22 Years to Destiny: My Journey of Sacrifice and Faith

In 1993, while in university, I had a strong vision to leave Nigeria for America. I wanted a better life, as many would say. At that time, I was serving God under a great ministry led by a father in the faith. This was a quiet time of hard work in my life. I was truly devoted to God. I never missed Sunday service or mid-week meetings. I was so committed to God that on days I lacked transport money, I would walk to church and still arrive first for services. After our church conferences, which ended at 11:30 p.m., I would walk back home in the dark, crossing dangerous areas. But God kept me safe.

I did not let anything offend me. No one could turn me against my pastors or the church. I just kept serving while also focusing on my studies as an engineering student. There was no luxury in my life. I had nothing attractive going on. I had no achievements. I had no money. It was a time of small beginnings. Life was tough. This was before social media or the internet, so I had no outside motivation. But I believed that God would open international doors for me. In my small beginnings, I gave offerings as sacrificially as I could. I never missed a call for donations. Sometimes, I gave away the small allowance my parents gave me for church projects. One day, I even gave my student stove and other items as seeds to the missions department of my church. I did all this happily, even though there was no visible reward.

I served God faithfully under a few leaders. Things were hard and sometimes felt hopeless. What made me stick with God for 13 years? I can’t say it was normal. It must have been divine strength. I share these stories to connect with those who are struggling. Some have said that going to church is useless. They tell you that many succeed without God. But they don’t talk about the hidden costs of their success, the secret societies they might belong to, and the sacrifices they make in darkness. What you see is only a small part of their success. Why would the enemy be happy that you love God and gather with other believers?

Everyone pays a price for success. Nothing comes for free. If you let anyone convince you that you don’t need God to succeed, you are misguided. No one succeeds alone. As Dr Olumide Emmanuel said, "You are either backed by a secret place or by secret cults." From 1993, I faced a plateau, a quiet time. I kept giving and giving. I saw no international opportunities. From 1993 to 2001, I suffered a lot. I served God without results. I prayed without results. I gave and became poorer. But remember: "Sacrifices work in silence." Sometimes when it seems God is late, it might be because He is preparing something big. Dr Myles Munroe said, "Seeds work in silence." My sacrifices made me look foolish. But from 2002 to 2005, I began to see signs of hope as God helped me get good jobs in Nigeria.

But those jobs were not what God promised me in 1993: "I am taking you out of this nation." Then in 2005, hope came alive. God connected me with missionaries in South Africa for the last part of my sacrificial journey. I served them faithfully, working to help many poor South Africans in Pretoria. We fed and clothed them. By late 2005, things started to change. I was hired by the world’s biggest diamond manufacturing company in a way I still can’t explain. My life had turned around, but I didn’t know this was just the beginning. Then in 2006, the biggest miracle happened.

During my 13 years of waiting, I applied for many visas. I wanted God’s promises to happen quickly. We all know that feeling. Joseph tried to use the Butler to escape prison, but the Butler forgot him for two years. I was denied a US visa once and a UK visa twice. I can’t share all the details, but while I was suffering in South Africa, I got a call from Nigeria. Remember that great offer from the diamond company? It wasn’t the end. It was to cool me down because I was overwhelmed. Sometimes, God gives us temporary blessings to calm us before the real deal arrives. That opportunity ended after four months, and I was back to square one.

After leaving that company, I sat on my bed, feeling lost and frustrated. I had served God for years. I thought, "God's word has failed." Then my phone rang. Someone from Nigeria said she received a parcel from the UK embassy: "The visa they denied two years ago has been re-approved." I laughed, thinking it was a scam. That was in 2006, the 14th year of my waiting. The UK visa was issued. A few weeks later, I got another parcel: a scholarship worth four thousand pounds was approved. I left for the UK. Less than two weeks after arriving, I got another parcel, I was accepted for an all-expenses-paid business mentorship training in France. More good news kept coming. In short, the rest is history.

God kept His promise, opened international doors for me, and rewarded my silent labors. After moving to the West, He called me into the teaching ministry. Someone reading this may wonder, "Is there hope for me? My situation is worse than Pastor Ayo Akerele’s." Or maybe you feel like a church slave or a church rat. I was crazy for Jesus back then, and I still am. Two things helped me: the ground where I served and my heart. If your heart isn’t right, or your ground isn’t right, you might be wasting your efforts.

Also, I didn’t just sit in church doing nothing; I invested in my education and career. I worked hard. I gave God the chance to bless me because service without effort can lead to frustration. My years of sacrifice didn’t start in 1993. They truly began in 1984 when I got saved, but in 1993, God revealed my journey to the West for a new mission. I served God with passion at a Baptist church as an usher from 1984 to 1992. Not a single coin of God’s money ever went missing under my watch. Many times, I was left alone with the offering, but I never touched it, even when I was in need.

I defended my pastor during tough times. My vote saved him when others wanted him out. At his funeral in New York in 2026, his daughter reminded me of this. It brought tears to my eyes. God’s name be praised. It mattered a lot, and it was recorded in my favor.

If you are serving God, do it with the right heart. Don’t gossip about your pastor. Don’t join those who criticize the church. The Bible says, "A mocker seeks knowledge but won’t find it" (Proverbs 14:6). If you serve in a church based on truth, stay there. Don’t hop from church to church. Stay and serve. Consistency and faithfulness bring rewards. But if your pastor isn’t a true servant of God, you might serve for years and regret it.

"Serve the LORD with gladness: come before His presence with singing" (Psalm 100:2). So if I look back, I’d say it took God 22 years to prepare me. It took Him 22 years to set me up for greatness. You are too quick to rush God. The God we serve does not rush to bless people. Many rush to the top and end up buried. The enemy knows this principle; he pushes us to give up on God and settle for bad options. Be patient, serve, and wait for God. Today, the rest is history. Don’t believe the lies of church haters. I can’t tell you how much blessing God has brought into my life, but the greatest is the ministerial calling He placed on me. That alone is my greatest reward in life.