Gateway Tributes
Pastor Eddie Iduoze
A gregarious, open hearted , open handed, warm hearted personality who greeted almost every new guest with a bear hug that can easily give a standing back massage and keep you away from Chiropractors.
Femi came into my life 13 years ago a 35 year old man who needed direction in life. We quickly formed a father/son relationship that we both thoroughly enjoyed till his passing.
I so much love talking, coaching and ministering to him from our early one to one in coffee shops to late night talks on the phone.
It has pleased the Lord to take him despite our invasion of heaven with petitions and supplication, so I give in and take comfort and consolation with my fellow prayer warriors.
I love you Femi Yussuff and thank God you knew it and basked in it.
Pastor Bola Iduoze
You don’t become a woman in her 5th decade of life without having had things that have overwhelmed you; but this last few days saw me experiencing one I have never ever experienced before.
Femi, you were an open book; with a lot of joy, laughter and love to share. You put aside your own personal challenges to be of faithful service to any church member that needs you! You are one in a million!
I thank God for Femi Yussuff; 13 years of a stranger becoming a saint, a member of a church family, a minister & a son whom I am proud to call a fellow worker in the vineyard of our God.
As you know PE and I love you dearly and we are truly saddened, distraught, devastated by this departure... but we are not without hope! And the bible says ‘hope does not disappoint us!’ Romans 5:5 We joyfully leave you with Jesus.
Pastor Toju Ogbe
Minister Femi Yusuff (MFY)
We were still hopeful & interceding at 1am on the night you passed on to Glory as we had a prayer walk at DVH where you were hospitalised. Though we prayed all day all night for your healing we leave everything to God as he knows best the end from the beginning.
Your first word each time you saw me was often “PT No Police Case”. A phrase accustomed to me. But not this time MFY. You are really missed by all, and the leadership team is really devastated by your death as you are a live wire in our midst.
You showed so much love to others & it is evident how much this is reciprocated from tributes to you.
Thank you for all the support in the GWC ministry where you served the Lord to the end in various capacities. Especially in the Ushering & transport departments ensuring success in ministry activities & events. Your welcoming of new guest was person centred & second to none. You will be solely missed as your shoes are really big ones to fill.
MFY You are fondly loved and greatly missed in my household as it was your home too, to you & your family. I pray our God gives them the fortitude to bear your loss.
Adieu MFY. Rest in perfect peace in the bosom of our Lord. I submit this CASE to God as he knows best. You have gone to be with him in heaven where you will feel no pain, there will be no death you will only feel his unending love.
RIP. Gone but not forgotten.
PST. John Toju Ogbe💙
Pastor Angela Ogbe
Min Femi, never in a million years would I have thought I would be making a tribute on your passing. I remember our conversation a few weeks back, you told me you were at peace, in a good place and ready to move on. I was so happy for you but I never thought you were moving on to be with Jesus. I am happy you are resting with Jesus but it was way way too soon. But I am comforted by your faith that “God never fails in His time He will do it”. He has called you in His Time and His time is perfect.
I will miss you, miss our drives, miss your dropping in when in my locality. You have left a great legacy, very proud to have known you.
Just one more thing, there is great rejoicing in heaven at the passing of a saint, while rejoicing and hugging be careful not to break an angel’s wing with your beloved hug
Pastor Angela
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Pastor Femi & Gladys Asogbon
Minister Femi, there is so much to say about you! You were a ray of sunshine in our church family from the first day you joined all those 13 years ago. Your hunger and passion for the Lord, and your commitment to the church were extraordinary. You were a member of our church house fellowship back in the day, and the questions you asked showed that you were always seeking to know the truth.
PF remembers how you broke down in tears when he was taking a session on Jesus being a living sacrifice at our church Bible school. Behind your amiable, warm, and fun personality was a person who yearned for the Lord, to know Him and to serve Him. Both of which you put your whole heart into doing.
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Your passion and love for the Lord was visibly and consistently evident in your love for, and commitment to, His people. You would go to any length to make the church accessible and comfortable to visiting, new, and longstanding members alike.
You were dependable and reliable. If we needed someone dropped off after a church service or programme, you were our “go-to” person and your response was always “PF/PG, leave that with me”.
Not once did we ever have to be concerned as to whether it would get done because you always went above and beyond. You were warm and respectful. Your brotherly hugs were legendary. Your laugh infectious.
Afemo (as PF fondly used to call you), your life touched ours profoundly. The girls posted the last video they made of you with them in our family group on the day you passed to glory, laughing and chatting. Tears have flowed. Again, and again. We are truly saddened by your departure.
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Gone too soon dear brother. But we take comfort in the knowledge and assurance that you are resting in the Lord. You will always be in our hearts. We love you! We miss you!
Minister Ijapari Onolaja
“Bishop!” is how I would greet Femi every Sunday when I walked into church. “Apostleress!” he would respond with the biggest and warmest smile. Apostleress was an interesting title he had coined for me. Of course, at that time on a Sunday morning, he would either be directing parking or greeting members as they walked through the door or finalising transportation plans with the bus drivers who were either departing to pick members or arriving with members.
Bishop was a fellow minister at Gateway Chapel and also my brother from another mother. We frequently sat together at events internally and externally. Two things always struck me about him, one was how he was always right ,centre and middle of every joke at the table. He was such a lively and happy person that everyone naturally gravitated towards him. Second thing was how quick he was to intervene and offer a lending hand to save the day. He would be all dressed up for the occasion but rush to assist with carrying drinks or doing some other task to ensure the success of the event.
Bishop was one of my favourite people in the world, it was always so easy to speak to him. In the middle of the conversation, you would hear his hearty laugh. Just thinking about his laugh as I write this just makes me smile and warms my heart.
I miss my brother and as I read through the messages we exchanged over the years, even much more. One of the things I was guaranteed every birthday was my video birthday message sometimes with singing (ha ha) but always full of love. In one of those videos, he thanked me for allowing him to be close to me. I think he got it all wrong, the privilege was all mine to be close to such a great person. The memories we created and shared will always be treasured in my heart.
I have struggled to believe that Bishop is the person we are laying to rest. I remember him always being the one we could all lean on at difficult or awkward times. You could be sure he would have words to say to lighten the situation or to just give the biggest hug, so much so your thoughts would shift from the difficulty of the moment to how much your back was now hurting from the squeezy hug.
The last time I saw bishop, I asked him to wait for me because I had a quick chore to complete. I told him to wait for me as I would soon be back. Unfortunately, he couldn’t wait for me and when I got back, he had left. Now you have left this world but I know you left the world better than you met it and made the biggest impact on me and everyone around you.
Rest well my dearest brother until we meet again.
Min JP Onolaja
Minister Bosun Onolaja
Kim (as I fondly called Minister Femi Yussuff), I find it really hard to come to terms with your sudden departure. You had shared with me the great plans you had for the future. If I knew that was the last phone call few weeks ago I would spoken to you for longer.
A fellow minister who became a friend and then a brother. He gave so much of himself in service to God and to everyone who came in contact with him. Never a dull moment with him! No matter the challenge he was going through, he was always in high spirit with a smile on his face, encouraging and advising others.
You really served God whole heartedly. A running joke between us was that Sunday morning was the real work day for us, not Monday morning. Now you have finished your work on earth and you have finished well. No more Sunday work for you my brother.
When we were outside the hospital praying just a few hours before you took your last breathe, I was thinking and planning how I was go to make jest of you once you came out of the hospital and tell you off for making us stand outside in the cold praying. I really believed you were going to beat the virus because you were such a fighter.
Minister Femi Yussuff spoke so much about how his life had changed since he gave it to Christ and how joining the Gateway family was one of his best decisions ever. He got on with all age groups and he was always quick to correct anybody going down the wrong path. He was pure in heart, meek, and a peace maker.
Every time I bumped into him having a conversation, he was either encouraging, correcting, advising, or trying to connect you with someone who would be of assistance. He was the greatest ‘connector'. I’m sure he is in heaven right now connecting and introducing the saints to each other.
I will forever cherish the memories from back when we were both single men and we ended up in Nando's almost every Sunday because there was no food at home, to our families spending time together almost every Christmas. I will miss you in Cafe David after church service and all the jokes and teasing, as we would usually give the cafe team a run for their money and try to make them understand that we both were VIP customers.
I would call on you anytime I needed help and you were always there. On the night before my wedding, I was stranded and needed some last minute tasks sorted out, you told me to leave it in your capable hands and you indeed took care of it all.
You were a true brother with no hidden agenda. I felt safe in your company. You constantly celebrated my wins no matter how small. My biggest supporter.
I love you dearly! Till we meet again… looking forward to your HUG.
Forever in my heart.
Minister Bosun Onolaja
Minister Michael Adeboga
“"Afẹmo"...As i fondly call you, you’ll reply "Atunnẹ" Conversations then kicks off with “Padi mi..:”
Femi you were admired by many, loved by everyone that knew you. In the short time i was introduced to you in Pastor’s office, we just clicked.
It is extremely difficult for anyone to be angry with you... you have that uncommon unique grace of melting anger, a very good listener, sensitive and paid full attention to details. You demonstrated this on occasions we spoke truth to each other.
You are the one person that i know has the grace to please everyone in his life and people around you without putting himself first. How you do what you did in that short space of time is still a mystery. A true man of God you were, filled with multiple grace.
I will miss you dearly Afẹmo, i will miss our jokes, laughters, those unexpected tickles from the side, rubbing of shoulders, mint sharing, those in between service convo at the car park. Sausage roll communion at the car park, Trumpet Night dance moves and every little things we did together that makes us felt like young school boys again.
I prayed that God of heaven will comfort and console Gabriel, David and your beloved wife Celestina.
He will be with them and support them through life. I pray that God will fill all the vacuum you have left behind in Jesus mighty name.
Minster Femi, we love you but God love you most. There is no better place for you to be than where you are right now because God has decided for us.
He wants you to have an early enjoyment of His glory with Him.... No more pain, cold, heat, sorry or lack. Padi mi, continue to rest in the glory of our Maker and Saviour Jesus Christ. Good night My Minister and Friend!”
Minister Bola Oso
Min Femi Yussuff! It was painful hearing the news that you have been called to spend eternal life with the Lord but who are we to question God - HE is the author and HE knows the end from the beginning.
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You have successfully played your part, contributed and left behind a good mark brother........ A man of great character, you gave yourself to the Lord's service, you welcomed people into church with open arms, a kind and down to earth gentleman, a loving father and an accustomed cheerleader of people around you and those of the body of Christ. You made great impact in the lives of people who have had contact with you including our family.
You had fun in every possible way and was committed in service to Almighty God, his family, the church family as well as in the market place. You have definitely left a mark that we can all learn from and reflect upon. You also knew God and served God with everything within your capacity.
May Almighty God continue to bless, uphold and preserve the loved ones you left behind - your beloved sons David & Gabriel as well as your wife and your entire family.
We will miss you brother! Rest peacefully in the Bossom of Christ Jesus.
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Bola & Tope Oso
Minister Ayodele Olusanya
I told you I couldn't walk because my back had seized up on me? Within the hour, you were at my house giving me the most painful massage ever.
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Can I tell you something funny! Guess where I was on Saturday 12th of December at 2am? You will not believe this bruv! I was at the hospital you know. I was pouncing up and down until a security guard gave me the ‘look’. I was there to pray for your healing. I think you saw me and thought you needed to play tricks on me.
There I was thinking we were still going to continue arranging the chairs in the Church hall until the chairs become too heavy for us. Oh dear! I almost forgot! You need to answer me a question Minister Femi Yussuff. Here it goes! Do you know that I love you so so much? That's all I need to know