Many millennials who have heard of Pastor Chris Okotie, Evangelist Ebenezer Obey and late Evangelist Sunny Okosun might be familiar with their ecumenical works but are unfamiliar with what the older generation will call, their recent past. These men of God were once successful secular artistes who all made it big in the music industry.
Like them, Chidinma Ekile, winner of third edition of Project Fame West Africa, in 2010 who rapidly morphed into a celebrated chart-topping secular artiste with multiple hit tracks has announced her new found love in Christ through a trending video on YouTube. She says, though she had always been a Church girl and even sang in the Church Choir, her journey from stardom to the light was a lot of work.
Since her last single about 3 years ago, many fans had been yarning for the come-back of the afro pop artiste, simply known as Chidinma. Her absence from the music scene gave some fans reason to conclude that she had burnt out.
About a week ago, she decided to break her silence. And as expected the emergence was grand but this time, the result was a total transformation; a change of record label, identity, fashion sense and lyrics, which was inspired by the new genre, Gospel Music.
“It’s a new dimension right now. It’s a new system and I am going into it with full force. So, most of the time you might not understand my ways because you don’t know where I am coming from. And that is because a lot of time has been wasted.” She uttered these words proudly as she reintroduced herself to the world.
She emphasised that her change (in what many would call a career path) was not inspired by lack of money or dearth of ideas. She says it’s a calling that should have begun many years ago.
“I had an opportunity to send time with Him (Christ), He told me a lot of things. He said He had been waiting for me… I am not here because I want to make money. I am not here because I want fame. I’ve had all of that. I think I have had enough of that. So right now, is the time to work for my father (God).
“He is the one who has called me. I did not bring myself here. As a matter of fact, I did not want to be here.
She believes many souls have to be won because just like her, man people have wasted time building the kingdom of the devil directing people to hell. She plans to use the fame she has gained and the respect she has garnered through the talent that God gave her to win souls for Christ. She says, “there is no time.”
“I had a lot of things yesterday (earlier career). I have had my share of influence and all of that. So, now, I am using all of that. Everything that the enemy thought he had given to me that was (actually) given to me by God while he was there busy lying to me that he gave it to me, I am using all of that to work for my father.
“So, when you see me doing some extreme things, just understand where I am coming from. No time! No time! We have too many people out there that we have to bring back into the house. Jesus is coming soon. Sooner than you expect, so we cannot allow them miss out on that. So now is the time to do the work.
She believes God has been very merciful unto her and she says, “I call myself an end-time soldier. I am not saying that because I need a name. I am saying that because that is the truth. It is for real. I am not here to joke. I am not playing with the enemy because we have a lot (of souls) to take back.”
In the video clip, which lasted about 12 minutes, she exudes intriguing confidence ready to defy all goods and disappoint every nay-sayer. She also demonstrates a profound understanding of the assignment Christ has given to her. She says the secret weapon to her success is less talk, more action particularly ass it concerns the youth.
“You see, young people of today, they are not patient. You are speaking to them and in 15 to 20 minutes, you are losing them. Their attention span is too short. So, we are not here to talk plenty English. We are not speaking English. So, we are showing them, ‘this is what God can do.’
Obviously elated about her new found love she says about herself, “I mean only God could have done this. I have gone away from sin. I have gone away from sickness. I have gone away from lies… I have moved so much in a short time that I can’t even look back let alone go back.”
She is one of the celebrities who have recently given their lives to Christ and declared it publicly or through a demonstration of a new lifestyle. One of such is Banky W, whose demeanour has changed probably through the influence of his wife, Adesua Etomi, an actress who has never shied away from display the banner of Christ.
Like Banky W, Chidinma has released a gospel track, titled “Jehovah Overdo” And she says, “I didn’t come up with these words. I did not. He (Christ) gave them to me. So, these words are coming from a deep place that I do not understand myself. God has been very intentional about me. He has been very, very mindful.”
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