He later attended Ibadan East Community Secondary Modern School Erunmu, between 1971 and 1973. He resumed at Wesley College in September, 1973 and graduated in June 1976 as the best student in the set. In September, 1976, he was admitted to the Polytechnic, Ibadan, School of basic studies and finished in September 1977. He got admitted into the University of Lagos to read Land and Engineering Surveying and graduated in June, 1982 with B.S c (Hons). Bishop Francis Wale Oke got born again late 1975 while at the Teacher’s College and was called into the Ministry while in the University. At the Polytechnic, Ibadan, he served in leadership positions in the Christian Fellowship on the campus. While in the University of Lagos, he served as a two-time president at the Lagos Varsity Christian Fellowship on the campus between 1980 and 1981. Since conversion, Bishop Francis has been passionately committed to the gospel with rare zeal. As a matter of fact, he almost abandoned his studies in the University for a full-time ministry, but for a timely counsel of a British missionary to Nigeria, Pa. S.G. Elton.

On 3rd September, 1983, The Sword of the Spirit ministries was born and Bishop Francis was formally commissioned into the Ministry full time. His formal ordination was done by the late Arch Bishop Benson Idahosa in February, 1986 at Benin City, Nigeria. The church arm of the ministry, Christ Life Church took off on 12th February, 1989. It is interesting to note that before 1989, there had been pressures on Bishop Francis to start a church by well-meaning spiritual leaders. Characteristically, he resisted all pressures, having not heard a clear word from God. However, He was prompt in obeying divine directive when God spoke to him that the church should commence. Today, the church has many satellites in Ibadan, Lagos Osogbo, Ogbomoso, Asaba, Guinea Conakry, London and the United States of America with several thousands of faithful membership.

Since his commissioning 28 years ago, Bishop Oke has traversed the length and breadth of Nigeria as well as several other countries of the world preaching the gospel. Major landmark events have taken place in the power crusades which he holds in major cities. Attendances at his crusades are in hundreds of thousands. Spectacular miracles, signs and wonders trail each of the meetings. In Ghana a mad man was healed on the first day of the crusade. In Bauchi crusade, a badly twisted crippled man sprang on his feet, completely healed. At Ife city-wide crusade, some years back, eight blinds eyes were opened simultaneously by the move of the Spirit among the crowd without a human touch. There are countless other outstanding testimonies of what God did at past crusades. Mass crusades have been held even in typical Islamic strongholds such as Sokoto, Bauchi and Minna, with opposition collapsing as they confronted the power of God. Bishop Francis conducted major crusades in the eastern parts of Nigeria, in cities like Aba, Benin, Calabar, Port-Harcourt and others. On the international scene, conferences have been held in major cities of the world like London, Moscow, Atlanta, New York etcetera.

Bishop Francis got married to Rev. (Mrs.) Victoria Tokunbo Oke on 17th December, 1983. The family is blessed with children. Bishop Francis is an apostle of the Most High God, an international evangelist, prophet, pastor and teacher. He is also a seasoned conference speaker in high demand in seminars, conventions and conferences around the world.

A prolific writer, Bishop Francis has authored over 40 titles, some of which are “Alone With God”, “Go Forward”, “The Weapons of Our Warfare”, “Arise and Shine”, “Walking in God’s Covenant”, “Power of Vision”, “Precious Blood of Jesus”, to mention just a few. Many of the books were published overseas, and distributed worldwide.

Fondly called “Papa” by his sons and daughters in ministry, he has been used to raise many front line anointed ministers of the gospel in Nigeria and overseas. Bishop Francis is a highly gifted minister with the grace to gather ministers of the gospel from diverse background and domination together under one umbrella anywhere he goes. Really, this is part of the covenant packages of being accepted by the brethren given him by God early in his ministerial life. He is indeed a symbol of unity in the body of Christ.

Until the dramatic move of the Holy Spirit on Thursday, September 30, 1999 that culminated in his consecration as the Presiding Bishop of the Sword of the Spirit Ministries, Bishop Francis has consistently refused to take the title of Bishop for about many years before his investiture despite strong pressure by notable ministers of the gospel in Nigeria, like the late Archbishop Benson Idahosa, amongst others.

Bishop Francis communicates effectively through his writings as much as he does through preaching. Some quotations from some of his messages are:

1. God has deposited tremendous grace in you. You may not appreciate the dimension of the grace God has poured upon you until you get to the battle field. Elisha did not appreciate the magnitude of what he had received until he came face to face with River Jordan.
2. It is not the word that you hear that blesses and prosper you per se but the one you hear and retain. Just like it is not the food you eat that develops you, but the part of it your body digests. All the others go out of your body as wastes.
3. If you are going to take the world, do not sit down nursing minor accidents.
4. There is nothing you cannot do, but you only do what you determine to do.
5. When you are faced with crises of life, don’t listen to the criticisms of people, rather listen to God. The noise will confuse you while the voice (of God) will direct you.
6. Look unto Jesus. If you look at yourself, sometimes you get discouraged. If you look at the circumstances surrounding you, you get distracted. If you look at the people you get disappointed.
7. The grace of God can take a man from the “guttermost” to the uppermost.
8. The greatest tragedy of our life is about people who have the capability without determination.
9. If you do not give up sin, God will give you up.
10. Do not give the devil attention so that he does not give you direction.