Bisade Ologunde popularly known as Lagbaja (Nigerian afrobeat singer, songwriter, and percussionist) was about to give his last performance at the Pintos Nite Club one cool evening many years ago. He was leading a band called Colours at that time. It happened that his band members did not show up on time. A group of musicians had just done a rehearsal with the same instruments. They sounded tight and coordinated. Amongst the musicians was a Warri boy called Sammie. They got an invitation to play with Lagabja at Pintos that night.
Lagbaja asked the group of guys what name he would introduce them as. I am told Sammie said, "Treasure." The "band" was formed that day.
The band was well known in Lagos and played at various clubs: After House, Jazz Villa, Wood House, Green Lion, Pintos, La Campagne Tropicana.
Karis Band engaged him afterward for over a year. While performing with the band, he met with Pastor Paul Adefarasin at New Yorkers Restaurant Ikeja GRA. The meeting was facilitated by Minister Olusegun Agoro, a very close ally. Sammie thence started attending HOTR prayer meetings and bible studies at 4 Molade Okoya Street Lagos. The power of God was palpable, Sammie would recall. He said he experienced genuine love and the powerful presence of God.
I believe this was Sammie’s cry.
But you are God’s chosen treasure —priests who are kings, a spiritual “nation” set apart as God’s devoted ones. He called you out of darkness to experience his marvelous light, and now he claims you as his very own.
Sammie was truly gifted but was as earthen as anyone else.
Unbeknown to all at that time, a storm was brewing. Sammie's health took a downward turn. He had a chest infection that almost took him out but for quick intervention and the mercy of God.
Sammie Okposo went on to serve as the first music director for House on the Rock's Chosen Treasure. He held this position for 25 years.
After 30 years of his music career, he was reaching for more.
In his acceptance speech for the SOAR award in March 2022, I watched my brother wipe his tears, attributing his sustenance to God's love, grace, and mercy. He spoke of diverse fires, storms, and floods against his life. He declared that God made everything beautiful in His time.
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I saw a broken man who had no life apart from God. I remembered the lyrics of a song by Wintley Phipps- The Potter.
One day I saw, a potter and some clay,
he molded it, fashioned it, and caused it to obey,
and soon he had, a vessel he could use,
it held his foot it brought him life,
no water he would loose,
but then I heard the vessel slipped and fell,
it's broken now, I didn't know how to put it back again,
oh, my life, was like, that vessel made of clay,
it fell apart and my broken heart knew I'd always go astray...
chorus
But Jesus made my vessel over,oh won't you make this vessel over,
Jesus made my vessel over won't you make this vessel over again....
And now I know, His spirit lives in me we're closer now I don't know how,
He saw what I could be, if you've seen my life in pieces on the floor, I wept inside no place to hide, 'till Jesus said there's more...
he molded it, fashioned it, and caused it to obey,
and soon he had, a vessel he could use,
it held his foot it brought him life,
no water he would loose,
but then I heard the vessel slipped and fell,
it's broken now, I didn't know how to put it back again,
oh, my life, was like, that vessel made of clay,
it fell apart and my broken heart knew I'd always go astray...
chorus
But Jesus made my vessel over,oh won't you make this vessel over,
Jesus made my vessel over won't you make this vessel over again....
And now I know, His spirit lives in me we're closer now I don't know how,
He saw what I could be, if you've seen my life in pieces on the floor, I wept inside no place to hide, 'till Jesus said there's more...
I believe this was Sammie’s cry.
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| The SOAR Awards 2022 - International artiste of the Year! |
Someone asked why God subjects His redeemed children to such difficult situations? Why does He allow sin to remain and the devil to roam about and persecutions to abound, so that the Christian life is one of constant warfare, both external and internal? Why did He commit the gospel to such frail creatures?
We are reminded of scripture: 2Cor 4;7-12, 1Peter 2:9,10
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
So then death worketh in us, but life in you.
We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
So then death worketh in us, but life in you.
Sammie would eat starch and Ohwo soup with you one minute, and when he comes on the stage, he is different. I have watched many lay prostrate before in complete surrender when he ministered. The grace of God was overly active in his life.
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| A worshipper during one of Sammie's ministrations |
An earthen vessel may not be valuable, not durable, unimpressive, and is little esteemed. It has many flaws. It is easily broken. It is heavy, earthbound. In contrast, the resurrection body will not be an earthen vessel. It will be characterized by incorruption, glory, and power.
As the preparations kick-off for his homegoing celebrations, it will truly be hard to say goodbye.
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| Sammie, Kelvin, Solomon |
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Playful Sammie (Courtesy of Kelvin Ikpeni)
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The Okposos', Agoros' and Arausis'
 Editor, Real Relationships Magazine Follow Us on Instagram Medical Missionary @ www.hhands.org editor@realrelationshipsmag.com Author of Emptied Cup. The book is a collection of inspiring stories of God’s faithfulness in the mission field. Uvoh is a member of Christian Union Uniben alumni in the United States . He serves as Director of Healing Hands Health Society a faith-based organization with the commission of spreading Christ’s love through medical care to all people around the world. He has worked as a General Dentist/ Missionary for over twenty years offering dental services across various communities around the African continent and around the world. He has had the opportunity to train in various tertiary organizations in the United States.
 It was the year 1970 and the late Deaconess Helen Okposo was heavy with child. It turned out to be a turbulent pregnancy. There were doubts that the child would be born alive. Read more.. "Night of Worship" recorded in honor of Sammie's memory and the gift that he was to the Body of Christ. December 9th, 2022, at 6:30pm EST Jesus House DC 
.png) The boy that stuck to his purpose could not be ignored at one of Nigeria’s biggest gospel music events - Experience 2022.
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