Rest in Perfect peace Pastor Tayo. Just like Steve Jobs, you were on the earth for a short time but made the most enormous impact. You have been a part of my life since I was 7 years old and alongside my parents have been one of the single greatest influences in making me the person I am today. You gave your all and through your words and actions and encouraged others to do the same. You taught us to work for the best, be the best and accept only the best – do things for God who deserves the best. Your words spoke life, light and love and will continue to do so for years to come. You have touched the lives of millions and I am truly grateful that you answered your calling and ran with it, otherwise I wouldn’t have the amazing friends I have, have heard the powerful messages that I heard or follow the valuable advice given over the years to be where I am today. You loved people and had a passion to see them “be all they can be”. You have encouraged us all to maximise life and get all we could from it so I aim to do just that. We have been immensely touched and some of us don’t even know it. You have been a great blessing. You gave everything of yourself – even encouraging us to have faith when you were weak and thus you remained strong even until the last. A teacher, preacher and father. A leader, a visionary and ground breaker. I learnt how to write notes, create engaging speeches and make a dream a reality just by the way you taught and made things happen. I learnt to trust God even during hard times just as you did and I learnt to care for people and have compassion despite my position. I remember writing a play once in Sunday school for the kids to perform during a Maximise Life convention. I only gave it to my teacher but somehow you got to read it and you came to me soon after and told me that you had read it, you thought it was great and encouraged me to keep writing. We didn’t do the play in the end but I will never forget that moment, because in my little mind then and in my big mind now, I was and still am amazed that Pastor would even take the time out to read my play and talk to me about it – you even knew my characters names! I am still touched, even today, when I remember that – a sign of your caring heart.
A man of vision, influence, excellence and care, God has truly used to you to do something great. I don’t understand it and maybe never will. I still can’t quite believe it but one thing I do know is that I will miss you. I will miss you a lot. All we can do is run with what you started, do it with excellence and keep it going. 20Go.