Posted by By Toyin Osawe on
As a young woman, all Mrs. Christabel Julie Okoli wanted was a white-collar job and successful career.
As a young woman, all Mrs. Christabel Julie Okoli wanted was a white-collar job and successful career. She also craved for her name to be printed in the sands of time.
After a first degree in Administration Economics from Nnamdi Azikwe University and a Master's degree in Industrial Relations, there was no stopping her. She landed a consulting job with a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and also poked her head in the door of politics. The sky appeared to be her limit.
She was moving or so she thought, until the vicissitudes of life made her apply the brakes. The year was 2002. In January of that year, she lost money in her job and in February, she lost a pregnancy. As if that was not enough, her younger brother died under mysterious circumstances. All these misfortune was all she needed to listen to God
.
"God made me realize I had been chasing shadows and instructed me to start ministering to women. He said I should teach women how to build homes. I had been doing my own thing for about eight years and many challenges came and God made me realize that he allowed them to happen to me so that I will be equipped for the assignment he has for me. I was instructed to write a book and I wondered how I was going to do that. But by inspiration of the Holy Spirit I was able to come out with a book in three days. Today I've written about 10 books. Then we started the Excellent Women International Ministry, it was commissioned on the 15th of February, 2003."
Activities of ministry
"The ministry is not a church, but we meet to fellowship and to intercede for women, youths and the nation in general. We gather women and talk to them about how to make their marriages work and to make them realize that the future of everyone in the home lies in their hands. We talk to widows, prostitutes and we go to the SOS village. We look forward to having a rehabilitation centre for prostitutes. We have a programme on MITV called Family Line, where we communicate all these things. We also talk to youths, we make them realize that there is no future in crime but in Christ. We let them know that they are instruments of glory made by God to create a positive impact in their generation. I have also written various books, like Divine Power of a Woman, Youths Instruments of Glory, Lovely Husband, a Friend of God etc".
Politics
Her foray into politics was an adventure which she says was self inspired and not divinely inspired. But if God wants her to go back there she will gladly do that, she says.
"I was into politics with Chief Rochas Okorocha. I was the Vice president of the Association of Nigerian Youths. We went from campus to campus addressing youths on how to play their part. I had to stop all that when God called me. I did all that on my own leading. But if God should ask me to go into politics now I will obey Him. But now I am more fulfilled, the flame to do something else has left me. I find joy speaking to women, encouraging youths and building homes."
The experience she had working with the youths then has prepared her for what she does today.
"We go to different institutions to teach them how they can contribute positively to the society rather than engage in negative activities. We let them realize there is no future in crime but in Christ. We discourage them from going into cults, homosexuality, lesbianism, incest etc. We let them realize that they have a lot in them as youths and they should use these gifts positively."
Future of ministry
"I foresee a ministry that will give peace to many homes. I see a ministry dealing with the kingdom of darkness, making youths great men and women and making the society crime free. The ministry is also planning to reward many women who are working to better the lot of women in the society and generally make a better society.
"We plan to give awards to Mrs. Titi Abubakar, Mrs Dora Akunyili, Eki Igbinedion and so many others. We just want to encourage them to continue the good work they have been doing."