Legacy of Faith: Mama Elton, Gospel Mission Icon, Laid to Rest

By Deborah Emiabata

The Glorious Transition of a Missionary Icon ,”Mama Omechere Odariko Ruth Elton”, an European Gospel Missionary  who laboured in Nigeria for over eight decades.

She was buried in the Kingdom Gospel Mission premises, Eweta, Ilesa, Osun State on the 5^, September, 2025 following her passing on at about 12:30pm August 30, 2025, at the her residence, Sharon Compound in Ilesha few days to her 91 birthday.

Her burial pulled crowds from all walks of life from within and outside Nigeria most especially among Christian faith. Church leaders like Rev Dr Folorunsho Adeojo of  Christ Amazing Grace Church, Ibadan; Pastor Olubi Johnson of Scripture Pasture Christian Centre Family, Ibadan; Missionary  Kweku Konadu, a Ghanaian Missionary in Europe; Representatives of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, and host of others.

Mama Ruth Omechere Odariko Elton first came to Nigeria from Britain with her parents on divine missionary assignment at Age 3 in 1937. She grew up under her parents’ tutelage and as a growing child she learnt Yoruba language fast through her interaction with the native hence she later became her Mother’s interpreter, breaking communication barriers.

She started her own Missionary career among the Unreached people groups in some part of North Central, Nigeria (present day Kwara and Kogi states).

Her first Mission Evangelism Outreach took place at Oke-Eri near Egbe town former Kwara State (now Kogi State) in 1959

She had to return to Ilesha in 1960 when her daddy travelled to Europe for six months in order to help oversee and supervise his mission fields, and during this period, she visited one of her father’s mission fields at Ebiraland where she had a strong urge with burden for the people because Gospel had little impact on them, hence she felt that God is calling her to commence a missionary work among the Ebira people.

READ ALSO:Catholic Bishop Bans Priests From Adopting Pentecostal Style Service

When her father returned to Nigeria in 1961, Mama Ruth Elton finally relocated from Ilesha to start her full-time Missionary activity among the Ebiras.

Her ability to understudy Ebira land fast coupled with her love for people enabled her to interact wide among the indigenes which accorded her a great privilege to preach the gospel of the Kingdom.

The Eagle correspondent, Deborah Emiabata and Rev Dr Folorunsho Adeojo of Christ Amazing Grace Church, Ibadan, during the interment ceremony of the late missionary, Mama Omechere Odariko Ruth Elton, at Ilesha.

She founded her own mission base first at Oboroke in Ihima, later Agassa, Okene, Koton Karfi and by extension to the Gbawris. She travelled regularly to visit all these stations and preached the gospel extensively, planting indigenous churches in unreached areas, laboring for decades to nurture Christian disciples and establish indigenous congregations across Ebiraland.

The churches she helped establish later came together to form Gospel Assembly Ebiraland, which grew into Gospel Assembly of Nigeria and then later called and addressed as “Gospel Assembly Intercontinental”. Today, the fellowship has spread beyond Ebiraland and comprises over a hundred churches.

In recognition of her pivotal role, the church made her Mother-in-Israel and named its schools in Okene after her – “Ruth Elton Primary and Secondary Schools” Okene, Kogi State

READ ALSO: An Urgent Call To Nigerian Pastors And Entire Christianity

READ ALSO: Apostle Suleman Opens Up on Okposo’s Death, Reveals How Pastors Treated Him…

Her passion to reach the unreached people group with the Gospel of Christ kingdom made her renounce her British Citizenship In 1975, Mama Ruth  became a naturalised Nigerian, describing the choice as “a matter of love and conviction, not convenience.” She lived as a Nigerian until her death, remaining unmarried and wholly devoted to missionary work.

Her life left a deep impression on many. Rev. Dr. Folorunsho Adeojo, founder of Christ Amazing Grace Ministry in Ibadan, one of Pa S G Elton’s adopted sons who can be simply addressed as Mama’s siblings and brother says: “The best way to describe Ruth Elton is to say that we belong to the same father.

“Pa Sydney  G Elton actually fathered us (Late John Aladega and Folorunsho Adeojo), mentored us. Pa S G Elton actually poured the first oil on me to commissioning me into God service.

“Ruth Omechere Odariko Elton is my Sister”

Mrs Eunice John Aladega, the wife of late Pastor John Aladega who served as Ruth Elton’s brother and personal assistant till he died in 2021 reflected on their closeness: “We lived together for 29 years, working side by side in the mission field. Mama was a woman of truth. She never tolerated lies, and she taught me punctuality and discipline in service.

“Though she had no biological children of her own but we were all her children.” You can see the numbers of children that came out from different countries and states to give her the last respect and honour today”

Evang. Deborah Aina Johnson of “Reconciliation Mission Outreach Gospel Team (RMOGT Mission Agency) also described Mama Ruth Omchere Odirika as  “an amazing woman of faith, a mentor, and a passionate missionary.

“Mama believed so much in holistic mission, and her life was so impactful and graceful. She was truly a catalyst, who ignited the fire of global soul winning in my spirit to make of me a passionate holistic mission minded person.

Phillips Omeiza Salawu, PhD, Former Deputy Governor of Kogi State, added: “Mama Ruth Ometere Elton, a naturalised Briton in Nigeria of Ebiraland ethnicity, has gone to meet the Lord Jesus Christ a week to her birthday.

“This is a deep loss to me, but we must give thanks to God in all things. Mama had no biological children but many spiritual children, including myself. She was my spiritual mom and led me to Christ as a child. I lost one of my spiritual backbones.”

A statement from Gospel Assembly Intercontinental further praised the late missionary thus: “Mama Ruth Ometere, your love and passion for souls is so deep and strong that you refused to settle down in your country home for comfort and pleasure.

READ ALSO: Shocking: Pastor Adeboye Predicts Own Exit From The Earth

“Your sacrifice to live in remote places as a missionary to the unreached gave birth to Gospel Assembly Intercontinental and raised many sons and daughters in the faith.”

Though some youth pastors like Pastor Michael Duja and Watchman Daniel only encountered her through her writings The – Kingdom Has Come, The Gospel of the Kingdom, and Your Citizenship – they testified that her teachings on sacrifice, obedience, and discipleship have continued to shape young missionaries.

Mama Ruth Ometere Odariko Elton will be remembered as one of the most  enduring European-Nigerian  missionaries in Nigeria’s church history, through her decades of evangelism in Ebiraland, her books, mentorship, and countless spiritual children. She leaves behind a living testimony of sacrifice, faith, and an unshakable commitment to the Kingdom of God.