20/08/2026
In July 2022, my father in the Lord, Apostle Arome Osayi, was scheduled to minister in Owerri at the first Eastern Apostolic Conference of RCN Imo State.
Like many sons would do, I was excited.
A team of pastors from Anambra had already planned the journey.
Everything looked normal.
Except one thing.
I couldn't find peace.
For days, I had prayed about attending the meeting.
The more I prayed, the less convinced I became.
It wasn't fear.
It was simply that quiet witness of the Holy Spirit saying, "Don't move."
Then one of the pastors travelling with us called me.
He said,
"Apostle... I don't feel we should go. I don't have peace in my spirit."
I laughed.
I told her,
"It's Papa that is ministering. We have to go."
Looking back today...
I now know the difference between honouring a spiritual father and ignoring the Holy Spirit.
That Friday afternoon, we set out.
I instructed two disciples from my church not to join our vehicle but to use public transportation. They might not understand but I had covering over them to instruct them.
I never knew that simple decision would later preserve their lives.
As we approached Owerri...
Everything changed.
Unknown gunmen opened fire on our vehicle.
Bullets.
Everywhere.
I was the one driving.
To this day, I still cannot fully explain how we escaped.
We abandoned the vehicle.
Ran for our lives.
Jumped into the bush.
Two brothers serving as protocol in our vehicle were hit by gunfire...
Yet by God's mercy, they survived.
While hiding inside the bush...
I picked up my phone.
And I sent my wife a message.
Not because I was sure I would die.
But because I wasn't sure I would return.
It was one of those messages you send when eternity suddenly feels very close.
We hid for what felt like forever.
At one point, I found myself lying under a tunnel, praying silently while armed men searched nearby.
Eventually, we escaped.
But we never made it to the conference.
The news reached Owerri.
It reached my father in the Lord.
Later, when we spoke, he asked me one question.
A question I have never forgotten.
He said,
"Before you started this journey... did you have the leading of the Holy Spirit to come?"
I answered honestly.
"No, sir."
"We prayed."
"We didn't have peace."
"We came because you were going to be there."
Then he said something that permanently changed my understanding of sonship.
He said,
"The purpose of raising sons is not for them to be led by me. It is for them to be led by the Holy Spirit."
That sentence corrected something inside me forever.
A true spiritual father is not trying to replace the voice of God in your life.
He is trying to teach you how to hear Him.
Many people think maturity is doing everything your father in the Lord does.
No.
Maturity is obeying God.
If your father clearly gives you an instruction, obey it.
But where no instruction has been given, don't replace the witness of the Holy Spirit with sentiment.
That is not honour.
That is immaturity.
Since that day, I have learned something.
Never violate divine peace because of emotional excitement.
Not even for a good meeting.
Not even because your favourite preacher is ministering.
No meeting is more important than obedience.
Interestingly...
July has always been a month filled with strange near-death encounters for me, dating back to my university days.
But one day, the Lord spoke to me.
He said,
"July shall no longer be remembered for danger. It shall be remembered for perfection."
That word has stayed with me.
And this is my prayer for everyone reading this.
May this July become your month of perfection.
May every unfinished story be completed.
May every delayed promise find fulfillment.
May every trap set against your life fail.
May the voice of the Holy Spirit become clearer than every other voice competing for your attention.
And finally...
Permit me to celebrate my Spiritual Parents in the Lord.
A man secure enough not to make sons dependent on him, but determined to make them dependent on the Holy Spirit.
That is rare.
If this story blessed you, take a moment to celebrate my PAPA Apostle Arome Osayi and MAMA Rev Dinna Osayi in the comment.
And if you're a young believer learning to follow God, share this post.
Someone needs to know that sentiment is never a substitute for the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Share it.
