spot in the bush along the way due to an unexplainable breakdown of the supposed 'best vehicle' in a condition that can only be described as 'mysterious'.

The "funeral service" in honor of late Pa. Bouare at about four o'clock in the evening of that Sunday was the first opportunity for Pastor Oyelude to be a part of an Islamic worship experience in a Mosque. The Boulkassombougou Mosque, Bamako was full to capacity. As the 'sea' of human heads bowed and rose in the ritual of Islamic worship, Pastor Oyelude's spirit was heavy with sorrow; not only for losing his dear father-in-law the way he did but mainly in realization of the lostness of the good people of Mali.

It was in the course of this service that Pastor Oyelude again experienced another unique encounter with The LORD. He asked sorrowfully "Father, wouldn't you do something about the salvation of these people?" And when The LORD answered him as he did in 1991, "son, it is you who has to do something to accomplish my perfected work of salvation for these people" he simply entered into a solemn covenant with God saying: 'Lord, if you will save them I will come'.  The Oyeludes thereafter realised that this is the confirmation of their call to missionary work with The Lord in Mali on "The Mission To Mali".

INTENSIVE PRAYER PREPARATION

The annual leave of August 2001 afforded Pastor Oyelude a wonderful opportunity to spend quality time alone with God. Mrs. Oyelude also on her annual vacation traveled to Mali along with Tola, the baby of the family while the other children decided to spend their long vacation with a family friend in Lagos.

Pastor Oyelude embarked on a forty days personal Bible study and  intensive prayer with fasting within which period he received tremendous inspiration and direction for the vision. When all the family members returned from their vacation, the regular prayer sessions at the family altar continued on daily basis until the family was convinced that The Lord has granted open door for witnessing in Mali. 

MISSION BAPTISTE NIGERIANE AU MALI

May the LORD bless you and continue to make you a BLESSING to your generation in Jesus Name, amen.  

Ladi & Fanta OYELUDE

MISSIONARY COUPLE

The first missionary endeavour to Mali by Pastor & Mrs. Oyelude took place in August 2002. Again the couple was on their annual leave from their work places.

While in Mali, they shared the Gospel with their immediate family members, the in-laws and The LORD graciously called some to Himself in salvation as they accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. Their ministration was also followed with signs and wonders as some received healings in Jesus' name.

The couple traveled extensively visiting places like Dioila, Mopti, Sevare, and Sadiola. Some of the converts were handed over to a local Church.

Please visit our "About Page" for details about "The First Missionary Endeavour"

     SECOND MISSONARY TRIP TO MALI

August 2003 was another month of exciting missionary endeavour for the Oyeludes. The LORD has decided to enlarge  the work of THE  MISSION TO MALI as two other persons were independently mobilised by the Lord to join the couple and their children. The team was excited to meet the few souls The Lord saved in the previous year strongly holding on to their faith in The Lord. The enlarged team was motivated to intensify the person to person witnessing and distribution of Gospel Tracts in the town of Dioila.

With more souls won to The LORD in Dioila, the team encouraged the converts to come together for the purpose of worshipping and growing together in The LORD. And so The Lord led the team to launch "The Baptist Church of Dioila"  on August 24, 2003. To God be the glory, great things He has done!

 REMARK

Pastor T. L. Oyelude worked as a Bank Manager with one of the Nigerian First Generaton Banks. He was also a volunteer Minister assisting in the Evangelism, Missions and Training Ministries of a local Baptist Church.  His wife Fanta was a teacher in one of the Government Secondary Schools. She was  also actively involved in the Women's and Children's Ministries of the same local Church. They both lived and worked at Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.

They  both willingly, under the leading of God's Spirit resigned from their secular jobs and relocated to Mali as a full time missionary family to start a pioneering ministry  MISSION BAPTISTE NIGERIANE au MALI in January 2006. So far the LORD has used them with the support of mission minded persons and organizations to plant about eight (8) Churches, a Nursery School- "Divine Grace Nursery School" and a Primary/Secondary School. "Ecole Fondamental Privee de La Mission Baptiste Nigeriane au Mali" Please use any of the following e-mail address tladioyelude@yahoo.com , ladioyelude@gmail.com or fantaoyelude@yahoo.com to contact them as you allow God to use you to carry out His plan for the salvation of about 98% of the 13Million Malians!