Marriage is considered a sacred and important union especially in religious organizations like the Church. It goes beyond starting a union out of love or affection that couples have for each other.
Regarded as one of the most important unions in the Christendom, intending couples are often advised to thread with caution as divorce isn’t encouraged unless in cases of death of a spouse or infidelity. Over the years, some prominent Nigerian men of God have had to give marriage a second shot due to certain circumstances beyond their country. They walked down the aisle the second.
Here are five prominent Nigerian Pastors who remarried:
01. Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor
Former President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Founder of Word of Life Bible Church Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor lost his wife to the cold hands of death in 1996 after suffering from diabetes. In accordance to the scriptures, he remarried after finding love again. He and his wife are blessed with triplets in their marriage.
Apostle Anselm Madubuko and Emmy Kosgei, a Kenyan Gospel singer, got married on Saturday, August 31, 2013 at the Windsor Hotel and Golf Country Club, Nairobi. They also celebrated their thanksgiving at the head pastor’s church, Revival Assembly Ministry, Ogba on Sunday, September 15, 2013.
02. Pastor Taiwo Odukoya
Founder of Fountain of Life Bible Church Pastor Taiwo Odukoya is one of the popular Nigerian Pastors who remarried. Having lost his wife Bimbo Odukoya in the 2005 Sosoliso plane crash, he became a widower. Visibly devastated by his wife’s passing, it took the Man of God another five years to move on. He got married to Rosemary Nomthi – a South African lady in 2010.
03. Pastor Kumuyi
Founder and General Superintendent of Deeper Life Bible Church Pastor Kumiyi had to go through the sad experience of losing a partner. In April 2009, his late wife sister Biodun Kumuyi as she was popular known, had her last breath at the age of fifty seven.
A year later, the Man of God found love again in Esther Blaize who was the administrator of the Church in London at the time. The two got married shortly after. Esther Blaize was 65 years old at the time of her marriage to the General Overseer, and had never been married before.
04. Pastor Anslem Madubuko
Founder and Senior Pastor of Revival Assembly Ministries International Pastor Anslem Madubuko lost his beloved wife in 2012 when he was on a pastoral trip outside the country. His late wife of twenty eight years was reported to have suffered cardiac heart arrest, and gave up the ghost in the hospital where she was rushed to.
05. Pastor Chris Okotie
Founder of House of Gold Church Pastor Chris Okotie didn’t only remarry once but also divorced his second wife of four years Stephanie Henshaw. The divorce generated a lot of controversy with accusations flying around. After much was said, the marriage was dissolved, and Ms. Stephanie relocated to the United States of America to start a new life.
Okotie first ran for the President under the banner of the Justice Party (JP), led by Ralph Obiorah after he was schemed out of the National Democratic Party (NDP) primaries elections; he lost to Olusegun Obasanjo in the May 2003 elections. He ran again in 2007 on the platform of a party he founded, Fresh Democratic party, FRESH and lost to Umaru Yar’Adua in the May 2007 elections. Then in 2011, he ran and lost to the President Goodluck Jonathan.
Despite losing their wives to the cold hands of death or in controversial circumstances, these men of God sought happiness again by taking the bold step of remarrying. While a Man of God takes on the huge responsibility of pastoring a Church, suffice to say, he needs a woman by his side.