Banky W becomes a pastor in the US

Nigerian singer Olubankole "Banky W" Wellington has announced that he is now an ordained pastor in the United States. This comes two years after he moved there with his family.

The 45-year-old shared the news in a statement on his Instagram page on Thursday. He serves as Associate Pastor and Global Ambassador at Union Church, which is a non-denominational Christian church with many branches across the US.

The church is led by Pastors Stephen and Zai Chandler. Banky W also mentioned that he teaches and leads at Union College.

Thinking about his new roles, the singer and entrepreneur recalled a joke he made about whether the "P" in his nickname, P.Banks, meant professor or pastor.

He said, "Somewhere along the way, I realized that I was asking God to choose between things He had never asked me to separate. It wasn’t either/or. It was all of the above. Turns out, God wasn’t trying to put me in a box. He was expanding my assignment. So yes, I’m still a filmmaker, musician, and entrepreneur. But somehow, by the grace of God, I’m also a Pastor and a Professor."

Banky W added, "Constantly traveling back and forth between Lagos and the DMV isn’t always easy. But has it been worth it? Absolutely. Because I now have the privilege of serving as an Associate Pastor and Global Ambassador at Union Church, and as a teacher and leader at Union College. And I get to do it under the extraordinary leadership of Stephen Chandler and Zai Chandler."

He expressed gratitude for the positive impact the Chandlers had on his personal life, spiritual growth, family, and future.

"See, I never wanted to be put in a box. But little did I know that while I was busy trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life, God was already writing a story I couldn’t have imagined," he said.

Banky W also talked about how losing in the 2023 elections affected him and led him towards pastoral ministry.

He ran for the Eti-Osa Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but lost to Thaddeus Attah from the Labour Party.

He shared that this loss left him heartbroken and made him seek God's guidance. After the election, he found it hard to decide between politics, ministry, entertainment, or business.

He noted, "In 2023 I lost an election. And while the experience inspired me in many ways, it also broke my heart into a million little pieces. When the dust settled, I took those pieces back to God. And I surrendered.

"I asked Him, 'What’s next? What’s Your will for my life? Is it leadership or ministry? Entertainment or business? Marketplace or ministry?'"

Looking back on his first year as a pastor, Banky W said that what seems like an end could be God's way of starting a new chapter in one’s life.

Though the election outcome was not what he hoped for, he believes God's plan for his life will be greater than he could imagine.

"And the beautiful thing is, He’s still writing. There’s more to come on the business, film, and music fronts (stay tuned 99), but today, I want to pause and say thank you, Jesus.

"For the doors You open and the ones You close. For the people you bring into my life and the purpose you reveal, one piece of the puzzle at a time. One year down. A lifetime of purpose ahead. Please wish me a happy 1st Unionversary."