As a woman, if your home suffers, you are the one that is suffering – Rev. Ojo

Esther Ojo is the senior pastor of Calvary Kingdom Church (CKC). The Reverend, who has been married for over 51 years to Archbishop Joseph Ojo, recently celebrated her 70th birthday in Lagos. She shared some insight in this interview with JOHN SALAU. Excerpts:

How do you feel celebrating your 70th birthday?

I feel great because looking at me, it’s like I’m not looking it. I just thank God for His grace and I feel very, very good to be serving Him. I believe that God will give me more years to serve Him. You said you don’t look it. Yes, I don’t look it.

What is the secret?

That is why I say it is the grace of God. It is the grace of God because the Bible says, like a medicine – when you know Christ, Christ turns your life around. And renew your years like He does according to His word. Every day, I keep on seeing myself being renewed and I give Him all the glory for what He has done for me.

70 years down the line, if you had to look back and unlearn something, what would that thing be?

I don’t think there is anything that I would unlearn from my life now. By if I have to unlearn anything – it’s shyness, but, he has given me the boldness to stand before the crowd.

How has it been being married to a man for over 51 years?

Very well; like I said, when I was given the role of dance, I give Him kudos because it’s not every man that can tolerate a woman like me. My shortcomings, He tolerated it. Even when he asked me to do some things in the church, I would say no. He still tolerated me. It’s just the grace of God upon his life that made it to be so. And I give glory to God on His behalf. And I’m happy that I’m His wife. Like I said, although I always say before, if there was another world, I would not marry. But if there was another chance for me to marry, I would still marry Him.

It took you how many weeks or months to say yes to him?

Well, I didn’t really; I cannot really say how many days or how many weeks. When the hand of God is upon someone’s life, yes, but I know I gave him some time and I decided to pray; and God revealed things to me and I said yes. I can’t say its three weeks or four weeks.

What was the secret you held in managing the home?

To be a real mother to mothers, it takes the grace of God. And especially to know the word of God, what the word of God says. So that when you know the word of God, and when you are talking to them, you know that is the word you are pointing them to. It’s not me per se, but the word of God. Because what the word of God says, in Ephesians 5, He asks us to submit to our husband. When you remember that word, us, you know you are saying something about somebody – when you say us, like unto the Lord. So, if you read that scripture very well, it says you should submit to your husband, as you submit to God. So, whatever you do to your husband, you are doing it to God. So, if you do anything wrong to him, you are also doing it to God. So, that is the word of God – that is my mirror.

Being married for over 51 years now; what are those things you would like to tell women managing the home front?

One is to be able to realize that no matter the money that your husband gives to you, it can never be enough; try to support. If you are not doing anything, try to do something, so that the little he gives to you; you are able to add to it, to be able to make ends meet. If you think that only men can provide everything, you are joking. Some women will say, my money cannot enter food money, my money cannot enter this; that’s foolishness because it’s your house, and it’s your home. If your home suffers, you are the one that is suffering. And if you begin to wash your dirty linen outside, thinking that all the people, even the big men, the money they give to their wives can never be enough. But when you add whatever he gives you to your small one, it will make it enough. So, I’m advising them to always support their husband and to make sure they respect them, and honour them according to the word of God.

Finally, what are you looking forward to in the years to come?

How to serve the Lord better; that is it; because where I’m going now, is closer to where I’m coming from. So, how to serve the Lord better, and how to also honour this man here and take care of the body of Christ that has made me who I am.