Rev. Samuel Akinola Abegunde

THE MONUMENTAL TRANSITION OF AN ICON Rev. Samuel Akinola Abegunde (71) was born in Obbo-Aiyegunle, Ekiti Local Government area of Kwara State, Nigeria to Mr. Moses and Mrs. Lydia Abegunde. On Monday, the 28th of September 2020, God decided to call His servant home. Rev. Abegunde attended Premier College in Lagos, Nigeria. He became a pastor at an early age while still in High School; the work he enjoyed most was that of shepherding the people of God. He came to the United States of America in 1980, and attended St. Joseph's University, Philadelphia, for his undergraduate degree in Theology, after which he attended Villanova University for a Master of Theology. He also obtained a Master of Education degree from Holy Family University, Philadelphia. On May 26th, 1984, Rev. Abegunde and Bamidele (Bernice) Olanrewaju Gureje were married in Ilesa, Nigeria. They returned to the US in July 1984 to continue their postgraduate studies in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. There, they brought into the world their four children: Kike, Tope, Seun, and Tayo. In 1985, Rev. Abegunde served as the first pastor of the Christ Apostolic Church (C.A.C.) in Philadelphia. Liberty Evangelical Church, to which Rev. Abegunde dedicated his life of service, was established in 1986 in Oshodi, Nigeria, after it became necessary to leave the Gospel Mission Assembly that he was pastor of before coming to the USA in 1980. The Philadelphia branch of the Liberty Evangelical Church was established in October 1992. Rev. Abegunde was the Senior Pastor for years. He was appointed the General Overseer of Liberty Evangelical Church Worldwide and retired from this position in 2019 to mentor a younger pastor to take up the leadership of the church. In addition to shepherding the people of God, Rev. Abegunde also worked as an Inclusion Specialist and substitute teacher in the Bristol Township School District, Levittown, PA. Rev. Abegunde was anointed by God to write books to bless people, especially ministers of the gospel. He has published a total of six books: "Integrity in Ministry", "Hiring Shepherds, not Hirelings", "Why Are You Alone?", "The Wounded Man", "The Quiet Life of Isaac", and "From Gilgal to Jordan". The last two can be purchased on Amazon; the others can be obtained by reaching out to family. Rev. Abegunde will be missed by all who loved him, especially his loving wife of 36 years Bernice (nee Gureje); his children Kikelomo Abegunde, Temitope (Courtney) Abegunde, Oluwaseun Abegunde, and Temitayo Abegunde. He will also be missed by his spiritual brethren, children and grandchildren; mother, father, sisters, and brothers in law; extended family; former students and colleagues; and friends. The family will accept visitors for viewing (Laying in State) on Friday, October 9th from 5:00-8:00pm. Visitors will again be accepted on Saturday, October 10th from 9:00-10:00am. A Life Celebration will be held with close family and friends on October 10th at 10:00am all at the Beck-Givnish Life Celebration Home, 7400 New Falls Rd., Levittown, PA 19055. Masks are required for entry. Interment will follow at the Beechwood Cemetery in Bensalem, PA. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to support Rev. Abegunde's ministries in any one of three ways: • Payment mailed to Liberty Evangelical Church at 5428 N. Front St., Philadelphia, PA 19120 • Venmo to @Tope-Abegunde • Zell 2156305456 (Bernice Abegunde) While donations are appreciated, prayers for Rev. Abegunde, his families, and ministrations are more than sufficient.