LET'S TALK ABOUT HYMN - Evang. Yemi Owolabi

1. Ma, can we meet you?

Res: I am Evang. Yemi Owolabi, the corodinator of R. o. J Music Ministry.

2. Mummy, can you tell us the meaning of R. o. J and the reason why you chose those words as an anchor for your ministry ma?

Res: R. o. J is an acronym of Root of Jesse Music. I didn't choose the name myself oo, the Lord Himself gave me the name, 26 years ago.

3. Ma, tell us few things about your ministry ma?

Res: R.o.J Music Ministry began officially in 1996 after much revelations and leading of God, that I can't only serve Him ( God) in my local church but that I must fulfill the scriptures in Acts.1.8 - "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."

And since then, I have been following my Master who gave me this great assignment in the Music Ministry.

4. Hmmmmm... Can you now share with us your encounter when God gave you the name?

Res: It was not a joke o.

I was praying for the name of the Ministry for months and I felt I can just form a name. I had already made up my mind with a particular name then, and God didn't talk. It was in a music Ministration outside my church that I heard a song in Yoruba language "GBÒǸGBÒ ÌDÍLÉ JÉÉSÈ, ÈMI Ń DÚPẸ́ O FÚN OORE RẸ̀" & the Lord told me that is it!

5. What were the challenges that surfaced during this journey and how were you able to overcome them ma?

Res: The challenges are majorly always in two aspects for every divine assignment. Spiritual & physical. Spiritual in the sense that, the devil becomes your arch-enemy, waging wars to ensure you do not succeed AT ALL. I'm sure you know what I mean.

The Physical challenges I had was so serious! There were problems of "acceptance". Not everyone will like you or your style of music. Secondly, I move round churches then singing in their Anniversary but they despised me & my backups. Few were good to appreciate our gifts as small as it was then. But I was never shy or discouraged. The last one was the issue of MUSIC PROMOTERS. The demarcation they made between we starters and the fast-rising or popular gospel Artiste then was unfair but in ALL, I'm grateful to the God of my call. I was able to overcome because I remain MYSELF! Focused, determined & ready to go to any length for my Master.

6. How do you overcome pressure ma?

Res: My pressure disappears in the place of Worship

7 Mummy, let's talk about Hymn. What do you think Hymn is and what it does?

Res: Hymns, majorly are sacred songs composed or written by the Saints of Old. These sacred songs are rich and highly inspirational. They are powerful scriptures in musical lyrics!

They are simple and easy to learn.

They can be sung with or without music.

They are birthed not out of mere emotional outburst like MOST OF THE MODERN DAY SONGS we hear and sing all around

WHAT HYMNS DOES....

Hymns are powerful tools for personal spiritual transformation.

Hymns touches the realm of the Spirit directly.

Hymns carries a very deep and uncommon inspiration, if it is sang with full concentration.

It breaks yokes, causes a man to access his deliverance and lifts burdens from one's heart.

Hymns open you up for your desired miracle.

Some Hymns reminds you of your eternal home and reward in heaven.

Some engages your enemy in a spiritual combat & DELIVERS YOUR VICTORY TO YOU.

Hymns gives hope in a state of despair, hopelessness and anguish.

It comforts and gladdens the heart.

It brings down the undeniable presence of God.

I can go on and on

8. My question is, if you weren't a gospel singer, what profession would you have been doing?

Res: Very very simple!

I love lecturing.

9. Good to have you here ma.

My question is this, these days the "modern church", they don't really sing much of hymns or take it serious. What was Hymn singing like in the then generation and how important was Hymn to them back then?

Res: It is true that "Modern churches'' rarely use Hymns in their services but not in the Orthodox or traditional Churches who till today, have their services anchored mainly on different hymns, even for specific occasions.

Back then, at least I can boldly say that singing of HYMNS is an important part of the service. I grew up in

C. A. C, we have recessional Hymns and processional hymns. Not to talk of the opening hymn & closing hymn again. There was always a Hymn to usher in the preacher's SERMON, then! For you to know how important it was.

In all honesty, these different hymns had a great influence on my gift as a song writer & composer as I was growing in the Faith.

10. What always prompt you to sing Hymn?

Res: Ha, when I want to worship my Father ni o. Honestly, I have issues when alone, trying to Praise God. Most times, after singing the common songs, I always have this unsatisfying feeling. So, I shift to HYMNS. And, assuredly, I get to His presence faster, soaked in the reality of His power.

11. Is it everyone that can sing hymn and manifest the doings you mentioned not quite long or it is meant for specific sets of people?

Res: YES, EVERYONE today can sing hymns and experience what I said earlier. As long as you're a genuine Child of GOD and you sing any of these hymns with undivided attention.

12. Ma, you made mention of emotional outburst, if these hymns should not be birthed out of emotional outburst, how do we now receive hymn, is it general or person specific?

Res: Let me quickly include this that, most of the hymns we know or sing were not birthed in pleasure or during the writer's comfort moments. As against what we have today, apparently we're not facing what they experienced! Our challenges are nothing to compare with theirs. And I believe you know what I mean. But, I tell people that, it is not because of their sufferings that made their "songs" powerful BUT their deep Faith in God, deep intimacy with God & how much of God they know and carry in them!

Anyone can be inspired by the Holy Spirit to sing hymns today IF & ONLY IF he/she has the qualifications I just mentioned.

13. Can you tell us some testimonies of singing Hymns personally.

Res: To the glory of God I have many personal testimonies.

One major testimony was a particular year, not too long ago, that God asked me to give Him back the glory due to Him, after that year's edition of Praise Therapy. He said because He did great deliverance in the outer midst that day. I quickly determined in my mind to do it THAT PARTICULAR NIGHT.

I was singing & praising God, then I sang

"JÉSÙ YÈ TÍTÍ AYÉ, Ẹ̀RÙ IKÚ KÒ BÀ MÍ MỌ́, JÉSÙ YÈ NÍTORÍ NÁÀ, ISÀ ÒKÚ KÒ NÍPÁ MỌ́. ALELÚYÀ"

Then, ÌJÀ DÓPIN OGUN SÌ TÁN, OLÙGBÀLÀ JAGUN MÓLÚ, ORIN ÀYỌ̀ LA Ó MÀ KO ALELÚYÀ"

I didn't know that my child was between life and death in the hospital. God miraculously, to the surprise of the nurses & doctors raised my child back to life, that same night. I knew this the following morning.

Secondly in most of my Ministrations, I bless God for His uncommon grace upon me o, He will just sing a line of the Hymn in my spirit man , then, I shift to it. This happens severally with Great testimonies following.

14. Our vision of this theme, let's talk about hymn is to make sure everybody sings Hymn.

What do you have for people who don't count Hymn as a means to worship God ma?

Res: This problem can be traced to their foundation. Maybe they were not brought up in churches that sing hymns. Maybe, they had a solid foundation but they just grew up and decided to pattern their worship service out of Hymn-Singing.

I sincerely want to advise them to incorporate Hymns in their services in order to make their work and labour in God's Service more productive. Yes! I mean productive. Because, what sermons, counsellings, teachings, rebukes, consolations etc can not do in the life of their members, HYMN- SINGING WILL DO.

15. Beautiful, what do you have for us about hymn that we haven't touched ma?

Res: I only want to advise this generation to embark on HYMN REVIVAL.

I wish our music ministers can embrace the potency (strength/power) of hymns and include it in our songs, albums, Ministrations and even concerts. I implore us to see HYMN- SINGING as OUR LIFE.

I don't know if the Christian Association of Nigeria can liase with the Government to create and celebrate WORLD HYMN DAY annually so much so that we won't sing any contemporary song in our homes & churches on that day, other than Hymns.

Thank you so much, for coming this week, we appreciate you. GOD bless you ma.