Celebrating my "Psycho pastor" and Forever the Prince of Preachers(PoP).

Many years ago, before he became famous on TikTok, Instagram reel, and Facebook, someone who knew my near "obsession" with PoP said all my PoP preach is psychology and not the "real gospel," which for him was deliverance and demonstration theatrics that claims village people are responsible for your sneezing. At the time, I had a picture of PoP from a DVD poster on my wall, and he said, "Haha, your psycho pastor." I never take offense at how anyone describes PoP because I did not expect everyone to like him.

Today, many churches now preach the same "psycho or psychology" and talk about mental health, dysfunction and behavioural issues they won't usually discuss. More so, everyone talks about taking care of their mental health, whereas there was a time that was synonymous with Yaba left and Aro in Abeokuta.

This man was and has always been ahead of the park, streaming live services into prisons where people have no fat envelope to give, going to rehab, and talking with people no one will ever speak to. He knew that everything was not demonic oppression and possession. If we become aware of trauma, childhood issues, and events that have scarred us and made us behave as we do, we will walk and work our way to deliverance and freedom with time.

PoP is dear to my heart not because of his "psychology," as this acquaintance derided; he has also paid attention to systemic issues. He started the Texas Offender Initiative ( TORI) for the reintegration of ex-convicts into society while constantly questioning the legal system in America. He has held more racial reconciliation events than any other pastor in America that I know. Today, the Bishop talks about artificial intelligence and robustly organizes summer camps for children in marginalized communities.

A few days ago, I felt like a 15-year-old in fear and trepidation due to a scary incident. I was shaking and would have thought village people were at it again. I called someone I know without a shadow of a doubt as a "God-sent angel" who helped me out of the situation. I stayed up all night, not sure whether to pray or cry.(I did cry later sha) But having been a student of PoP for over twenty five years, it occurred to me a few hours later that this incident, which should have been declared an emergency, triggered the trauma of over 25 years of me running out of my childhood home before it was looted and burnt. Because of this, it is difficult for fake prophets, pastors, or imams to prey on me because, after every storm, I always see things differently.

I love Bishop more than I can put into words.

This year, to celebrate his Birthday, I am writing ten things PoP once said:

Bishop once said:

1. "Don't burn the school just because you are done." Don't ruin a place or person because it no longer serves you.

2. "Greatness never goes on sales." Success costs you something, so it is never on sales. To be on sales is to be easily accessible.

3. "Faith and doubt can sit in the same car; whether the car crashes or fails depends on whether doubt sits in the driver's seat." so do it afraid.

4. "Favor is not fair. God is just; He is not fair". He would give everyone the same talent, skills, ability, height, color, and shades if he were fair. God's distributive justice is shaped by purpose and equity.

5. "God uses what is left, not what is lost." Don't worry about people leaving or life robbing you of your most treasured things because God can still find something in you that can produce a miracle. Bible students would remember the woman with a pot of oil and flour to make a loaf of bread. God works with what is left.

6. "God does not let everything pack up at the same time."

7. "Think with me." When I hear this, all my brain and attention is fixated because PoP serves it intellectually and spiritually."

8. "Having your own vision delivers you from other people's agenda."

9. "It does not matter where you start. What matters is where you finish."

10. "Miracles can still occur amid mayhem."

Happy Birthday to the Bishop of the Battered, Sheperd of the Shattered , Therapist of the tattered and tortured!

Posted on Facebook on  June 9, 2024

Image used under @ Creative common. Photo credit: Google