"It is difficult to say who could take over the relationship ministry, that is if there is anything to take over. God has given us all different gifts and we are all to play our roles the way He gave us His grace and how prepared we are..."

Consequent upon the death of Pastor Bimbo Odukoya in the Sosoliso plane crash which happened in Port Harcourt recently, her death has created some kind of healthy debate in the relationship ministry.

Ever since she came into limelight at Fountain of Life Church in Lagos Nigeria, Bimbo has come to personify a segment of the relationship ministry which focuses on marriage. So acceptable and credible was her ministry that so many Christians and non-Christians have come to accept her as the foremost apostle of relationship ministry and her teachings, the gospel truth.

Not only in her church, but her television ministry has created some kind of cult- following that now leaves the impressionable crowd somewhat rudderless. The television is yawning, pinning for the next acceptable televangelist that would speak with panache, authority and sagacity on relationship.

Bimbo's ministry was successful for a combination of reasons: The grace of God was upon her. She was prepared for what she was doing. She had the finance to support the technological appurtenances such as the television and radio ministry, tapes, CDs etc. She was educated and also able to use the print media to maximum effect.

Bimbo was beautiful. In preaching sexual purity before marriage, Bimbo was regarded as credible having confessed that her husband was her first man. She had the support of her husband. However, of all these, the greatest asset she had were the media which took her fame to far and wide.

The power of the television is such that once you are not there, your impact is limited to your immediate geography. Your impact is curtailed and limited to those who have face to face encounter with the preacher. The contribution of the television, internet, CD, tapes, books, etc, to the Christian ministry cannot be over emphasized. In this 21st Century, if you are not on the television and the internet, in one way of the other, you have not started.

If she was a print journalist, Bimbo would be referred to as an Agony Aunt. Agony aunts are often faceless but very popular amongst youngsters and middle-aged people with emotional/relationship problems. However, in the Nigerian electronic media today, few are the people who are known with relationship ministry. It leaves Bimbo's constituency of youngster, singles and (newly) married asking for the next Christian agony aunt?

Speak with Christians on who could effectively fill the gap left behind by Pastor Bimbo, Yetunde Olawunmi, an ardent follower of Bimbo Odukoya on television said "It will be difficult to say who could effectively take over, that is if there is anything to take over. God has given us all different gifts and we are all to play our roles the way He gave us His grace and how prepared we are. Bimbo was prepared, no wonder she made impact.

"... The power of the television is such that once you are not there, your impact is limited to your immediate geography and to those who have one-to-one encounter with you. The contributions of the television, CD/tapes, books, etc, to the Christian ministry cannot be over emphasized. If you are not on the television and the internet in this 21st Century, you have not started..."

“However,” Olawunmi continued, “we need someone who could minister in power the way she did. Someone to create a new syllabus for relationship, someone to define the gamuts and precints of pre-marital relationship, someone who could act with compassion and draw the youngsters in the universities nearer. I don't know how Pastor Taiwo could successfully handle those young ladies, as Bimbo did. This is in spite of the fact that Bimbo's ministry was conceived by him in the first place. He had a good midwife in his wife.

On who she sees as running further with the baton, Olawunmi said "I don't see anybody stepping into Bimbo's shoe or collecting any baton from her. We were all given our individual shoes and baton. She took her shoes and baton along with Sosoliso. We can only ask God to expand the ministry of Pastors Olumide Emmanuel of Calvary Bible Church in Idimu, Lagos, Deola Ojo of Grace Family Church in Ikeja Lagos and Nike Adeyemi at Oregun also in Lagos ."

Julius Adegunna, publisher of PTL, a gospel promoting tabloid in Lagos also mentioned Olumide Emmanuel of Calvary Bible Church and Bisi Adewale, a publisher of relationship magazine.

”Olumide Emmanuel has been on the beat for a long time also. Bisi Adewale is gradually coming up. They will need the grace of God and the television to create great impression and make their impact all over Nigeria. Let the truth be told, the 21st century preacher needs the television to penetrate the inner closets of all Christians.

In separate 12 interviews, names like Pastor (Mrs.) Ada Omon, Pastor (Mrs.) Deola Ojo, Pastor (Mrs.) Funke Adetuberu in Ibadan recur severally.

In all the interviews, Deola Ojo, is seen as most prepared judging by her books, charisma and authority while ministering. According to Eunice, a banker, Pastor Deola is not gunning for anybody's shoes. She received her commission long ago before Pastor Bimbo's fame became this big.

”She has written so many earth shaking books on relationship. Her thoughts are fresh and refreshing. She has written even more than her husband. One of her books is Give me a Spouse or I die. I bought a pirated copy in a bookshop in Accra, Ghana. She has ministered along side great men of God all over the world. She is in high demand all over Nigerian tertiary schools. I have come to rate her as another minister who should be respected in the relationship ministry. However, she needs to go back on television. I often saw her on TV in Abeokuta. I don't know what has happened to that now. I pray the she returns quick.”

“Another Pastor I have noticed, according to Eunice “is Ada Omon at her church in Igando, Lagos. This is another young, educated and well prepared pastor in the relationship fold. I don't know how far she has gone in the literary gospel but seeing her on Hosanna Hour most mornings shows that she is also going places.”

Funke Adetuberu is not only a pastor in the relationship ministry, she has even gone into schools where she prepares women for marriage. I have listened to her preach, saying marriage certificate is the only certificate you get in the worlds without exams. I have read some of her pamphlets. I can rate her as another very prepared minister. But staying in Ibadan might impair her popularity. Lagos is it."

Pastor Nike Adeyemi, according to Eunice, “is not exactly into relationship as in love, marriage, etc. She moves higher into restoring victims of marriages, love, etc. While she can speak on such issues, it is not her favourite topic, or passion. Her ministry, from the fruits we have seen and if we could define it for her, is a step higher than pre-marital relationship. It's about post-marital casualties.

“There are so many pastors around the nation. Another is Pastor Nike Adejumo in Akure. But they must come on TV to be known and reckoned with all over Nigeria."

Gracious Akintayo, publisher of Essential Providence, a Christian publication, does not think Bimbo's shoes are available to be stepped into by anybody. “Apart from the shoe's becoming larger and larger after her sudden exit, it will be difficult to suggest name(s) of person(s) to collect the baton from her.

“There are lots of issues to be considered: the grace and the anointing to speak authoritatively on sexual, marital and love related issues; the charisma to carry people along, to cut across denominations and religious barrier combined with the personality reflection.”

“That she left when it was least expected makes the question of who step into her shoe become more difficult. Though there are minister's who operate in similar ministry, but many of them have not been able to make much impact as Bimbo. But Elijah when he fled to Horeb, there are other ministers God had actually prepared but yet to be known.

“Apart from Deola Ojo, Funke Adetuberu, Ada Omo, Nike Adeyemi, Bisi Adewale, Emmanuel Olumide, Adejumo, and those we don't know yet, great speakers could be raised in the same Fountain of Life Ministry.

If there is anything to go-by, Bunmi Amusan, Bimbo's Personal Assistant who was with her during the plane crash but was favoured to escape, should be watched. Just like Elisha collected the mantle from Elijah at his departure and went on to do greater things than Elijah, Bunmi who had been an understudy of Bimbo for long has learned enough to make an impact".

“Another person who can fit in is Pastor Bimbo's 25 years old first child and daughter, Toluwani, who had taken after the mother while she was alive. Another group of people are the people Pastor Bimbo took time to personally disciple.

For Pastor (Mrs.) Adekoya, “for now, let us forget about her shoes. She had unknowingly expanded the shoes even bigger than her own leg.

Pastor Adeleke, another Lagos-based pastor believes that it may take time, but someone like her will emerge. “But for now I can't say. It depends on which church you go, what seminars/conferences you attend.”

Pastor Lekan Odejimi contends that “its only God that can answer that, because it goes beyond human imagination. He alone knows better who can fit into the shoes.”

However, Mrs. Adebisi likens Pastor Bimbo to John the Baptist, who paved the way for the Lord Jesus Christ. “She has only designed some kinds of shoes. She herself has not even worn any yet. She just designed it for people coming after her. She has created a scene, charged the atmosphere and influences the environment with her message.”

For Sister Mabel, “all I know is that more singles ministry will spring up. The singles and marital life of Christians and non-Christians in Nigeria and around the world will not be the same again.”

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