Mike Bamiloye: Celebrating the train and a man of faith

Of all the motivational and thought-provoking comments about working in faith, one of my favourites is still the one by Ravi Racharias: “Beginning well is a momentary thing; finishing well is a lifelong thing.”

The irony is on our today’s world; where most leaders and champions of faith are those who were not always ‘men of faith’ nor had a faithful beginning.

For example, Mike Bamiloye, who started off as a safe-breaker before he met Christ, is now in the forepart in the business of handpicking souls from the kingdom of darkness into God’s kingdom!

His journey of faith is a similitude of that of Apostle Paul in the bible -who started as an antagonist to the work of God and never met Jesus while he was in the world, but when he encountered Jesus on his way to Damascus, and repented from Saul to Paul, he became the most outstanding of all the new testament apostles despite having a ‘faithless beginning’.

Today, I employ you to join me as we take a ride through Mike’s Journey of faith.
Mike Bamiloye, needs no introduction, but for the benefit of few, he is the father and pioneer of faith-based movie production in Nigeria, if not Africa.

A drama Evangelist, actor, author, director, producer, writer, dramatist, teacher, husband, father, founder and President of Mount Zion Faith Ministries and Mount Zion Television; that is Michael Abayomi Bamiloye.

In a movie entitled, The Train, which chronicles the true life story and journey of faith of the soft-spoken dramatist, Bamiloye’s journey of faith started when he was 16.

He gave his life to the service of God right from his secondary school days, and was a passionate member of the school fellowship.

A zeal he would eventually take to the College of Education, Illesha, Osun State. At 21 and 1981 and 1983 or thereabout, he joined the drama unit of the Christian fellowship of the college where he was assisting with writing of script and also in coordination.

It was from here, that he got the vision of his drama ministry but the vision wasn’t clear as at then. He took a decision of faith to return back to the college drama unit and assist after his youth service. It was that time God told him, “it was not just about drama, but a ministry”.

Armed with God’s call, he started the Mount Zion Christian Production in 1985.

In 1986, in a bid to curb the ungodly activities which emanated from secular movie productions, the ministry begun to engage in stage drama, and were going from one church to another, even to the Northern cities of Kano, Kaduna, Zaria etc to preach the gospel through drama.

It was in 1990, that the first movie which was the first production of the Mount Zion Faith Ministry was shot.

Fast forward to 2021, the filmography of the production house include; The Haunting Shadow, One Careless Night, The Forgotten Ones, The Ultimate Power, Captive of the Mighty, Wounded Heart, and his 2020 biological movie; The Journey of faith.

Bamiloye born 13 April 1960, in Ilesha, Osun State, Nigeria, is also the author of many Christian books.

Some of his book are; Blood on the Alter, One Careless Night, Walking Through the Fire, Drama: God’s End-time Weapon.

He is married to Gloria Bamiloye and they are blessed with three beautiful and talented children; Joshua Mike-Bamiloye, Damilola Mike-Bamiloye and Darasimi Mike-Bamiloye, who are also active in the ministry.

All through the over six decades of his life, Mike Bamiloye’s story has been the adventurer who lights a path through darkened caves of the human journey so that others may chart their futures and never stumble.

From that seven-year-old boy who picks pocket to the great revivalist and televangelist, Mike Abayomi Bamiloye, as we’ve known today.