FEBRUARY 22, 2015 BY KEMI LANRE-AREMU 1 COMMENT
Nomthi Odukoya
Pastor Nomthi Rosemary Odukoya was ushered into the ornately decorated living room and her smiles set the tone for the chat. The almost 30-minute wait did not matter any longer. Her enthusiasm to make you feel comfortable was undisguised. Pleasantries exchanged, an abridged account of her early life was a good conversation starter.
“I was born in South Africa, in a town called Pinetown, Durban. My mum was a single parent and she had only me and my younger brother. Despite the fact that I did not grow up to know my father, I enjoyed my childhood and had many father figures in church. There were things we did not have and we had to pray before we got them. It made me aware of the power of prayer and seeing my mum work hard to provide for us, taught me the fundamental nature of hard work,” she recalled.
Married to the Senior Pastor of The Fountain of Life Church, Pastor Taiwo Odukoya, she did not envision a life in the vineyard of the Lord, she admitted. “I did not know I was going to serve God in this capacity. I was against it because I thought pastors were responsible for peoples’ lives. I believed it was a burden too much to bear and I did not want to be held accountable if people did not live according to the gospel of Christ. I felt serving God and supporting the gospel in whatever way I could, was enough. I did not see myself in a leadership position in a country other than South Africa for that matter.”
She qualified as an educationist in South Africa and in 2001, she relocated to the United Kingdom where she met her husband. In between giggles, she narrated their meeting. “He came to minister at Triumphant Church International, London where I worshipped. I did not have my eyes on him, because like every other minister that had come before him, I saw him as a man of God. I found his message amazing and absorbing. I even bought one of his books -Home Affairs. After the conference, my pastor told me someone was interested in me. I declined because I was seeing someone then. The relationship eventually did not work out and I informed my pastor but not immediately. To cut the long story short, Pastor Taiwo had a stopover in London and that was the first time we met. Before then, my pastor had given him my telephone number and he had called me. When he proposed to me, I did not like the idea of getting married to a widower. I took my time, prayed about it and I became convinced it was what God wanted for me. Being married to him is amazing and it has brought out potentials, I never knew I had. I don’t have to pray and say Lord help my husband go to church today. There is no struggle.”
Being in the limelight is not a life she bargained for but she is not carried away by it. “Thank God for that, but I am just myself. I am grounded and still feel the same way. There is never a time I have felt I am in the limelight or that I must be happy because everybody is waving at me. I am content serving God, running my ministry and catering to women and children.”
Married for five years, she is not unaware of people’s expectations of her and is sometimes overwhelmed, she admitted. “I would be lying if I said, I am not snowed under. I think I am just who I am. I focus more on God’s expectations of me and my personal expectations.”
An author, she acknowledged writing never used to be her forte. “I will be honest with you. I have never liked writing. When I first met my husband, he advised me to start writing and I told him I did not know what to write about. He encouraged me and made me realise I could enjoy writing if I was determined to. Already, I have authored two books. My first book is titled: 40 Real Life Lessons. It’s a compilation of my experiences and those I heard about. The most recent, No! Don’t touch me there, is part of my ministry for children. I want to educate them about their bodies and help bring to a halt, sexual abuse. Children should not be robbed of their innocence. We have hotlines where people can contact us if they need help. We plan to have a centre where people who have been sexually abused can walk in and get help. Right now, the statistics say that one in four girls and one in five boys would have been molested by the time they reach the age of 16.”
Thankfully, the home has not suffered and she is able to function effectively as a wife, mother and pastor, she noted. “I am wise and understand that God has given us people to help us. I don’t overstress myself and I allow people to assist when necessary.”
On being compared to late Pastor Bimbo Odukoya, her response was apt and incisive. “Everybody is comfortable in their own skin and I understand that God has different callings and purposes for people. All we need to do is fulfil our purpose and celebrate other peoples calling. Fountain of Life Church is a wonderful one; they have accepted me for who I am. You would think I have been there forever.”
Her relationship with her step-children is a loving one and she summarised it this way. “They are good children and I am a good step-mother. We have accepted each other but that is not to say we don’t have our issues as a family. What you can’t take away from us, is that we love each other.”
She turned 40 last year but looks a decade younger. How did she achieve the look? “At 40, I have not achieved all I want to, but I am happy where I am. I try to work out as often as I can and when its relaxation time, I read books and listen to worship music.”
Her style is young, vibrant and fresh. She exudes panache and fashion is a topic she does not shy away from. “I look for clothes that call my name. I think clothes have a character and tell a story so I wear only clothes that tell my story.”
source:PUNCH.
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