woman-of-the-sun

– Pastor Tracy Orowumi

By Chinelo Obogo

At a time domestic violence is becoming rampant, women who are victims have been encouraged to speak out. Also women have been advised to be not only moderate in their dressing but also ask themselves how others will see them over the dresses they wear.
According to Pastor Tracy Orowumi, wife of the General Overseer of the Pentecostal Fellowship Assembly, Iju, Lagos, women suffering violence should not only speak out  but also shout it out.
“Don’t die in silence. Speak out, speak out to your pastor – don’t just keep quiet and tolerate because your life is very important. When it comes to violence, anything physical, don’t keep mum. I’m not in support of violence and I’m encouraging you to please speak out; don’t die in silence,” she declared.
In this interview, Pastor Orowumi spoke on the role of women in the ministry and the society, insisting that women should learn to seek help when they are in violent relationships.

As the wife of the General Overseer, how do you cope with the responsibility of having a husband who has a full-time ministry?
It is a great task, but then, the Bible said that when God calls you, He equips you for that particular office. It is not something that I desired; I never dreamt that I would marry a pastor someday.

Does it mean that you didn’t like the idea or what?
I knew I wanted to marry, and I knew that as a Christian, I had to marry a Christian; so, I was asking God for His perfect will for me. I wanted a man that will love God and encourage me to serve God, but not a pastor. I just wanted a God-fearing man with whom we would serve God together.

So when a pastor came for your hand in marriage, what was your initial reaction?
It was a very tough one, because it was not something that I was looking forward to; but with prayers and encouragement, with words of prophecies from different people that I never knew, I gave in.

How has it been so far?
It’s been wonderful.

In your ministerial duties, how have you been able to cope with the different personalities of members of your church?
People would always have issues, but I base my actions on the level of understanding that a person has. So, when they come with negative attitudes, I don’t take it personal, because God brought them to the church for a purpose. It’s my duty to help them. So, whatever attitude they exhibit, you just have to accommodate, pray for them and encourage them.

How would you advise women who are in your position to cope in ministry?
I would advise them to be patient and have a large heart. If God has called you, He will give you the grace to handle any situation that comes your way.

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As a wife, a mother and a career woman, how do you balance these with the ministry work?
You have to set your priorities well first for God, of course, then your husband and the children come next, because if your home is not settled, there is nothing you can do; you can’t do much in church and of course, you are there to encourage others.
As women, God has given us the ability to encourage, to reach out to people, and be pillars in our home, even in the face of all happenings in the society. When we stand in the gap, we encourage other people and we move both the home, the church and society forward.

Have you been in any situation where you had to speak for gender equality, and against violence against women and the girl-child?
Yes, I have. You know, I have to start from my immediate environment, which is the church. I encourage women to persevere and be prayerful, but in the case of violence, you have to be very careful. We want the women to be alive for themselves, first; for their children and for their parents. In such a situation, you have to speak out, shout it out; don’t die in silence. Speak out, speak out to your pastor – don’t just keep quiet and tolerate because your life is very important. When it comes to violence, anything physical, don’t keep mum. Nobody plans to do anybody any harm, but when they are angry, it could result to violence. So, I’m not in support of violence and I’m encouraging you to please speak out; don’t die in silence.

What is your advice to women, in terms of their relationship with their in-laws, their helpers, husband, relatives and friends, because there is this perception that most women treat their helpers very badly?
My advice to women on the part of the house workers is for them to be patient and tolerant. You know at times, no matter what you do for your house worker, they always have a peculiar way of reasoning. Sometimes, you try to clean them up and make them see the future and plan to be more useful to themselves, either by going to school or learning a trade. But most often, they  don’t see life from that perspective. So, as a child of God, you would need patience and Gods wisdom to handle issues wisely.

What is the best way to cope with your in-laws?
For in-laws, you will have them for life. Because you are married into that family, automatically that is your family. So, you have to be patient, prayerful, and whether you like it or you don’t like it, just love them with the love of God. Play your part, one day, God will touch them and there will be a change.

How do you encourage women who are breadwinners in their families to cope both at the home front and the church?
Your place in the family is as a woman and as a mother. In a lot of families, women are the breadwinners, not because the men are lazy; so, when you find yourself in such a situation, all you need to do is to do it happily. Some women feel because they do everything, the man, the authority is dead. It is the trick of the devil to steal the joy of God from that home. You as the woman should tell God in prayer that the burden you are carrying is not for you alone, and He should take it off you and open doors for your husband. Know that there is no man who would be happy in such a situation, unless there is something wrong somewhere. No man will be happy seeing his wife carrying the load of the house. At that stage, he is already demoralised, and feeling for that woman.

The issue of dressing has become a very controversial topic in the church, as men and women are gradually becoming more liberal in their dressing. How would you advice the body of Christ to handle the issue of dressing, especially among young people?
God said all that you do, you should do it in moderation. When you are dressing, who are you dressing to please? Do you want to be comfortable? And in church, a lot of people don’t know what to wear to church. Apostle Paul said he would have loved to take meat; eating meat would make a brother say ah! how can Paul eat this type of meat? So, instead, he would not eat the meat, not because the meat is sin, but because of his brother.  The question is that as a Christian, how would the dress you are wearing make another person see you? What will it do to the person? Will it cause the person to sin? As Christians, we are role models because the Bible said that we are Christ-like; so, we should model Christ.

What makes Pentecostal Fellowship Assembly stand out?
When God gives a vision, He equips you to carry the vision. God gave Pastor Julius the vision for the church, and He runs the vision with him. Also, our church is a deliverance ministry. The Bible said in the body of Christ, there are different gifts and calling. One person may have the gift of teaching, and another the gift of healing in another area, just like that. So, when there is any issue along the way, He will give the solution and that’s why you are seeing that a lot are still coming because in this end time, things are happening

There may have been times you felt discouraged. If so, how did you pull through?
God did not promise us that the journey will be so smooth. If you are sure that He called you, when challenges come, you can say, God, this is not what I want to see; what is the way out? What are you saying to me? And because He called you, He will always be with you.  So that is how it has been. God didn’t call me; it is my husband He called, and I happen to be a helpmate.

You added a year recently, how has it been?
God has been very faithful to me, and I am very grateful. When I look back at where we were and how far God has brought us, there is every reason to be thankful.