Although we’re both pastors, my husband remains the head —Pastor (Mrs) Olanrewaju

Pastor (Mrs) Funmi Olanrewaju, wife of Pastor Segun Olanrewaju, in charge of The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Jesus Vineyard, Ajangboju, Ibadan, speaks with OYEYEMI OKUNLADE, on her role as both a pastor and pastor’s wife and what she encounters as a ‘mother’ of many people. Excerpts:

HOW did you meet your husband?

I met my husband in Ila Orangun, at the age of 19 as a student of English/Yoruba Languages at the then Oyo State College of Education, now Osun State, in 1986. He was, at that time, a student at Iree Polytechnic, when he came to visit a family member in Ila Orangun town where we met.

Was he a pastor before you met him?

No. He became a pastor after we joined the RCCG.

What does it require to be a pastor’s wife?

There are no special requirements apart from being a true child of God.

How have you been able to live an exemplary life?

The only factor that helps anyone live an exemplary life is the God-factor; pastors and their wives lean on that a lot. God’s grace is what we thrive on.

What has been your greatest challenge as a pastor’s wife?

My greatest challenge as a pastor’s wife is having to be a mother to so many people, while at the same time, having my husband be a father to so many. Sometimes, it takes its toll on us.

What are the responsibilities of a pastor’s wife?

First and foremost, a pastor’s wife has a responsibility to her home, her husband and children. These are the first on her priority list; that is what God commanded. Secondly, she supports her husband in ministry. Most pastors’ wives handle the women ministries of their denomination. They also help with areas like benevolence and other humanitarian outreaches of the church.

Is it true that pastors’ wives are restricted from both family and social responsibilities?

Not at all. Nobody placed restrictions on a pastor’s wife. The only thing is that one must be wise in order to be balanced and not to fail in the assignments God has placed in our hands. A well-trained and cultured woman should not run away or boycott family responsibilities. I’m a responsible woman, I don’t do such. I implore whoever is doing that to change because it does not portray her as a responsible woman. You must practise what you preach.

You and your husband are clerics. Do you see yourself being equal to him?

While we are both clerics yet, I do not claim equality with my husband. The Bible calls him my head, so we are not equal. I believe in equity and fairness in dealing fairness and justice to both genders. But equality, no. God gave each of us different roles and equips us to fulfill our roles. No equality argument is necessary.

How do you balance being a wife, mother, pastor and business woman? 

Actually, it is not easy as I said earlier but His grace is sufficient for us. In the RCCG, general overseer’s wife combines all those roles and she has not failed. Combining the roles can be stressful, because you have other people’s issues to handle as well. Unfortunately, there are people, who, not minding your own cross, just want you to fix theirs. At times, we leave our own to fix others and then come back to our own. Nevertheless, God is the one that cares for His servants. He has not disappointed us before and He will not. He looks after us and fixes our issues. We look up to Him. He is our fortress and shield.

Advice for women behind the pulpit

They should make God their focus. They should give full support to their husbands and be very active in the ministry as well. They should possess the fruit of the Spirit; learn to lean on God; have open arms to love and accommodate all. Most importantly, they should look after their biological children, and stand in the gap when the man is not there, because they must not fail in their primary assignment.

What has been your greatest challenge as a pastor’s wife?

It has not been all rosy, but the Bible says, “All things work together for good for them who love God and are called according to His purpose….” Hence, even terrible situations often turn round to work in our favour.