Interview: Leke Beecroft Talks About How Church Gist Started and the Inspiration Behind It 

Identifying one of the basic challenge with Africa and Africans is a careless disposition towards proper documentation, but Church Gist has been able to bridge that gap. They have set themselves apart for the mighty works now being manifested in the body of Christ being the principal instrument of God’s outworkings in these end time. In this interview with our Content Head and Manager, Mr. Leke Beecroft shared his inspiring story together with the events that led to the birthing of the vision of Church Gist. Enjoy!

Please tell us briefly about yourself and your background.

My name is Daniel Oluwaleke Beecroft. I’m Yoruba from Lagos State. I grew up in Zaria and was there till the end of my secondary school. My Dad used to be a lecturer and my mum was the first female Chartered accountant/lawyer in Nigeria, they were both staff of ABU, Zaria. Dad is a chemical engineer and also now a pastor. I have 5 siblings. 2 guys and 3 ladies. I am number 2.

How did Church Gist start and what’s the inspiration behind it?

In August 1996, I had tried to gain admission into a Nigerian university. I felt a bit frustrated when I wasn’t admitted and started struggling to get in.

I had come to Kaduna from Lagos and was staying with my Dad’s friend, Deacon Olutubo. He attended Garden of Faith, Barnawa but due to my dad’s position on Living Faith Church, I did not want to attend. I felt Bishop Oyedepo’s words were too brash and arrogant. Why will a man say ‘I can never be sick’? I thought.

Eventually because I had to attend the Church with the Deacon, I started listening to the word from Bishop Abioye and couldn’t help but notice that the Church was very focussed on the Word of God. I asked God in prayer because I had personal issues with some doctrines. God told me to search the scriptures like the Bereans. I found that every word I heard in church had solid scriptural background. I decided to stay.

I was also confused about my career. Was it plain ambition or vision? Then one day Bishop Abioye as if reading my mind addressed that too. God was teaching me daily.

Then on 28th August 1996, a few weeks after I started attending, God opened Isaiah 55:4 to me and told me that was his Word for my life.

Isaiah 55:4; “Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people.”

I said to God, this is about Jesus and not me certainly…

Then God confirmed it with John 17:18 and John 20:21; “As the Father hath sent me, even so send I you.”

So 3 things:

1. Witness
2. Leader
3. Commander

I understood 2 and 3.

2. Leader – I have always led from childhood whenever I had to deal with my peers. I knew it would get bigger.

3. Commander – This was the part that I understood best in the prophecy. It was about my career so I knew I would soon gain the admission I sought.

The only one that I wasn’t clear about was number 1. Witness to who?

The whole world? I knew I was not into full time Ministry.

The public? Yes I was preaching in molues and danfos but how long could I do that as a public servant?

Then in 1998, I came across God’s Generals by Roberts Liardon and I sensed what God was saying.

I saw Bishop Oyedepo giving out the book during a visit to him in January 2000 and I asked myself, why should he be giving a book from US?

Where are the African examples?

I thought.

On 10th August 2010, God woke me up from sleep to write down a few things. I was to not only write books about God’s doings in Africa but start with a journal. By the next day I started work and by December 2010 produced the first edition called The Commander.

By the next edition, the name was changed to Temple Digest and we ran 2 editions. Strictly hard copy. It was quite capital intensive.

In April 2014, my friend Barrister Bukola Senbanjo suggested the opening of a platform on Facebook instead of the very laborious hard copy editions.

I thought of it and accepted the suggestion. I looked for a name that won’t sound too churchy or worldly but would let people be clear on its mission.

On 4th May 2014, Church Gist was opened on Facebook.

Can you briefly tell us some of the notable impacts Church Gist has commanded over the years?

Changing of the narrative. There was so much negativity fueled by hatred and ignorance about the Church before we started. Let me quickly add that in 1995 when I started working, every morning I would take Molue and danfo from Alagbado to Apapa in Lagos. I usually stopped to read newspapers at the vendor stands with the NFRA (National Free Readers Association).