On October 9, 1967, Nigerian evangelist and pioneer of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola, received his divine calling to ministry while operating a steamroller along the Ilesa–Igbara-Oke road.
According to church history, Babalola, then a steamroller operator with the Public Works Department (PWD) under British colonial administration, had been transferred to the Akure–Ilesa road on June 14, 1928, after working on the Osogbo–Ilesa road.
His strange experience started on the night of September 25, 1928, when he became restless and could not sleep for a week.
The climax came on October 9, 1928 at about 12 o’clock, while by his steamroller by the River Ariran near Ikeji-Arakeji.
Historical accounts state the steamroller’s engine suddenly stopped without any visible mechanical fault. In that state of confusion, he heard a roaring voice like the sound of many waters calling his name thrice: “Joseph! Joseph!! Joseph! Leave this job you are doing; if not, this year you are going to be cut off from the earth”.
Two days later, on October 11, 1928, while trying to repair his machine, he heard again an audible voice instructing him to abandon the job and start preaching.
Babalola resigned from the PWD despite pleas from his boss, Mr. Fergusson, fasted for seven days, and reportedly had a vision where he was given a bell to drive away evil spirits and a bottle of water for healing.
