The late Founder and First Chairman of the Harvesters Evangelistic Ministry Rev. Gregory Ola Akin was born on October 28, 1944, at Bibiani in the Western Region of Ghana to his parents, Chief Gbadamosi Akinpelu (Asipa Bologo of Ogbomosho) and Hawa Ajaro Akinpelu (both of blessed memory).
He was the 9th of 27 children. Born a Muslim, Pastor Ola had his basic education at Bibiani Roman Catholic School. As a requirement of the Christian Mission School then, he had to attend Sunday Church services. Rather than an accident, this could only be the design of God – an introduction to God’s plan for his life.
On Sunday 17th November 2013, Pastor Ola preached his last sermon at the headquarters of the church he had founded. As if he knew that was his very last, he preached for so long and touched almost every area of the Christian life.
Pastor Ola got converted in 1961 through the tireless efforts of one Evangelist Moses (a Baptist Seminarian) after several unsuccessful attempts by some Christian brethren in his native home country of Nigeria. When Pastor Ola returned to Ghana in 1962, he attended the St. Peters Catholic Church (Now rechristened the St. Peters Basilica) as his first place of worship as a young Christian at Roman Hill in Kumasi.
Through the devoted witnessing of some members of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) such as the late Elder Kwabena Anokye, he became a member of the Christ Apostolic Church at Bantama, Kumasi. He was so zealous and active for his Maker. He served as the Secretary of the vibrant Singing Band at CAC then!
Rev. Gregory Ola Akin became a free-lance Evangelist in 1967 and was actively seen all over the place sharing gospel tracts and other Christian literature. In his quest to develop as an Evangelist, he voluntarily attached himself to the late Apostle E. O. Quarshie who was an astute evangelist and Regional Head of the CAC in Ashanti Region.
He followed Apostle Quarshie all over and understudied him. Undoubtedly, every great leader was once a diligent servant- he reckoned. In 1968, Rev. Gregory Ola Akin was appointed as a Pastor in the CAC and he became an Assistant to the then Kumasi District Pastor, Pastor R. D. Asare.
Rev. Gregory Ola Akin was called by God as an Evangelist, Teacher and a Bible Scholar! By dint of hard work, he rose through the ranks to become the Kumasi District Pastor, then he became the General Evangelist of the CAC and finally an Executive Council Member of the CAC
