Remembering Most Rev Joseph Sunday Ajayi on his 80th posthumous birthday compels us to reflect on life’s brevity and the enduring hope offered by faith in Jesus. Archbishop Ajayi’s life and ministry remind us to focus on the promise of eternal life for all who accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour.

Archbishop Ajayi exemplified the Evangelical Christian faith and episcopacy, embracing personal commitment to Jesus, deep love of scripture, and missionary zeal. He identified with the Evangelical tradition fully and modelled a life focused on fundamental faith and the call to bring others to Christ. His example teaches us the meaning of faithful, Christian leadership and following Jesus until the end.

In an age of competing Christian expressions, Archbishop Joseph Sunday Ajayi’s legacy stands out: he modelled a balanced and renewing way of faithful leadership. Amid shifting doctrines and values, his steadfast commitment to biblical orthodoxy offers a clear example of leadership rooted in godliness.

On his 80th posthumous birthday, we remember Archbishop Ajayi for his evangelistic leadership and dedication to practical theology, ecclesiology, revival, charismatic renewal, and evangelism. He consistently voiced concern for the trajectory of the Methodist Church Nigeria, emphasising his commitment to upholding orthodox faith. As pioneer Bishop of Ogbomoso in 1996 and Archbishop of Lagos in 2006, he took seriously the promise all bishops make to “drive away strange doctrine,” protecting the church from heretical, human-invented, or “diverse and strange” beliefs.

Archbishop Ajayi was a man of both the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. For him, to be evangelical was also to be charismatic, seeing scripture as pointing to the Spirit’s presence and power. According to scripture, the Holy Spirit leads us into all truth.

The Most Rev. Dr Joseph Sunday Ajayi was born on Sunday, 7th of April 1946, at Oye–Ekiti into the caring family of Mr Ezekiel Ajayi and Mrs Julianah Ajayi, both of blessed memory. Sunday’s baptismal journey began as an infant through Rev. E. J. Jones’s loving touch. Raised among six siblings, he learned the dignity of hard work on his father’s farm, pausing each Sabbath for sacred rest. Even as a small boy, Joseph’s eyes lingered on the altar-arch’s bold inscription— “HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, LORD GOD ALMIGHTY”—as he sought mercy, salvation, and protection with a yearning heart. His artistic soul first blossomed in these early, wonder-filled days.

Archbishop Ajayi attended the United Primary School, Oye-Ekiti, from 1952 – 1961, and Saint Patrick’s Secondary Modern School, Oye–Ekiti, from 1962 – 1964. He trained as a Grade II Teacher at Government Teacher Training College, Cappa, Ilesa, from 1967 to 1969. Immanuel College of Theology, Ibadan, from 1974 to 1977. International University, Independence, Missouri, USA. 1982-1984. Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas, U.S.A., from 1981 to 1986.

Archbishop Ajayi’s purpose in life was to make art his life. In 1965, as a member of the Onireke Boys’ and Girls’ Club, Ibadan, he participated in the Ibadan District Federation Festival of Arts Exhibition at the Youth Centre, Ososami Road, Oke Ado, Ibadan. There, he displayed portraits of Chief S.L.A. Akintola, Premier of the Western Region; Chief Mrs Faderera Akintola; Alhaji Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto; and Chief Remi Fani-Kayode, Deputy Premier of the Western Region. He later presented the portraits to the Premier in December 1965. He presented carved portraits of Lieutenant–Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi and Brigadier Aguiyi Ironsi to the first Military Governor of the Western Region at the Ministry of Education Secretariat in Ibadan on Tuesday, 8th of March 1966. He presented a Clay Modelling Portrait of Oba Peter Adeniran Agunlejika, Owa Obokun Adimula of Ijesaland, on an elephant-carved stool to the Kabiyesi in 1968.

Archbishop Ajayi poured his heart into teaching at A.U.D. Primary School, Igbogila (1969-1970) and I.C.C. Practising School, Oke Bola, Ibadan (1970-1973). During these years, whispers of grace reached his spirit: he heard the Gospel of redemption, felt salvation’s embrace, and was drawn into passionate evangelistic fellowship and witness. His one-man Art Exhibition at the British Council Hall, Dugbe, Ibadan, from April 30 to May 12, 1973, became a turning point—a moment when his art met a divine calling. On the exhibition’s closing afternoon, a gentle, searching question echoed in his soul: “Joseph, if art has caused you all these ………… what will the truth cost you?”

Archbishop Ajayi resigned from teaching in December 1973 and took up the position of Local Agent at the Methodist Church, Ado Ekiti, from January to August 1974. The encouragement of Late Archbishop T.A. Akinnigbagbe, Very Rev. D.O. Omotunde, and that of late Archbishop C.Ola Makindipe were very timely and helpful in taking steps of faith into the Ministerial Training at Immanuel College from 1974 – 1977. At the College, Archbishop Ajayi’s voice for evangelism and outreach was unpopular. Dead ends such as “However good and desirable your intention, if we say, ‘You cannot do it, you cannot do it.’ If you go ahead and succeed in doing it, and we say, ‘we don’t see it, ‘we don’t see it.’”  Following the interception of Late Archbishop Dr T. T. Solaru, Archbishop Ajayi led the formation of God with the Evangelical Students at Immanuel College in 1976-1977. Witnessing in villages, prisons, schools, revivals and evangelism in Ibadan. When Asbury Theological Seminary (an evangelical United Methodist Church Seminary), Wilmore, Kentucky, U.S.A., mailed a dozen books by Dr Robert Coleman on Evangelism and Mission to Immanuel College library in 1976, it was rejected by the College authority and handed over to Joseph, on the pretext that he may have been instrumental for the parcel. The second parcel of the books received by the college in 1978 was brought again to Archbishop Ajayi in Lagos.

As a deacon at Williams Memorial Methodist Church, Ago Ijaye, Ebute Metta, Lagos (1977-1981), Archbishop Ajayi listened with care and poured passion into every evangelical contribution as the church sought to be THE CHURCH in challenging times. After heartfelt appeals, he earned approval from his Presbyter, the Leaders Meeting, and the Circuit Quarterly meeting. His first Christian Drama, “Peace on Earth,” resonated with youth and was broadcast on national television on Christmas Eve 1977, sparking hope and reflection. He led Monday and Tuesday Bible Studies, drawing many from Ebute-Metta and Olodi Apapa. Through open-air preaching at ‘street corners, hedges and byways’ in Ebute Metta East and West at month’s end (1979-1981), he reached countless hearts with compassion and courage.

The journey was not without hardship. Rehearsal for his second drama, the GREATEST LOVE STORY, prayer, and Bible study were halted on the grounds of ‘Unmethodist’ practices. The pain of accusations, such as saying ‘Amen, Hallelujah,’ left wounds, but also showed Ajayi’s heartfelt zeal. Sir Folorunso Ogunjuyigbe recalled that, at a tense church meeting in Abeokuta, Ajayi narrowly avoided dismissal as a priest, thanks to the intervention of Patriarch Bolaji Idowu, who recognised his potential and compassionately sent him for further studies in the United States of America.

At Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas, Joseph served as: Student Assistant at Bridwell Library, SMU, 1983-1986; Driver/Distributor Daily Campus Newspaper to the University Community 1983-1986; President of Perkins School of Theology’s International Students that developed constitution for the body in 1984; He did his Doctoral Degree studies (1984-1986) on Evangelistic Preaching that is based on sound theological persuasion, and his project work and thesis was on “The Importance of Kerygmatic Preaching in the Local Church’s Evangelism.” Archbishop Ajayi mounted an exhibition of paintings at the University’s Student Centre and raised about 3,000 dollars, which helped him pay for his family’s return to Nigeria in September 1986.

Attending international and national seminars and conferences on Evangelism was both an honour and a passion for Archbishop Ajayi. He served with warm dedication as lecturer, Registrar, and revivalist at the Methodist Theological Institute, Sagamu (1986–1990), where he inspired countless students. As a leader, he breathed life into the vision of the Methodist Evangelical Movement (MEM). Appointed in August 1990 as the first full-time Director of Evangelism, Ajayi poured his heart into discerning and implementing evangelistic initiatives for the Church (1990–1996). Sir Ogunjuyigbe often recalled Ajayi’s remarkable humility and humanity. With fondness, he remembered the 1994 Methodist Conference in Oron: “We were paired together in one room with a single bed. Before I returned to the room on the first night, he was already sleeping on the floor. I forced him to sleep on the bed, while I slept on the floor.” Such small moments spoke volumes of his character—humble, selfless, and kind.

Archbishop Ajayi attended the following international conferences: The Second World Methodist Evangelism International Seminar at Candler’s School of Theology, Emory University, Atlanta, June/July 1984 for academic credit from SMU, Dallas. The Third World Methodist Evangelism International Seminar at Atlanta, Georgia, in 1987. West Africa Congress on Evangelism at Redemption Camp in December 1988; The New World Mission of Evangelistic Preaching/Teaching and sharing for Revival in the United Methodist Church in the USA in June 1992. Archbishop Ajayi was appointed, with the approval of His Eminence Sunday Mbang, as the Regional Secretary of the World Methodist Evangelism for West Africa.

The Rev. Cecil Williamson Ministry in Evangelism, through the networking leadership of the Most Rev. Ayo Ladigbolu, helped sponsor annual holistic evangelistic Missions to the Dioceses of Enugu, Ilesa, Calabar, Egba-Yewa, and the North from 1992 to 1996. Archbishop Ajayi, with the national team of Evangelical leaders, including the Very Rev. Dr Mike Oye and Evangelist J. K. Udeze, led week-long Cathedral Revival Times in 19 of our Cathedrals from 1991 to 1996. The first national Methodist Convention was in September 1994.

Archbishop Ajayi was elected Bishop of Ogbomoso at the 1996 Ikot Ekpene Conference. His Eminence Sunday Mbang’s assessment of Joseph’s years as Director of Evangelism was that “the experiment was not a disappointment.” Archbishop Ajayi attended the Regional Secretaries Meeting and the 3rd Order of the Flame Conference in Nashville in April/May 1994. The Fifteenth World Methodist Evangelism Seminar in Atlanta in June 1997 and the West Africa Regional Seminar in Lome, Togo, in 2001 as a faculty member.

The    Regional   Secretaries   Meeting   and   the   World   Methodist Conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, South America, in 1996, in Brighton, 2001, and Seoul, South Korea, 2006, as a Council and Conference member. The First Order of the Flame for young Ministers of Wesleyan/Methodist Churches, sponsored by the World Methodist Council, was hosted by Archbishop Ajayi at Immanuel College of Theology, Ibadan, in July 2003.

As the pioneering Bishop of a new Diocese, Archbishop Ajayi worked tirelessly to develop a model “Diocese of Evangelism” as predicted and anticipated by His Eminence Sunday Mbang. The ten years of labour of LOVE have been put into a book titled “CONTENDING FOR LOVE”, sub-titled “Evangelistic Drive in Ogbomoso Diocese 1997 – 2006. The comment of His Eminence Sunday Mbang was, “My tour of your Diocese was very memorable and successful. It opened my eyes to the new pace that you have set in the Diocese. There is no doubt in my mind that your Diocese in the not-too-distant future will be one of the best in the Conference area. Congratulations on a job well done.”

Archbishop Ajayi provided leadership in drafting, preparing, and coordinating the Archdiocese of Ibadan Annual Leadership Retreat on issues that have been of concern to the church since 2001 – 2005. He had presented major papers at the Strategic Planning Retreat, Bishops’ Council, and at each of the above retreats. He served as the first Chairman of Ogbomoso Christian Ministers’ Fellowship (OCMF), 2004 -2006. Archbishop Ajayi served the Church as a member of the Governing Council of Immanuel College of Theology, Ibadan, from 2003 to 2006. He was elected as Archbishop of Lagos at Uyo Conference, in August 2006; Chairman, Institute of Church and Society Board, Ibadan, 2007 – 2010; Chairman, Governing Council, West Africa Theology Seminary, Ipaja, Lagos, since November 2009; Vice Chairman, Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) Nigeria since 2010; Chairman, Board of Directors of Joint Christian Cemetery Company (JCCC) Ltd/Gte, since 2010.

Archbishop Ajayi received numerous awards including Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities & Colleges, International University, Independence, MI, USA, 1984; Appreciation Valued Staff Award 1985, Daily Campus, SMU, Dallas, Texas, USA; Adult Mission Award, 2005 – Chapel of the Healing Cross, LUTH, Idi-Araba, Lagos; Christian Virtue Award, 2007 – Methodist Theological Institute, Sagamu; THEOLOGIA ACADEMIA – Immanuel College of Theology & Christian Education, Ibadan, 2008; Exemplary Commitment to Human Development Merit Award 2009 – Ekiti State N.U.T., 2009; OGBOMOSO CHRISTIAN MINISTERS’ FELLOWSHIP (OCMF) AWARD OF EXCELLENCE, outstanding virtues, services, moral and spiritual support to the Body of CHRIST in Ogbomoso land, 2010.

At Archbishop Ajayi’s 80th posthumous birthday, we celebrate bold evangelism and faith. We celebrate an unwavering commitment to preaching the Gospel with power and conviction. Archbishop Ajayi inhabited this tradition with inspiring authenticity. He was utterly himself in every situation and with remarkable consistency over time: as a husband, father and grandfather, brother and son; as a friend and a colleague; in ordained ministry as a teacher, a local agent, a deacon, a priest, a presbyter, a bishop, and an archbishop in the Methodist Church Nigeria. Archbishop Ajayi was a pioneer who broke mission barriers and stood firm in truth. His life was a sermon—his obedience louder than any pulpit, his compassion deeper than words.

Joseph Sunday Ajayi was happily married to his heart throb, Anthonia Oluwafunmilayo, and the union is blessed with dynamic children and grandchildren.

His legacy lives on… His impact remains.