Pastor Mrs. Abiola Theodora Omobude, the multi-talented woman of God, is the amiable wife of Rev. Dr. Felix Omobude, the General Superintendent of Gospel Light International Ministry (GLIM) – New Covenant Gospel Church and former President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN). She serves as a senior pastor and member of the governing council of GLIM and leads NELFEM, a vibrant network of female ministers and ministers’ wives. She is also the National Coordinator of Gospel Light Campus Outreach (GLCO), the tertiary institutions’ arm of GLIM.

“Mama Omobude,” as she is fondly called, is a highly dedicated lover of God and people. For several decades, she has led numerous people into deeper Christian experiences and devotion, leading to the rise of committed and responsible believers who are today shining the light of Christ in every strata of society. Mama Omobude is also very passionate about young people. This has led to her active participation in the youth and campus ministry, a seed that has yielded several bountiful harvests over the years.

From her captivating gospel songs to her unwavering faith, Pastor Mrs. Abiola Theodora Omobude is a beacon of hope and a testament to God’s enduring grace. As she marks her 75th birthday, she isn’t just celebrating a milestone of age, but a life rich with purpose, compassion, and a tireless commitment to serving humanity. Her journey is a profound symphony of faith, one that has resonated deeply in the hearts of many, inspiring generations and leaving an indelible mark on the landscape of Christian ministry in Nigeria and beyond. Her story is a vibrant mosaic of resilience, leadership, and divine calling, a testament to what God can accomplish through a life surrendered to His will.

In this special interview with the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of The RELIANCE, Sir Raphael Okhiria, the revered woman of God who’s highly sought after in church conventions, seminars and workshops, spoke extensively about her life as a teenager and her works with God, amongst other deep revelations.
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Mama, please tell us how you feel at 75?

First of all, I thank God, the giver of life. It’s a joyful thing seeing yourself being able to get to that age. You see, the bible says do not despise the days of little beginning; just imagine yourself at age four, five or six and now seeing yourself at 75; indeed, it’s a thing of joy, and I’m excited about it.

Ma, as a teenager no doubt you had aspirations; now at 75 would you say that those aspirations have been met?

You said when I was a teenager; you see some of the things that I’ve achieved now, I didn’t even think of them when I was a teenager because for me, I believe that until you come to Christ, some of your aspirations are like a shadow. But when you become a child of God, you will begin to think differently. I’ve always loved to be a singer because of some of the people I saw in life. People like Diana Ross when she was singing, I began to wonder ‘is this a human being’? And also I’ve always got that desire to reach out to children. I don’t know why but I found myself in it, maybe it has to do with my background too. My father had children, and I’m the third. And then we had about four cousins living with us. Another thing also is that I love hard work because I always wanted to be busy with my hands.

Having said that, Ma, who would you say are your role models?

When I became a Christian, many of my desires changed because I was now concerned about the things I do that will please God because I must make heaven. Then my choice of models began to change. You know the Bible says that if any man be in Christ, he’s a new creature. When this happens, things begin to change, my perspectives begin to change, my desires as well. Let me say today that some of the people that really motivated me were Shirley Caesar, Sandy Patty, and the Ashanti sisters from Ghana. These are the people I knew that I was really listening to. Oh my God, when they are singing, they do so with all their life and they are in Christ.
So I think Christ sometimes changes one’s desire, and then you begin to drive towards purpose. My goal is to reach out to people and make them turn to Christ. Then, there’s Rev. Dr. Grace Ekpenregin; she’s still alive. She’s 95 now. Her love for God, her love for people. She doesn’t discriminate, she doesn’t see faults. And this woman is still preaching. So, she became one of the people I’m pursuing after. I later enrolled in her school – Believers Heritage Network International. Also, I worked with the late Archbishop Benson Idahosa when I was still working with the government as a secretary. And then, my drive was, let me just work for God now. So, I worked there for some time. Then, my husband went to Christ for the Nations, Dallas, USA. So, when my husband came back, I decided to go and work with him as his secretary.

So Ma, at what stage did you find Christ; and how?

You see, I would like to be down to earth when it comes to my work with Christ. In 1970, my senior sister started taking me to church. Then one day, we went for a fellowship meeting and a certain man was speaking as to how he was a born Moslem, but now a Christian. He was happily preaching about Christ, and then and then, I was touched and challenged in my spirit, and I said to myself ‘if someone with an Islamic background could be working for Christ, what about me that was raised by Christian parents; why was I not preaching about Jesus Christ’? My parents were Anglican. I wept profusely that night; that was in 1971. But then, I had to go to school. I went to Auchi Polytechnic, and finished school, I went to my guardians, Papa Mike and Mama Catherine Longe. Then, I would follow them to the Church of God Mission which was their church. I had made up my mind that it’s either Jesus or nothing. This was in 1975. Then, my senior brother who was in the University of Benin (UNIBEN), used to try to discourage me from practicing the true Christianity; he was always telling me to stop following the other people who he labelled as fanatics, saying that the Anglican way was the best form of worshipping God. He would say that those people were missing the sweetness of life, but I refused to listen to him, rather I kept on singing in the choir and also improved on my dedication to God.

Talking about singing Christian songs, please what have you to say about gospel singers who are commercialising their gifts?

Some are, not all. But you see, it’s like some of them are taking it to be their career and their profession. They feel that it’s where they are working, that they will eat. But I know some among them who will say until you pay me so, so and so money, I won’t come to minister in your church programme. But also, there are those that will say ‘just pay for my transport and give me a comfortable accommodation and thereafter give me anything you like after the programme’. Well, I can’t judge them but my advice to them is that it’s not right to commercialize God’s gift when in His presence because if your purpose is to use the gift God gave to you to draw men to God, you won’t commercialize it, you would rather see It as a privilege.

Ma, how do you combine church and domestic activities and manage both peacefully?

Before I got married, I was working with the government. I was a secretary in the state civil service. I worked in the civil service commission. I also worked in the audit department, ministry of information and ministry of education and Palm House where I worked with Mama Ekpenregin. It was there I had to resign to enable me to work for God on a full time basis. Then, I was already married and also an active member of the choir. So, if I could manage my home successfully while still working for the government and playing my church roles effectively, why not now that I’m fully with church. It’s still the same thing. I feel it’s what you commit yourself to, once you love something. There must be a love for whatever you are doing, and you must be purposeful. There’s something I wish to tell you here; in 1976 after I got baptised in the Holy Spirit. I had a vision or a trance: We had just had a three-day fasting and I was walking home. That time, I was staying in Freedom Street off Stadium Road, and I was walking home, then I had an open vision trance. So I was afraid. I stood back. I started praying again. I kept walking. As I crossed the road, I saw the thing a second time. So at this time I started pacing. (—Cut in) And what was this thing that you saw in your vision or trance?
It was GLCO (Gospel Light Campus Outreach). That’s why people see me with children, youths and teenagers. I’m still seeing it now as I’m even talking to you. I saw myself in the midst of teenagers and young people, and I was preaching to them. And I exclaimed, ‘yeah’ the way these ones are is more than Sodom and Gomorrah. I said I can’t go and preach to them. So, when I moved again, the thing appeared, and this time, I saw my own sister among them. And I said, no, my sister cannot be there, my sister cannot be there. So, I entered their midst and started pulling my sister out. So that night, I cried and I said ‘God, it will not come to pass. My sister is not there. Lord, no.’ But that was just the beginning. That’s why my drive is for teenagers. I can’t separate my life from it. So that became my driving purpose. So, I rejoiced for the purpose. I said, coming to Christ helped me to drive my purpose. And when the campus fellowships started, they were inviting me to some universities campuses. I went to Abraka, I went to Ekpoma. I went to UNIBEN. I went to COLBEN. I went to Auchi. All to preach the gospel of our Lord Jesus. And I came back one day from one of such trips and I told my husband, I said, ‘Baba, I think it’s time that we must have our own campus fellowship.’ So, during one youth conference, I told Baba, to please announce at the end of the service, that all the youths in tertiary institutions should wait for a brief discussion, so they waited. And as they waited, and I told them what was in my heart and what God had shown me, they gladly accepted it. Jane Osula was the one that started Auchi. Osadolor started that of Ekpoma. Then Marvin started UNIBEN. And then Abraka was started by Milton. So I still remember those guys, that was how GLCO took off.

What would you say is your major achievement in these 75 years; achievements that make you rejoice in the Lord?

I rejoice seeing the campus people progressing; some of them today are our pastors, dedicated, doing very well. Our former campus pastors are the ones handling the church in Orka, the church in Bayelsa, the church in Jos, the church in Lagos. Our campus pastor is the one handling (Chaplain of) the Lighthouse University today. He’s also the head of our youth fellowship.
So, my joy is that I’m seeing the light. This light of the gospel spreading and that we have a continuity in this ministry.
But, you know, when I now see the things God has done through me in people’s lives, I rejoice and praise His Holy Name. And also, like the network of female ministers (NEFEM); God gave me the vision about it while we were in First Federal Road and I started it. But today, some of them are now Bishops and some are holding key positions in the body of Christ. I started with about four members but today the light is spreading to many corners of the world. We have the network in London. We have the network in New York. We have the network in Holland. We have the network in Germany. We are also in Canada. I’m seeing the gospel fruits in our female pastors. Last month, some went to Togo and the next place is Cameroon. So when I see the impact that I’m able to bring to pastors’ wives, I’m happy and praising God. So I think the main reason I rejoice is that my life is able to change lives positively. And I’m able to tell people that nothing can stop you if you have a purpose in life.

Ma, how do you feel about being the wife of a renowned man of God who’s highly respected worldwide?

It’s a privilege. For me I feel it’s a privilege. Maybe other people would have wanted to be. Maybe people that are more intelligent than me.
I went to a polytechnic. Maybe people that have a 1st degree, 2nd degree, 3rd degree would have wanted it. Maybe people that are more eloquent. Maybe people that came from better homes; those that were more spiritual than me. So for me, I consider it a privilege. I don’t take it for granted at all. I honour him. I respect him and I think I’m one of the most blessed women in the whole wide world.

So, if you are asked to describe your husband; in few words, how would you describe him – Rev. Dr. Felix Omobude?

He’s a man with a quiet disposition. You know I worked with him first at the Church of God Mission. He’s honest, very honest. He doesn’t believe he has to stress to get something, and then he’s humble. He loves people, he always wants to do something for somebody. He doesn’t want to see people unhappy. He’s prayerful, he studies, and he cares about family.

Lastly, at 75, what would you like to say to God?

Ah! This morning I was studying, God told me I’m your father. It means to me, father of nature, loving father, caring father, father of preservation, father of promotion, father of protection. So I think I want to say God, I’m thankful. Psalm 23 says the Lord is my shepherd.
God has been all for me. God has given me protection. You know, God is faithful. God is beautiful. At 75, I’ve seen God’s grace in my life, and in my extended family. And through what God is doing in my life, my siblings are united. There’s no one that’s not saved today. The one that I saw in the dream is saved and today she’s a pastor. Her son is a pastor. My sister-in-law is a pastor. So I think God is too good to me. I think I’m blessed. I don’t have anything to regret. Just to thank God. I want to continue to see His face. And I want to tell the female pastors to continue driving their purposes. Respect your man. Be there for the congregation. Don’t feel that ‘I’m higher than them’, don’t think that