‘Every girl is an institution, it is she who determines society’s future’

Evangelist Temilolu Okeowo is the seventh child of late Sir Victor Taiwo Okeowo who was an industrialist and real-estate magnate a great lover of God in his lifetime. She’s an author, a lawyer, a certified forensics examiner and above all, a servant of God. She’s the Founder and President of Girls Club of Nigeria, a non-sectarian Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) and its ministry arm, The Girls Apostolic Ministry of All Nations, aimed at re-orientating the Nigerian girl and imparting a positive change in the female folk.

In the last few years, she has been voluntarily disseminating the good news of sanctity of life, laying emphasis on preservation of virginity till marriage and encouraging a chaste life while mentoring the younger female folk through some of Nigeria’s leading newspapers.

Alongside evangelism, she has been involved in girl-child advocacy in all forms and this has taken her as far as the Council Chambers of the United Nations Headquarters, New York a number of times where she was opportune to rub minds with other girl-child advocates across the continents. Also under her care are distressed girls who have suffered from child sexual abuse.Fondly addressed as Apostle of Chastity, she sheds some light on the activities of her ministry and today’s programme designed for teenage girls and ladies in their 20’s and 30’s, as well as single mothers

Tell us why and how you started your ministry. Why as a lawyer did you go into evangelism?
I believe we all have a calling and purpose in life. My ministry unconsciously began in my teens when I wrote my debut book for girls- The Beauty of Life- which discusses the trials and triumphs of girls growing up in a morally-decadent society while proffering solutions with a godly undertone. I’ve not veered off Law. I’m just contributing my quota to God’s kingdom and I’m so passionate about it. It’s clearly God’s Divine agenda for my life.

What activities do you engage in as an evangelist?
The hub of my message is sanctity of life through preservation of virginity till marriage, sexual purity as a potent weapon to operate optimally in the supernatural and develop spiritual intelligence generally in line with the Word of God through studying the Word, praying and fasting. Asides honouring invitations to minister at institutions of learning and churches within and outside the country, I’m engaged in outreach visits to various markets, remote and riverine areas sometimes by canoe preaching chastity to the female folk and teaching them how best they can use their innate abilities and spiritual gifts to live a life of their dreams in spite their poverty level.

You are also a columnist with some national dailies, what impact has your writings made on your target audience? Any good feedbacks from them?
The response of Nigerians over the years has been most gratifying! As a result of my write-ups, a good number of girls who have become members of the Girls Club have retraced their steps and been re-directed to the path of righteousness. I counsel many times daily. I am usually inundated with calls and text messages from parents who want me to mentor their girls while some, especially the fathers, tell me they are making a library of my articles for their girls who are in boarding school to read when they return back home for holidays.

The men especially also write to thank me for breaking them free from addictions such as masturbation and the like through my articles. In fact, I was pleasantly surprised when a certain man said he read my series on masturbation for four weeks and got delivered from 17 years of masturbating. A good number of my ardent followers are also Muslims. They write to appreciate me and tell me my teachings resonate with the Islamic injunction on chastity. Some of my fans ask me which school of ministry I had been to, but I write under the influence of the Holy Spirit. It’s such a heavenly experience to be used by God by my writings and I’m very enthusiastic about it as I find it a huge privilege

What has been your challenges doing evangelism? How are you funding your activities?
I had to go through the “School of life”- some serious training and processing by God. It wasn’t funny! For the Almighty to work through you, you must carry a large dose of Him and for you to achieve that, you have to thoroughly exude the fruit of the spirit and be broken amongst other things. This doesn’t come easy. My processing came in some ugly shades but I kept pressing on. But just like diamond is made under pressure, I’m coming out fit for God’s use. I’ve had to spend a lot of my personal income. However, when the need arises for major programs, some of my friends and fans of the ministry support me.

What is your take on the tithing debate in Christiandom?
Tithing and offering in church, seed sowing and benevolence to the needy has worked tremendously for me over the years and even saved me in times of great danger. God doesn’t ignore such. It carries a heavy weight in the supernatural.

Tell us about today’s programme in Lagos In the light of evangelism and empowerment, I have planned a special event “DIAMONDS IN THE SKY” which is scheduled to hold today, 12noon at Jesus Evangelical Assembly, Allen Avenue, Ikeja. Rev. Funke Felix-Adejumo, Dr. Adeola Olubamiji (child pepper-hawker turned first black person to earn a PH.D.in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Saskatchewan Canada /Canada’s no.5 most influential black lady) and I would be ministering and imparting the youth present. Mrs. Adejumo will be sharing the secrets and strength of a highly-sought-after lady while I’ll be preaching chastity as usual and giving an expose on how to activate the power of God with it and use it as a tool to have super dominion in all ramification of one’s life. Adeola Olubamiji will be discussing her uncommon elevation from oblivion to one of world’s finest through focus, strong determination, hard work and prioritizing her life which is somewhat lacking in today’s generation of youth. Evangelist Tope Alabi and Beejay Sax will be performing while the General Overseer of Jesus EvangelicalAssembly, Rev.Esosa Ize-Iyamu will be hosting us.

It promises to be phenomenal; no one, young or old would leave the venue the same way. The raw power of God is going to be made manifest. It’s going to wake up a lot of sleeping giants and ignite the dying fire in many destinies.

You are a very stylish preacher. Kindly reveal your beauty routine and favourite designers Perhaps because I was fashion-forward as a child due to my late father’s love to dress us up like royalty, my views about fashion have changed. What makes me tick is the supernatural not the superficial. I concentrate more on my spiritual beauty. So, my definition of style is living with others under the influence of the fruit of the spirit, oozing the glory and power of God and knowing all things through the unction of the Holy Spirit. You’re not only stylish; you’re excellent and very attractive!

If you’re not doing this, what else would you be doing?
I’d be a politician in the interest of the girl-child. Sexual harassment and assault of women and girls in all forms and domestic violence is a nightmare for me while child-marriage just makes me cry. Every girl is an institution; it is she who determines the future of the society. What becomes of a society that’s birthed by a mentally and physically defiled, robbed of a peaceful life and a lot she wishes for because she’s female, one who’s almost deranged by the time she becomes an adult growing up in a female- oppressive society? May God help us! On October 11, I attended the International Day of the girl summit at the United Nations Headquarters New York and our very own Mrs. Amina Mohammed, the UN Deputy Secretary General said work is in progress to change the lot of the girl-child in Nigeria. I believe her and I’m waiting to see that happen.