''I didn't want to marry my husband because he was not my type,'' Rev Mrs Funmi Adewuyi

Leadership is divine, it is part of every system. The occupants are privileged individuals who have been divinely hand-picked or logically selected to serve specific purposes even in church. Rev Mrs Elizabeth Oluwafunmilola Adewuyi, a native of Ogun state and a royalty--- a descendant of the Luwajis reveals her walk with God started in her teenage years at Foursquare Gospel Church, Somolu. When she grew into a woman, life started unfolding and the need to find purpose became important. First, she enrolled at a vocational institute to acquire fashion designing and catering skills before acquiring a higher education in kinetics and health education at The University of Lagos. In this interview with Yamilenu Bamgboye, she shares her story and how challenging her role as a leader and senior pastor of a zonal headquarter of Foursquare Gospel Church has been. Enjoy.

Why did you choose to be a pastor?

I had the call and was convinced by the proof.

Was it before the Bible school?

Well, I got married to a pastor, Rev Adewuyi, who has been pastoring for years. So, I got married to him in 1992 at Foursquare Gospel Church, Shomolu, as an assisting minister. So later, when he moved from Shomolu to Egbeda area, he was also in assisting capacity until 1997 when he became senior pastor of Alimosho church, then he became the zonal superintendent of the church. Along the line, I went to Bible college in 1998. While I was there, I received the call to go into ministry, even though I had been supporting my husband and assisting in that capacity, I was sure God was leading me to go into ministry.

How has the journey been since you started?

Well, the journey has been up and down. I cannot say there have not been challenges. We've faced financial challenges, manpower challenges in the ministry, especially when you are pastoring and you have different kinds of people in the congregation, you will see some that support, you will see some that are proving difficult, but in all this, God has been faithful. He always gives us joy doing his work. You see, God's work is very interesting when you're doing it with contentment and godly wisdom. When we have challenges and we call on him, he strengthens us and provides whatever we ask and has been helping us get the favour of men, like he said in Luke 2:52.

As a female pastor, what challenges have you experienced?

You know, some people with their culture, they don't believe women should be boss over them, not to talk of being senior pastor over them. So, they want to prove stubborn, they don't want to obey. Such people, I deal with them with wisdom and according to the leading of the Holyspirit and at the end of the day, they obey. When I just resumed here as the senior pastor, one of the assisting ministers, a male, was very stubborn and tried to prove more superior. When the heat was too much and it was becoming obvious to members and was trying to cause confusion in the church, I had to call him and the elders of the church to a meeting to address it and implored him to respect the office of the zona superintendent and not me because it could be him one day. He apologised, and today, we are good.

Like you relied more on your authority as a leader than your femininity.

It's God's authority.

How do you prioritise building relationships with your members?

It is Jesus pattern of relationship. I love everyone without condition.In fact our motto is: ''In love, unity and peace''.

I know God calls people into ministry. Do you think more women are willing to go into ministry today than men?

Yeah, thank God we have more women going into ministry now. Some into child evangelism, some teens ministry, some drugs or rehab ministry. 

How did you meet your husband?

Uhm...I was in Foursquare Gospel Church, Somolu, where I gave my life to Jesus. I was in the choir, and he was an assisting minister. So one of the ways, you know, we normally had programmes together and started talking to each other. One of the days, after few years, he proposed to me, asking me to be the mother of his children. So we met in Foursquare Church, Somolu and also married there.

You didn't say no and make him chase hard after you like many girls do today?

Ah, I didn't give him any answer immediately oh. I gave him a hard time not because I wanted to, but because physically, he was not the kind of person I wanted. Number one, he was not too tall. Number two, he was not a light-skinned man. Because of that, I didn't really pay attention to him. But at the end of the day, God convinced me. At a point, he went through a brother who was close to me, Bro Illesanmi, then, now Rev Ilesanmi and most times, when we were having choir programmes, he would always be there and would offer to give me a ride home because my house was far from the church. Other times, he would find a way to talk to me by excusing me to a side, and we would talk for minutes. Also, I had many suitors. Many brothers who wanted a light-skinned person, you know, but I had to surrender to God's will, and doing God's will is not easy. 

Lool. In choosing partners today, do you think many young people care about this God's will thing?

You know, the generation now, they are not thorough, they are just after material things. They are after money, after beauty. God's will ke, it's really far from them oh. That's why many of them don't stay long in marriage. You have them, after marriage, they go for divorce. Ten years, five years, you know. To the glory of God, my marriage since the early 90s, that's about 33 years or so now, and it's still counting. When it comes to marriage, it's about God's will, complete conviction and contentment, not materialism.

Apart from the Bible, are you a book person? Which author is your favourite?

Yes, I am a book person. I read more of motivational books. My favourite authors are Rev. Dr. Sam Aboyeji, Bishop Oyedepo, Bishop David Abioye and other few ones. Their books help me a lot in ministry and in life.

What would you say is the most rewarding part of being a pastor?

I laugh. The rewarding part of doing God's work is contentment and inner peace. You are happy doing it. If you love what you do, you will be happy. I'm happy doing the work, and God knows how to reward us. In many ways, he meets my needs and he has never disappointed me. So, I have contentment doing his work. 

 Do you love pets?

Nooooo

Why?

I don't just like them. More so, I don't have their time.

Do you have hobbies?

Yes.Cooking, travelling, listening to gospel music, and meeting new people.

How do you think the church can improve support for women in ministry?

They can support women financially and psychologically. We also need encouragement emotionally and spiritually in the ministry, and by so doing, women will go far.

How do you approach decision-making as a leader?

I approach decision-making as a leader by involving my leaders. I carry them along that way, I get a hundred per cent support.