Bible Teacher. Pastor.Educator.

1047 days ago! 34 months! and 12 days ago! I got the worst news i have goten in my adult life!

34 months and 12 days ago, I faced the darkest day of my adult life - the day I lost my father. It was as if death, that cruel thief, had personally targeted me. My world was shattered, leaving me in a six-month long haze of anger, doubt, fear, and shame. The period was marked by unexpected and unpleasant family squabbles, disagreements with church leaders, and self-inflicted pain. Hopelessness engulfed me.

 

At 42, I was drowning - financially, relationally, emotionally. Single and feeling betrayed by the Holy Spirit, I was bitter at God, feeling like a forgotten and foolish character in His grand narrative. Years before, I had chosen to move to one of Chicago’s toughest neighborhoods to lead a group of hurt teenagers from broken homes. In two and a half years, we mourned the loss of 10 of these young souls. Ignoring the advice of friends, mentors, and my father’s pleas to join him in Africa, I believed my calling was in Chicago for five years.

 

My only prayer was that God would allow me to return to Africa, marry in a bride quickly, work alongside my father, and give him the joy of grandchildren. But God the wise king of heaven, had other plans.

 

Yet, through the storm, I found healing in the unexpected kindness of friends like Scott and Mark. I embraced a new beginning, fueled by a promise to my father and a desire from God two decades old - to return to Africa and build a ministry to combat poverty through church planting, education, and leadership development. 

 

Resigning from my dream job in America, I embarked on this journey. Fast forward 34 months and 12 days - I’ve married, we’ve welcomed a child, started a church, and are in the process of building a school in Africa. 

Our school now nurtures 35 students on a temporary site; our church grows under the guidance of three pastors and a congregation of forty; and a friend’s generous gift of a bus has greatly aided our ministry.

While still tackling some debt at 45, I am rich in ways that truly matter. I have a loving wife, a son who finds peace napping on my chest, a mother who sees me as her gift, a congregation that resonates with my sermons, 200 kids who come hear me speak every summer! 

 

So, to everyone reading this, thank you. THANK YOU FOR BEING MY FRIEND! And a very Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

Respectfully  in Christ Jesus

James Owolabi (PJ) 

cell (360) 471-7260 

Pastor James  Owolabi 

www.jamesowolabi.com

"Not every thing that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced"-James Baldwin 

Dear Nigerians!! Stop this madness!!!!

I recently spent three hours in the bank, waiting  for three documents to be printed. I was waiting for them to process three documents for me. It was very frustrating because I know this would never happen in America. It broke my heart to see my own people being sloppy and unprofessional in many aspects of their lives. I've had to fire teachers for being late to school and encourage pastors to arrive on time for staff meetings, as they found punctuality challenging. It pains me that people die in hospital rooms, including employees and pregnant women, due to a lack of urgency. This is a result of a learned helplessness that we have adopted. That's why I choose to build schools, to raise a new generation of young people who can think biblically, strive to do their best, and not let mediocrity dominate their lifestyle and mindset. If you're a Nigerian reading this, let us start being punctual. Do your job well. Don’t make people wait three hours just to print a document. Print it and let them go without expecting a gift in return. Let’s change this, Nigerians. I hope and pray that our nation will be great again.

Dear Nigerians!! Stop this madness!!!!

I recently spent three hours in the bank, waiting  for three documents to be printed. I was waiting for them to process three documents for me. It was very frustrating because I know this would never happen in America. It broke my heart to see my own people being sloppy and unprofessional in many aspects of their lives. I've had to fire teachers for being late to school and encourage pastors to arrive on time for staff meetings, as they found punctuality challenging. It pains me that people die in hospital rooms, including employees and pregnant women, due to a lack of urgency. This is a result of a learned helplessness that we have adopted. That's why I choose to build schools, to raise a new generation of young people who can think biblically, strive to do their best, and not let mediocrity dominate their lifestyle and mindset. If you're a Nigerian reading this, let us start being punctual. Do your job well. Don’t make people wait three hours just to print a document. Print it and let them go without expecting a gift in return. Let’s change this, Nigerians. I hope and pray that our nation will be great again.

Dear Nigerians!! Stop this madness!!!!

I recently spent three hours in the bank, waiting  for three documents to be printed. I was waiting for them to process three documents for me. It was very frustrating because I know this would never happen in America. It broke my heart to see my own people being sloppy and unprofessional in many aspects of their lives. I've had to fire teachers for being late to school and encourage pastors to arrive on time for staff meetings, as they found punctuality challenging. It pains me that people die in hospital rooms, including employees and pregnant women, due to a lack of urgency. This is a result of a learned helplessness that we have adopted. That's why I choose to build schools, to raise a new generation of young people who can think biblically, strive to do their best, and not let mediocrity dominate their lifestyle and mindset. If you're a Nigerian reading this, let us start being punctual. Do your job well. Don’t make people wait three hours just to print a document. Print it and let them go without expecting a gift in return. Let’s change this, Nigerians. I hope and pray that our nation will be great again.