By Mike Cerutti Osagie
“Greatness is not measured by how high you climb, but by how many you lift as you climb.”
A Double Celebration of Grace
On Tuesday, July 15, 2026, Unisom was aglow as the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries world celebrated the birthday of its General Overseer, Dr. Daniel Kolawole Olukoya, who turned 69. The celebration continued into Friday, August 8, 2026 for his wife, Pastor Shade Olukoya, who clocked 60. Tributes poured in from across continents, honoring two lives dedicated to prayer, deliverance, and lifting humanity.
The Scholar Turned General
Dr. D.K. Olukoya was born July 15, 1957. He is a first-class Microbiology graduate of the University of Lagos and a PhD holder from the University of Reading, UK. He traded the lab coat for the pulpit in 1989, founding MFM with a mandate to restore power, holiness, and deliverance to the body of Christ.
The Woman of Virtue
Pastor Shade Olukoya was born August 8, 1966. She is more than a first lady. She is a teacher, counselor, and pillar for women and families in MFM. Her humility, wisdom, and compassion have made her a mother to millions and a model of godly leadership.
From Lagos to the Nations
What started as a small prayer fellowship has grown into a global force with branches in over 100 countries. The Olukoyas’ consistency in preaching the Word, prayer, and holiness is the foundation of that expansion.
A Legacy of Giving
Through the Daniel and Shade Olukoya Foundation and MFM outreaches, they have funded scholarships, fed the hungry, and supported widows and orphans. In national emergencies, MFM is often first on the ground with relief materials and support.
Empowering Through Education
Thousands of indigent students have benefited from bursaries and grants. MFM also runs schools and skill-acquisition centers that blend academic excellence with godly character, raising a generation that is both spiritually and practically equipped.
Healing the Nations
Free medical outreaches, eye camps, and health seminars are a regular feature of MFM’s work in Nigeria and abroad. The Olukoyas believe the gospel must meet people at their point of pain — spirit, soul, and body.
Open Altars, Open Hearts
Their most distinct mark is a non-denominational prayer attitude. Every first Saturday, millions converge at MFM Prayer City for “Power Must Change Hands.” From 7am to 12pm, the altar is open to all — Pentecostal, Orthodox, and seekers alike.
One Voice, One Prayer
The program is streamed live across the world so that believers in Lagos, London, Accra, Johannesburg, and New York can pray together. Prayer booklets are distributed freely, breaking denominational walls and uniting people on one platform: prayer.
Millions Set Free by Prayer Points
The impact of Dr. Olukoya’s prayer points is global. Scripture-based, direct, and warfare-focused, they have become daily tools for deliverance in homes. Testimonies speak of broken yokes, financial breakthroughs, healing, and restored destinies.
Voices of Testimony
Every month at Prayer City, the air is filled with stories: jobs after years of waiting, marriages restored, diseases reversed, and prodigals returning home. For many, that one Saturday became the turning point of their lives.
Leadership Without Compromise
The Olukoyas point always to God, not to themselves. Their message is simple: pray, study the Word, live holy, and depend on God’s power. That integrity has kept the ministry strong and scandal-free for over three decades.
A Life of Simplicity and Discipline
Despite leading a global movement, they remain committed to prayer, study, and service. That example has raised pastors, workers, and intercessors now leading MFM missions worldwide.
Honored, Not Just Celebrated
The glowing accolade in Unisom this July and August is not just for birthdays. It is for decades of service, for opening altars to all people, and for teaching a generation how to war in the place of prayer.
The Dawn Keeps Rising
As Dr. D.K. Olukoya, 69, and Pastor Shade Olukoya, 60 mark another year, their story reminds the world that true greatness lifts others. Through philanthropy, teaching, and the monthly cry of “Power Must Change Hands,” millions have been emancipated — and the fire keeps burning.
* The Cerutti, a professional writer & humanitarian sent this piece from his ikoyi ,Lagos base
He can be contacted via chiefcerrutti@gmail.com or SMS +234 7042631895
