The Funeral of Brother Henry Gbamis (1932-2023)
By Osamagbe Lesley Egharevba | Lagos, Nigeria
A veteran preacher in Nigeria, Brother Henry Gbamis (Snr.) on Friday, May 19, 2023, departed this world at the age of 91. Brother Henry Gbamis is the father of my dear friend, Rowland Femi Gbamis, a gospel preacher who has been a regular contributor to Unmasking Sophistry Magazine since its inception. When I received the news of the demise of Brother Gbamis on that Friday morning, I was just preparing to step out of my house to deliver a sermon at the funeral service of Sister Amope Olabisi Oshikanlu (1950-2023) that took place in Lagos. After sending my condolences to Brother Rowland, I inquired if he would be flying down to Nigeria from Canada for the funeral and he said he is already trying to book his flight. At that point, I knew that a wonderful reunion is about to take place.
The service of songs was conducted on Friday, the 2nd of June, 2023, and the burial program on Saturday, the 3rd of June, 2023 at the residence of Brother Gbamis in Amoyo, Ilorin, Kwara State. I left Lagos at about 10:30am on Friday morning (June 2) for Ilorin but stopped at Ibadan to join two brethren, Samuel and Elizabeth, who traveled together with me to Ilorin. From Ibadan, we entered a public bus to Ilorin. While on the bus, we met (by serendipity) a sister, Ifeoluwa, who figured we are members of the church of Christ by inadvertently listening to our conversation. She was also going to Ilorin to see her family and we became friends. We got to Amoyo, Ilorin at about 6pm and we joined the service of songs that evening. The venue was filled to the brim with people from different parts of Nigeria. I saw brethren, including preachers from Lagos, Delta, Kwara, Osun, Ibadan, etc. There was a lot of singing that evening. After the event, Brother Rowland ensured we were fed and afterward provided very good accommodation for us.
The next day was the funeral service. We got dressed and were at the event early enough. The venue was filled with his family, brethren from different parts of the country, neighbours, and friends. I led the opening prayer while Brethren Sunday Ayandare and Gbenga Fabunmi of the church of Christ, Koloko, Ibadan preached at the funeral. In his speech, Brother Ayandare emphasized the fact that death will come to all and that it is important for everyone to be prepared for it and make their hearts right with God. There was a lot of singing by the brethren at the event and it was a marvelous one. Samuel and I left Ilorin after the burial on Saturday. Since her family lives in Ilorin, Elizabeth stayed a few more days there with them and did not go back with us. Samuel and I arrived in Ibadan around 6pm and I proceeded to Lagos. I got home at about 8:30pm. We thank God for the life of Brother Henry Gbamis and the success of the burial. His son, Rowland, is a very vibrant gospel preacher who teaches the truth with all boldness. We are grateful to have men like him stand for the truth and contribute to this journal. We express our deepest sympathy to the good family Brother Henry Gbamis has left behind and our prayer is that God gives them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
