Loving, Prayerful & Humble

Tribute to Baba Shidali I have known Baba Shidali since I was very little. From my earliest memories of him, I knew him as a very prayerful and loving man of God who would never compromise the standards of God. As a young child, I knew Baba as the minister who went around praying for the sick. I remember that my dad used to take him around almost every evening to pray for people who were sick. Even at that young age, I could see his love for God and his passion for helping others through prayer. Baba was also an Assistant Headmaster at my school, Chapel Nursery and Primary School, Ilorin. I remember an incident that happened when I was in Primary 3 or 4 that I will never forget. One day during break time, I got into a fight with one of my classmates and unfortunately injured him. After school, I got into the school bus to go home, not knowing that the boy had gone to call his mother. Just before the bus was about to leave, his mother arrived and was determined to drag me out of the bus and deal with me. I was scared to death! My saving grace that day was Baba. He intervened on my behalf, and, to my surprise, he did not even report the incident to my parents. Looking back now, I realize that Baba was not only a disciplinarian but also a compassionate and merciful man who knew how to guide and protect a child. One thing that stands out about Baba is his prayer life. His prayer life was truly remarkable. If you spent one hour with Baba, you could be sure that at least 30 minutes of that time would be spent in prayer. He was always praying, blessing you, and blessing you again and again. His life demonstrated that prayer was not just something he did; it was a major part of who he was. Baba was also a very humble man. He did not create a distance or a barrier between himself and anyone. Regardless of who you were, he made you feel welcome and valued. He carried himself with humility and treated people with genuine love and kindness. Baba also had a great impact on me in the areas of Bible study and holy living. He was always encouraging everyone around him to study the Word of God, live a holy life, and remain prepared for heaven. He often reminded us that the devil is wicked, but when we live a holy and righteous life and stand firmly on God's Word, we can overcome the attacks of the enemy. Baba even wrote a book with illustrations about how we can defeat the devil by putting on the whole armor of God. Although the book was never formally published, Baba was very passionate about making sure that its message reached people. He would personally send copies to people he believed would benefit from it. I personally experienced this many times. Baba sent that book to me and my family in Canada more than three times. Anytime he knew someone was coming to Canada, he would send another copy through them to us. That was Baba—he was always looking for opportunities to share what he believed could help someone grow spiritually. And it was not just me and my family. Many of us who grew up under Baba's influence in Ilorin can testify to the same thing. He invested in us, encouraged us, taught us the Word of God, and constantly reminded us to live holy and be ready for heaven. His desire was not simply to preach a message but to see that message become a reality in the lives of the people around him. Baba Shidali lived a life that touched many people. He was a man of prayer, a man of the Word, a man of holiness, a man of humility, and a man who genuinely loved God and His people. Although we will deeply miss him, we thank God for the life he lived and for the many lives he touched. His memories, teachings, prayers, and example will continue to live on in the hearts of those who knew him. My prayer is that God will comfort and console the family, the church of God, and everyone who is mourning his passing. May the Lord give us the grace to hold firmly to the faith Baba lived and taught us. And above all, I pray that someday, when our journey on earth is over, we will all meet again in heaven. Rest on, Baba Shidali. Until we meet again in glory.