Pastor Dr. Ayodeji Israel Awe

Meek, Ever-smiling, Hilarious and Witty, he was the son of the late Rev. Joseph Awe who passed unto glory when he was barely a pre-teenager. The love for his biological father and Jesus Christ had a lot of influence on his life. His late mother Deaconess Elizabeth Awe took over the unenviable yoke of raising him and 5 other siblings. He attended Christ Apostolic Church Primary School, Erijiyan-Ekiti, Nigeria. He was active in the CAC choir, Oke-Igbala.He proceeded to the prestigious Christ's School, Ado-Ekiti from 1971 to 1976. He was an "A" student in both arts and the sciences. His cursive handwriting is exquisite. He later attended the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus where he bagged a degree in Estate management. He served in the Nigerian National Youth Service Corps. He later taught in various high schools.

He immigrated to the USA in 1988 and settled in Florida where he did construction work and also got a Doctorate degree in Theology at the International Seminary in Plymouth, Florida. He was nicknamed "EZ" by various people for different reasons. Some people said he is easy-going, while some others said his middle name sounds like the word "Easy" and yet paradoxically some people said his other names aren't easy to pronounce. They were probably all right! He met his wife Deborah in her father's house in Sugarland, Texas and they later got married in 1992 in the Bronx, New York. Thereafter Ayo and Debra moved to Houston, Texas and In 1995, Dr. Awe founded Our Savior’s Church in Houston, Texas. For the next 30 years, he served faithfully as Senior Pastor, leading with the mission: “We are heaven bound! Join the joyful band!” They were later blessed with 4 children: Tolu, Jumoke, Damilola & Kunle - who are all musically gifted and actively supportive of the ministry.

During his teenage years, he co-founded a social philanthropy club named Erijiyan Socialights Klub-ESK in his hometown. That registered club is still active till date. He and five other friends invented a catchphrase of words to communicate exclusively. He was a voracious reader and writer of prose, fiction, nonfiction, poetry, theology and politics. He has also written over 40 Christian songs and hymns. His hobbies are music, travelling and playing scrabble. He was PRO for the Nigerian Christian Association in Houston and member of the Board of Trustees for the Greater Houston Minister's Fellowship. He wrote columns for various newspapers. Up till death he founded, published and edited a christian-based newspaper, full of seasoned writers and professionals called "The Running Eyes" where he advocated on the need for world peace . Although he was a private and introverted person, his writings exposed him to a great deal of polemics.

Written by: Deacon Francis F. Fakolade - 11/23/2025.