Larry Koldsweat
Nseobong Okon-Ekong takes a look at an increasing number of Nigerian thespians now shunning the glamour of high society and the screen for the modest life of being in the vineyard of the Lord. But some, however, insist they remain first and foremost actors and actresses…
LARRY KOLDSWEAT
Nseobong Okon-Ekong takes a look at an increasing number of Nigerian thespians now shunning the glamour of high society and the screen for the modest life of being in the vineyard of the Lord. But some, however, insist they remain first and foremost actors and actresses…
LARRY KOLDSWEAT
While many people may be asking what took veteran Nollywood actor Larry Koldsweat, who will be 66 years old next year, so long to accept Jesus Christ, his argument is likely to be that in things of the spirit, God should be allowed to have His way. He became a Christian in 1982. He was one of the pioneer worshippers with Bishop Mike Okonkwo’s
The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM). He held on to his newfound faith for eight years. The pull from worldly things proved too irresistible for Koldsweat and so in 1990, he went back to his old ways. Then in 2004, he had a life changing experience that put him on the straight and narrow course for good. He was in Onitsha. By his admission, Koldsweat, who now lives in Abuja, said things were very rough; meaning he had a difficult time getting a job. “Nobody wanted to hire me in the movies. It was a very bad time for me. Then one day I was in my hotel room after shooting a film for the day. Suddenly, the presence of Jesus was so strong in my room. I never felt Him so strongly. I ran to my colleague Alex Usifo’s room. I told him to pray for me and he did.
The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM). He held on to his newfound faith for eight years. The pull from worldly things proved too irresistible for Koldsweat and so in 1990, he went back to his old ways. Then in 2004, he had a life changing experience that put him on the straight and narrow course for good. He was in Onitsha. By his admission, Koldsweat, who now lives in Abuja, said things were very rough; meaning he had a difficult time getting a job. “Nobody wanted to hire me in the movies. It was a very bad time for me. Then one day I was in my hotel room after shooting a film for the day. Suddenly, the presence of Jesus was so strong in my room. I never felt Him so strongly. I ran to my colleague Alex Usifo’s room. I told him to pray for me and he did.
“That day, I prophesied to myself that if I go back to engage in worldly things again, I would die. That is my restitution experience. I went back to Lagos after we finished the film. One Pastor Peter Oyenubi came to pray for my family at Ajangbadi in Lagos where we lived at the time. He laid his hands on my son and he fell under the anointing. He came and laid hands on me too.”
To the glory of God, both father and son are committed labourers in the Lord’s vineyard now. Koldsweat’s son, Chinedu, runs a ministry by the name, Seed of Favour Ministry in Abuja, while Koldsweat himself runs an outreach known as Sacred Fire Ministry, which he gave birth to in 2010. He was ordained in Calabar by Bishop Emma Isong of Christian Central Centre in 2007 as an evangelist. In 2009, he was given another ordination in Port Harcourt by Apostle Chibuzor Chinyere of the Omega Power Ministry. Koldsweat has stopped acting altogether, devoting his time to the gospel full time since 2007. Preaching assignments have taken him to many parts of Nigeria and outside the country.
CHARLES OKAFOR
Charles Okafor refuses to have the title ‘pastor’ pinned on him. However, there is not much difference between what he is quick to do now and what commissioned pastors do. His argument is that he is not a preacher in the ecclesiastical sense of the word because he does not have a ministry. While remaining a faithful member of the Anglican Church, Lagos Mainland Diocese, he believes that every Christian has a fundamental assignment pronounced in Mathew Chapter 28. That piece of the scripture is better known as The Great Commission. It is close to 10 years now since Okafor began to stand before a congregation to preach, but he would not agree that he has done anything special. “Interestingly, we all are pastors by reason of The Great Commission. That is a fundamental assignment, which includes everyone who professes to be a Christian. I am an actor. I remain an actor, but I am also invited to preach across the country and outside Nigeria. It is a
Charles Okafor refuses to have the title ‘pastor’ pinned on him. However, there is not much difference between what he is quick to do now and what commissioned pastors do. His argument is that he is not a preacher in the ecclesiastical sense of the word because he does not have a ministry. While remaining a faithful member of the Anglican Church, Lagos Mainland Diocese, he believes that every Christian has a fundamental assignment pronounced in Mathew Chapter 28. That piece of the scripture is better known as The Great Commission. It is close to 10 years now since Okafor began to stand before a congregation to preach, but he would not agree that he has done anything special. “Interestingly, we all are pastors by reason of The Great Commission. That is a fundamental assignment, which includes everyone who professes to be a Christian. I am an actor. I remain an actor, but I am also invited to preach across the country and outside Nigeria. It is a
humbling experience and a huge honour for me. It is an uncommon accolade to be considered worthy to stand before the children of God to share the word. Nothing stands me out, except the dynamics of His grace working for the expansion of the gospel space. I recently spent 10 days in Ghana, preaching. In future, I might want to submit to this higher call, but I find it immodest to speak from my mouth that I am called. By their fruits we shall know them. I leave the assessment or judgment to God working through some men. Anybody can preach but it has a lot to do with how the individual has yielded or submitted himself to be used for the Lord. Standing before people to preach or speak has become a bit of a vocational or status thing for some and I have an issue with that.”
LIZ BENSON
One of the most recognised faces on Nigerian screen, it appears God had a well-rounded blessing for Benson with her 2009 marriage to Bishop Great Emeya at the Rainbow Christian Assembly in Warri, Delta State. Even before her marriage, she had turned her back on acting in Nollywood. Benson was subsequently ordained an evangelist.
One of the most recognised faces on Nigerian screen, it appears God had a well-rounded blessing for Benson with her 2009 marriage to Bishop Great Emeya at the Rainbow Christian Assembly in Warri, Delta State. Even before her marriage, she had turned her back on acting in Nollywood. Benson was subsequently ordained an evangelist.
ALEX USIFO
Alex Usifo does not like to be seen as belonging to a particular church. A strong believer in the scripture that the body of Christ is one, Usifo said the matter of ordination is one area he does not like to talk about. However, he does not shy away from an emphatic claim that “I am a minister of the gospel by the grace of God. Any child of God is a minister.”
Alex Usifo does not like to be seen as belonging to a particular church. A strong believer in the scripture that the body of Christ is one, Usifo said the matter of ordination is one area he does not like to talk about. However, he does not shy away from an emphatic claim that “I am a minister of the gospel by the grace of God. Any child of God is a minister.”
He actually started ministering 13 years ago at Ropheka Gospel Church, Egbeda, Lagos, under Rev. (Dr.) Onigbinde. He was the main speaker at a convention organised by Bishop Okolo’s ministry in Asaba sometime last year. The gospel has taken him to Cameroun, Assemblies of God Church in FESTAC and to Port Harcourt where he was also a speaker at a crusade organised by a popular OAP on Radio Nigeria among many others.
PETER BUNOR
It took a near death experience to bring Peter Bunor back to God like the prodigal son. After God saved him from a spell of stroke, which nearly took his life, Bunor now carries the banner of Christ high for everyone to see.
It took a near death experience to bring Peter Bunor back to God like the prodigal son. After God saved him from a spell of stroke, which nearly took his life, Bunor now carries the banner of Christ high for everyone to see.
UDY UMONDAK
From acting in one of Nigeria’s best known soap, ‘Mirror in the Sun’, this former First Lady of Akwa Ibom State returned to television, this time, not for the fame and the glamour, but to present a gospel-based inspirational programme called- ‘His Word Made Flesh’-, which she started in 2007.
From acting in one of Nigeria’s best known soap, ‘Mirror in the Sun’, this former First Lady of Akwa Ibom State returned to television, this time, not for the fame and the glamour, but to present a gospel-based inspirational programme called- ‘His Word Made Flesh’-, which she started in 2007.
Although, she is invited to speak at many Christian programmes, Udy prefers to be led by the Spirit and would only go to such places as the Spirit leads.
According to her, ‘His Word Made Flesh’ is a way of reaching out to people and showing them the practical side of Christianity by bringing to them people who have an experiential knowledge of God. What we do is based on the scripture. The Bible says that all things work together for good for those who love God and those who are called. “There is another scripture that enjoins us to comfort others with the same comfort that we have been comforted. The people who are featured on my programme achieved purpose and they are able to comfort others having walked the path,” she said.
Udy became a born-again Christian in 1991, but she said she had always had a consciousness of God, having grown up to meet a church in her home. The church, which is still in existence, was founded by her father. She currently worships at the Royal Priesthood Parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God. Udy may not cut the picture of your regular Christian, but forget the façade-the trendy dress and the eight-inch shoes-you just need to hear her preach, even though she insists that she is not a preacher.
According to her, ‘His Word Made Flesh’ is a way of reaching out to people and showing them the practical side of Christianity by bringing to them people who have an experiential knowledge of God. What we do is based on the scripture. The Bible says that all things work together for good for those who love God and those who are called. “There is another scripture that enjoins us to comfort others with the same comfort that we have been comforted. The people who are featured on my programme achieved purpose and they are able to comfort others having walked the path,” she said.
Udy became a born-again Christian in 1991, but she said she had always had a consciousness of God, having grown up to meet a church in her home. The church, which is still in existence, was founded by her father. She currently worships at the Royal Priesthood Parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God. Udy may not cut the picture of your regular Christian, but forget the façade-the trendy dress and the eight-inch shoes-you just need to hear her preach, even though she insists that she is not a preacher.
EUCHARIA ANUNOBI
As we write this, Eucharia Anunobi is in Tiko, Cameroon on one of her missionary travels. Ordained an Evangelist by Apostle Psalm Okpe of Fresh Oil Ministry Int’l Church on February 5, 2012, Anunobi has embraced the ministry with all the dramatic elements that is known for as a Thespian. Her social media space is filled with loads of information and updates about what she is doing. According to her, what everybody is witnessing now actually started 16 years ago when she answered an altar call and gave her life to God in 1997.
As we write this, Eucharia Anunobi is in Tiko, Cameroon on one of her missionary travels. Ordained an Evangelist by Apostle Psalm Okpe of Fresh Oil Ministry Int’l Church on February 5, 2012, Anunobi has embraced the ministry with all the dramatic elements that is known for as a Thespian. Her social media space is filled with loads of information and updates about what she is doing. According to her, what everybody is witnessing now actually started 16 years ago when she answered an altar call and gave her life to God in 1997.
This reporter was privileged to be in Eket, Akwa Ibom State, recently where Anunobi was invited to minister at a programme. She has been to Senegal, Ghana and the USA among other countries in her missionary travels.
Anunobi who was recently made a celebrity volunteer of the Red Cross Society does not want her activities as a Christian to be misconstrued. “I am first, an actor, before becoming an evangelist, which God has made me right now-an oracle in His palace. Acting is and will continue to be my first ministry and I am not a former actress. I am still in the business of making movies, but making movies more, that encompasses the preaching of the Kingdom of God. I have learnt to obey, trust, follow, believe, accept God with no questionings or reservations to which direction He leads me, because I know that He will never lead me astray. This is my testimony today as a Christian and a preacher of God's word. In all I do, God comes first, second and even third before other things follow.”
KANAYO O. KANAYO
An unapologetic Catholic, Kanayo O. Kanayo or KOK as he is better known is also known to frequent the Omega Power Ministry (OPM), especially when he is in Port Harcourt and sometimes at the Christ Mission Worldwide Church, Egbeda in Lagos.
Perhaps, because of his devotion to the Catholic Church, it may take a complete radical move for KOK to found a ministry or branch out on his own. However, he continues to lend his eminence to Christian crusades and like causes that he is invited to preach or speak at.
An unapologetic Catholic, Kanayo O. Kanayo or KOK as he is better known is also known to frequent the Omega Power Ministry (OPM), especially when he is in Port Harcourt and sometimes at the Christ Mission Worldwide Church, Egbeda in Lagos.
Perhaps, because of his devotion to the Catholic Church, it may take a complete radical move for KOK to found a ministry or branch out on his own. However, he continues to lend his eminence to Christian crusades and like causes that he is invited to preach or speak at.
Drawing a thin line between speaking, preaching and sermonizing in a church, KOK said that drawing inferences from the Bible only is what stands sermonizing out. “My life is an open testament. I talk about what I have done over the years. I use that experience to show how people should live their lives. Nigerian Home Video provides an opportunity to sermonize in drama. You will agree with me that people tend to listen more to pastors who can practicalise. A good sermon carries all the elements of drama to score its message. I am a Christian and I defend my beliefs.”
ERNEST ASUZU
When he could not be located on the radar, many gave up on Ernest Asuzu, concluding, albeit wrongly, that he was dead. Unknown to many, he was undergoing God’s fire of rebranding. Now he is reformed and preaches the gospel through music. He has taken his business side seriously, adding ‘Elcream’ to his name and stamping his authority as the boss at Creamsyde Productions.
When he could not be located on the radar, many gave up on Ernest Asuzu, concluding, albeit wrongly, that he was dead. Unknown to many, he was undergoing God’s fire of rebranding. Now he is reformed and preaches the gospel through music. He has taken his business side seriously, adding ‘Elcream’ to his name and stamping his authority as the boss at Creamsyde Productions.
ZACH ORJI
This reporter encountered Orji’s pastoral fervour at the launch of reggae gospel musician Buchi Atuonwu’s ‘Judah’ album launch at Sheraton Lagos Hotel and Towers, Ikeja. Many in the audience were surprised at the insight with which he delivered the sermon of the day.
Orji, a former president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, may be said to have progressed from his natural calm and gentlemanly disposition in real life and in the movies. He was ordained a full-time evangelist by Bishop Emma Isong of Christian Central Chapel International (CCCI).
This reporter encountered Orji’s pastoral fervour at the launch of reggae gospel musician Buchi Atuonwu’s ‘Judah’ album launch at Sheraton Lagos Hotel and Towers, Ikeja. Many in the audience were surprised at the insight with which he delivered the sermon of the day.
Orji, a former president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, may be said to have progressed from his natural calm and gentlemanly disposition in real life and in the movies. He was ordained a full-time evangelist by Bishop Emma Isong of Christian Central Chapel International (CCCI).
OBOT ETUK
Of the renowned thespians who are also operating in the vineyard of the Lord as labourers, Obot Etuk is perhaps the only one who has entered the prophetic dimension. Not for her the pastor or evangelist tag, she clearly wants to be known as a prophetess. Although she now lives mostly between Europe and Ghana, Etuk is said to have embraced a very religious lifestyle and is now said to operate the gift of seeing into the past and foreseeing the future.
Of the renowned thespians who are also operating in the vineyard of the Lord as labourers, Obot Etuk is perhaps the only one who has entered the prophetic dimension. Not for her the pastor or evangelist tag, she clearly wants to be known as a prophetess. Although she now lives mostly between Europe and Ghana, Etuk is said to have embraced a very religious lifestyle and is now said to operate the gift of seeing into the past and foreseeing the future.
PAT ATTAH
Pat Attah was the darling of many actresses and allegedly broke a couple of hearts. But he has since turned from his philandering ways. Completely putting his playboy toga aside, Attah who has relocated to Europe uses the social media platforms to preach.
Pat Attah was the darling of many actresses and allegedly broke a couple of hearts. But he has since turned from his philandering ways. Completely putting his playboy toga aside, Attah who has relocated to Europe uses the social media platforms to preach.
OKECHUKWU OGUNJIOFOR
Author of many Christian literatures, Okey Ogunjiofor, who operates mostly behind the camera as an executive producer, producer of director was instrumental to the making of the landmark flick, ‘Living in Bondage’, which heralded the Nigerian home video industry, better known as Nollywood. Ogunjiofor is a much sought-after motivational speaker and preacher of the gospel. He is the CEO of Videosonic Studio Limited and a very respected personality in Nollywood.
ONYEKA ONWENU
Onyeka Onwenu has many sides to her; broadcaster, singer, actor, politician and entrepreneur, she has tied all of these up with the fine thread of the gospel. A few years ago, Onwenu made the bold move to declare for Jesus Christ. Since then, she has only recorded gospel songs and her speech in public is punctuated with a generous does of scriptures.
Author of many Christian literatures, Okey Ogunjiofor, who operates mostly behind the camera as an executive producer, producer of director was instrumental to the making of the landmark flick, ‘Living in Bondage’, which heralded the Nigerian home video industry, better known as Nollywood. Ogunjiofor is a much sought-after motivational speaker and preacher of the gospel. He is the CEO of Videosonic Studio Limited and a very respected personality in Nollywood.
ONYEKA ONWENU
Onyeka Onwenu has many sides to her; broadcaster, singer, actor, politician and entrepreneur, she has tied all of these up with the fine thread of the gospel. A few years ago, Onwenu made the bold move to declare for Jesus Christ. Since then, she has only recorded gospel songs and her speech in public is punctuated with a generous does of scriptures.
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