Encomium
Senior Pastor, Latter Rain Assembly, Tunde Bakare has abandoned the Oregun, Lagos church headquarters project.
The one- acre property along Kudirat Abiola Way, Ikeja, Lagos, acquired by the church years back, has just been there with a signpost, boldly written, The Citadel, a Place of Worship.
Hopes that Latter Rain Assembly would commence the church headquarters project as soon as they secured the property and indicated its purpose, were dashed when years rolled on without a structure there.
The only thing there for now is the sign post and a temporary fence.
The Citadel, ENCOMIUM Weekly gathered, is a multi-million naira building complex which would serve as the corporate headquarters of Later Rain Assembly.
We have also been told that the church’s Akilo Road, Ogba, Lagos, which is their only branch in Lagos, would remain there, though, the future facility has also been tagged, a place of worship.
Pastor Bakare’s Latter Rain Assembly does not believe in replication of church branches. The vision of the popular pentecostal church centres on just one church at a time with a shepherd (Pastor) calling the shots.
Pastor Babatunde Gbolahan Bakare, 6O, attended All Saints Primary School, Kemta, Abeokuta and later Lisabi Grammar School, Abeokuta, after which he studied law at the University of Lagos between 1977 and 1980. He was called to the Bar in 1981 and following his NYSC, he practiced law with Gani Fawehinmi Chambers, Rotimi Williams & Co and Burke & Co, Solicitors.
He established his own law firm, Tunde Bakare & Co (El-Shaddai Chambers) in October 1984.
In May 1988, at the peak of his legal career, he was called into ministry and he founded The Latter Rain Assembly (End-Time Church) on April 1, 1989.
He presides over Global Apostolic Impact Network (GAIN) a network of churches, ministries and kingdom businesses committed to advancing the Kingdom of God on earth. Pastor Bakare is also the President of Latter Rain Ministries, Inc. (Church Development Center) in Atlanta, GA, USA, a ministry committed to restoring today’s church to the scriptural pattern. In recognition of his years of exploits and global impact in ministry, he was honoured with a Doctor of Ministry degree by the Indiana Christian University under the leadership of his mentor, Dr. Lester Sumrall.
Tunde Bakare was born by Muslim mother and a Muslim father, whom he did not grow up to know. His mother, Madam Abigail Eebudola Bakare raised him.
Married to Mrs. Olayide Bakare in 1984, Pastor Bakare’s marriage has played a pivotal role in his life, career and ministry.
“Mrs. B”, as she is affectionately called by her husband, has been involved in ministry work all her adult life. Pastor and Mrs. Bakare have two girls and three boys in their 31 years of marriage.
Also a politician, Tunde Bakare was the vice presidential candidate of the defunct CPC in the 2011 elections.
He is equally close to the All Progressives Congress leadership who have indicated interest in working with him. A fierce critic of the Jonathan administration before he was selected for the National Conference, Bakare is a co-founder of the Save Nigeria Group.
