Tribute to Dr Adamson
I am deeply shocked and saddened by the passing of Dr Adamson Aromaegbe. a man who was very precious to me and whose influence helped shape my life and ministry. I first met him sometime in 1988, when he visited Minna to minister at the Household of Faith, founded by my pastor at the time, Reverend Philip Mokungah. From our first meeting, we formed a strong bond. He took a liking to me, welcomed me into his life and became one of the significant voices God used during my formative years.
Read full tributeClose tribute by Rev. Shola Adesoye
I am deeply shocked and saddened by the passing of Dr Adamson Aromaegbe. a man who was very precious to me and whose influence helped shape my life and ministry. I first met him sometime in 1988, when he visited Minna to minister at the Household of Faith, founded by my pastor at the time, Reverend Philip Mokungah. From our first meeting, we formed a strong bond. He took a liking to me, welcomed me into his life and became one of the significant voices God used during my formative years.
Dr Adamson was present on the day I was baptised in water. On that occasion, he gave me a profound prophetic word. I wrote it down and carried it in my wallet for many years, referring to it repeatedly. Today, I can testify that those words have come to pass.
Above all, Dr Adamson was a man of the Word. He taught the Scriptures with remarkable simplicity, clarity and truth. I vividly remember a series he taught on understanding doubt, drawn from James 1:6, which describes the person who doubts as being “like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.” It was one of the most profound teachings I heard in those early days, and its lessons have remained with me.
I was privileged to visit him and stay in his home on several occasions. I always had a place there. He was unmarried at the time, but his home already reflected his commitment to excellence. I still remember eating my first four-course meal in his house. He had an excellent chef, and we would sit together, eat, talk about life and discuss ministry. Those conversations contributed immensely to shaping my understanding of ministry.
Dr Adamson was a foundational figure in what became known as the faith movement in Port Harcourt. The history of that movement cannot be properly written without acknowledging his contribution and the influence of the Rockwell Church. At the time, it was one of the first ultramodern church facilities I knew in Port Harcourt - fully air-conditioned and furnished with comfortable seating. It reflected the excellence, foresight and vision that characterised him. When I first knew him, his ministry was based in Benin, and he was only beginning the work in Port Harcourt. Those were his days of small beginnings. He did not have much materially, but he always presented his very best. His appearance was impeccable, his vision was clear, and his sense of direction was certain. He knew where he was going. The same excellence was evident in the way he handled and communicated the Word of God.
He was also a greatly misunderstood man. Many people did not fully understand his personality, convictions or uniqueness. I remain grateful that God gave me the grace to understand and appreciate him. He was intensely private, yet he opened both his life and his home to me. As I grew in ministry, he graciously regarded and introduced me as a friend. He would often ask, “Shola, what are you doing in ministry?” He was genuinely interested in my progress. Whenever I spoke about books or ministry materials that had helped me, he would ask me to share them with him. I would purchase books and send them to him, and we continued to exchange ideas about ministry. Every time we spoke, he would always ask after Sister Jummai, my wife, whom he loved dearly. His genuine affection for her and his constant interest in the well-being of our family meant so much to us. I remember standing before the Rockwell Church during one of my visits and saying, “I know that Jesus called His disciples friends, and I am privileged that Dr Adamson calls me his friend. However, I need this church to understand that he was my father’s friend. (Reverend Philip Mokungah).”
There was a clear difference in age and experience between us. Although he graciously treated me as a friend, I never forgot the honour and respect due to him as a father and an elder in the faith.
I am grateful that, in more recent years, I had the privilege of returning to the church to minister on several occasions. Dr Adamson was also a great blessing to us at the Lighthouse Church Abuja during the years when we held church services at the Sheraton Hotel, Abuja. I equally treasure the wonderful conversations I had with his amiable wife, Pastor Jasmine, whenever I visited. My heart and prayers are with Pastor Jasmine, their children and the entire Rockwell Church family, many of whom I know personally. I pray that the Lord will comfort, strengthen and uphold them through this difficult season.
Dr Adamson Aromaegbe may have departed from us, but his influence remains. I honour his life, his labour, his vision and his enduring legacy. I will always be grateful that God allowed our paths to cross and that I was privileged to call him a father, mentor and friend.
Rest well, sir. Your work and legacy will never be forgotten.