Do you know there is a popular Pentecostal church in Lagos where worshippers wear only white? Well, permit us to tell you that at “Mustard Seed Christian Fellowship located at Akoka, over 1,000 of its congregation wear only white.
Though, the 10 years old church started as a Pentecostal Church, but the General Overseer, Prophetess Edagbagbe Arowolo, received a calling that members of the church should spot only white during service many months ago.
How easy was it to persuade members of a Pentecostal Church to change mode of their dressing in multi-colour attire to only white? How did she get the idea to float the church? What brought about the wearing of white?
City People’s Assistant Society Editor, ABIOLA ORISILE, had an exclusive interview with her where she spoke about her ministry and other religious issues.
You look beautiful ma, how do you feel seeing Mustard Seed turning 10 years today?
I am so happy and I return all glory to God to see that we are 10 today. I also thank God for being my health, shield and rock. He has been the one who has been with me for the past 10 years. It has not been easy, but He has been my strength.
How was it like starting this church and how many persons did you start with?
Like I said, it has not been easy. I started with 5 persons in my living room at number 3, Sobande Street, Akoka, Lagos.
How did you get to float a church?
It was a calling. It was a calling because it was either you do it or you lose your life. I started the ministry with tears. This was because it wasn’t my intention to be a Pastor.
I was enjoying my life as a young star when the Holy Spirit called me. I was in a Bible School for 2 weeks crying and asking God: “Why Me”? I was doing my business running it successfully and the message came, saying I should go into ministries. I nearly lost my life. It wasn’t easy, but I give God the glory.
Why did you change your doctrine especially with members dressing to Church to white?
It is a long story. We didn’t change our doctrine, we only started wearing white 4 years ago. I have always loved to wear dresses to church. I wear varieties of colour until 3 years ago when the Holy Spirit said members should start wearing white. I am an emotional person. I cried and wept. I started wearing my white and sewed different whites into comfortable styles for myself. I was the only one wearing white then at the inception of the white-wearing era.
Until when I got the calling again that members of the church should start wearing white. It was a transition that is not easy for a ministry.
It is a 9 years old congregation, how do you tell them as a Pentecostal Church to start wearing white?. It shook me as the General Overseer of the church, but I have to succumb to the will of the Holy Spirit.
How easy was it convincing the church members?
It wasn’t easy to convince them. When I was much younger, I was attending a church “Ayo Ni O”. Some years back, I stopped going to Ayo Ni O and even burnt my white garments. I felt I have seen the light and I burnt everything concerning white and I joined Pentecostal Church. I never knew God was looking at me saying, “you are still going to wear white”. Some left the ministry because of the new mode of dressing in white. I cried, but there was nothing I could do.
Did other Pentecostal Churches not criticise your church when members started wearing white?
Well, I wouldn’t know. I don’t listen to that. I only listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit as God owns the church.
