Without women, the church can’t progress —Pastor (Mrs) Agboola

Pastor (Mrs) Christiana Titilayo Agboola, the wife of the pastor in charge and founder of Christ Apostolic Church, Hand of God Miracle Centre, (HAGOM), Pastor Ebenezer Agboola, in this interview by OLAIDE SOKOYA, speaks on the role of women in the church.Excerpts:

HOW important would you say women are in the church?

I can say that women make the church. There is no place you get to that the percentage of women won’t be higher than that of men. Without women in a church, it can’t move forward. Secondly, women stand as helpers to a pastor in the house of God today. If a church needs something, women in the church will make sure it is provided, be it financial, material or through prayers.

As the president of women association in the church, how easy is it working with so many women?

Women are the most difficult people to coordinate; we have women with various backgrounds, education, attitude and character. When an issue is brought to me, before I make any statement, I will quickly say a short prayer for God to give me wisdom to talk to them. God has been helping me to resolve misunderstanding among the women. You know as a minister’s wife, we have to be very careful when resolving misunderstanding in the church; you have to hear from both sides, call them together and plead with them. We must endeavour to create balance with wisdom.

Apart from being a pastor’s wife and chorister, what other ways do you assist your husband in the ministry?

I assist my husband in prayers. The wife of a pastor must be his backbone every time. I also help financially, and other ways.

What would you wish to change about your husband?

My husband is a very straightforward and no-nonsense man. He likes to take the bull by the horn. He doesn’t pretend or speak in parables; he will say it just at it is. In the long run, I know that is who he is; only those who want to hear the truth can be with him. That is the only area I wish he could be more flexible but I know God will continue to give him more grace to move on in his ministerial work.

Did you meet your husband in the church?

Yes, we met in the church. We met at Christ Apostolic Church, Oke Ibukun, Odo Ona Elewe, Ibadan, Oyo State. I was a member of the choir when he was posted to the church as a pastor. The attraction was that I saw Christ in him. He likes to sing; there is no musical instrument he cannot play, and he is very talented.

What do you think is contributing to the current high rate of divorce?

Lack of love and trust leads to divorce in today’s marriages. A woman makes a home by praying for the home and her husband. Most women are not building homes anymore but children. They believe they marry just because of their children and this attitude is unlike the example of Sarah or Elizabeth in the Bible. We must move close to God and ask for wisdom and understanding to build our homes. Couples must sleep together in a home; children must not divide the relationship of husband and wife in a marriage. This will create love and unity in a marriage.

How would you describe your childhood?

I was born into the family of Mr and Mrs Olayemi of blessed memory in Osin Ekiti, very close to Ikole Ekiti, Ekiti State. I attended Community Primary School and Osin Community High School, Osin Ekiti. I later came down to Ibadan to further my studies at Bepo Secretarial institute for two years. I worked at Olowe Laboratory and the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria as a cashier respectively. When I left there, I started my own work as a computer operator.

What advice do you have for women?

Women should move closer to God and be in love with their husbands. When there is no good relationship in the marriage, the children suffer. Also, there must be love and trust; a woman must love her husband to make her home a peaceful one. She must always pray for her husband for the success of herself.