Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labour, for their deeds will follow them.” – Revelation 14:13.

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.

CONVERSION: 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!

The late Rev. Gregory Ola Akin founded Harvesters Evangelistic Ministry and served as its founding chairman. 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.

The late Rev. Gregory Ola Akin was the founder and therefore the first Chairperson of HEM Pastor Ola, founded the Ministry as a Fellowship in 1984 at Bantama Kumasi. As a leader and the founder he was made the life Chairman when the Fellowship became a Church.

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.

PASTORAL TRAINING: As soon as he accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as His Lord and Savior, he never looked back. He poured himself into the study of the Bible and other Christian literature. His mantra then was ‘study to show thyself approved’. He availed himself of all training opportunities then. He attended the Christ Apostolic Pastoral Training School at Asamankese; the Church of God Bible Bible Institute, where he befriended one of his tutors (Rev. Martin Ampomah) who later became the Administrator and the immediate past Chairman of the Harvesters Evangelistic Ministry. Pastor Ola also schooled at the Christ for all the Nations Institute in Texas USA in 1976. He additionally attended several refresher and capacity building training programs/seminars in Singapore, Kenya and other places. In 1983, Pastor Ola resigned as a worker in the Christ Apostolic Church and received the full blessing of Apostle P. N. Anim (Founder of the Christ Apostolic Church). He thus became a freelance Evangelist traversing places all over the world with God’s word.

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.

MARRIAGE: CAC did not only provide the platform for young Greg to answer to his calling as a man of God of many facets, but it was also there that Rev Ola Akin was swept off his feet by beautiful Esther Naana Forson and on 29th June 1975 they were joined in holy matrimony at the Bantama Christ Apostolic Church. This union has raised many children all over the world who are impacting the world in their various fields of endeavors. It is impossible to number the children who have been named after this couple!

CRITICAL TIME: Rev. Gregory Ola Akin had the privilege of association with Apostle Anim Newman who is credited as the father of Pentecostalism in Ghana and founder of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC). Pastor Ola’s association with Apostle Anim had profound influence on his life and ministry. This close association with Apostle Anim and other fire brand Apostles in Christ Apostolic Church during that era impacted the activities of the church in Ghana and these were critical and momentous! Pastor Ola also had excellent relationship with Archbishop Benson Idahosa and thus had some of the first-generation pastors of HEM trained under his tutelage in Nigeria. Pastor Ola befriended many great men of God such as the late Reinhard Bonke and many others