My story of transformation, By Ayo Akerele

Over twenty years in the past, I confronted a interval of great chaos once I left a well-paying banking Job in Nigeria to embark on a journey to South Africa. Sadly, issues didn’t unfold as deliberate within the latter a part of my keep there, resulting in what I perceived as a self-inflicted chaos. There are numerous types of chaos in life, self-inflicted chaos; environmental chaos, stemming from the endemic issues and limitations in our pure environments; family-triggered chaos, stemming from parental or household backgrounds; and demonic chaos, chaos ensuing from the actions of demonic forces aimed toward irritating our lives and finally weakening us.

Let me take you again to my story. I reached a degree in South Africa the place I turned penniless.

“If a person die, shall he reside once more? All the times of my appointed time will I wait, Until my change come” (Job 14:14)

I had been employed as a advisor by a Diamond Mining firm for a time period, however when my contract expired, it was not renewed, dumping me into the xenophobic socio-economic setting of South Africa the place hatred for Nigerians and different African nations was a hubby for a lot of South African employers. I used to be interviewed by prime banks, oil and gasoline firms, amongst others–there was no supply. Payments piled up. Wants skyrocketed. I started to query my determination to depart Nigeria. Did i hear God very properly? No, I didn’t hear him in any respect. I used to be flogging and beating the hell out of my feelings. My psychological well being was stretched to the boundaries. I usually walked lengthy distances on foot as a consequence of a scarcity of funds, and infrequently, some kind-hearted people offered help.

This was a self-inflicted chaos, as I had resigned from a well-paying banking job in pursuit of higher alternatives in South Africa.

I struggled to pay my hire and was scammed out of the final hire cost, leading to being denied entry to my residence. Moreover, robbers hacked into my private account and stole all my remaining funds. Throughout this difficult interval, I additionally misplaced my mom, and my relationship with former fiancée broke down. All hell was let unfastened on my life. It was a textbook definition of chaos. It felt like I used to be dealing with adversity from all instructions. Regardless of these hardships, I didn’t lose my religion however sought options by prayers and counselling from one among my mentors in South Africa, an expensive servant of God. Sooner or later, whereas sitting on my small mattress in a cramped bed room, wallowing in remorse and self-pity, I cried out, “God, the place are you?” I picked up a ebook by Bishop Francis Wale Oke titled “Full Turnaround” and located a chapter there the place he challenged readers to make a sacrifice to rework their hopeless conditions. It was my divine encounter.

In that small room with minimal furnishings, I discovered myself mendacity on a half-sized mattress. Regardless of the deplorable circumstances, I thought-about myself lucky to have a spot to relaxation. Often, I might go to others simply to have a meal, reflecting the chaotic state of my life at the moment. Regardless of holding two levels in Engineering and having 5 years of expertise with three multinational organizations, I struggled to safe employment.

On this explicit night time, I sat on my mattress, studying by the ebook by Bishop Francis Wale Oke. He challenged me within the spirit to make sacrifices to the Lord throughout occasions of chaos and uncertainty. I requested myself, “what do I’ve? Nothing. Abruptly, i remembered that I had R200 ($15) left with me for meals for the subsequent 1-2 weeks. I felt compelled by the Holy Spirit to donate this cash to a close-by native church. With out hesitation, I walked to the church and made the donation, regardless of the troublesome journey again residence and the doubts that plagued my thoughts.

Within the weeks that adopted, my state of affairs took an sudden flip. I obtained a name from Nigeria informing me that my beforehand denied UK visa had been accredited. Lengthy earlier than I travelled to South Africa, I had utilized for a UK pupil visa however had been denied on the bottom that my agent submitted a cast financial institution assertion. In truth, i used to be banned for five years. So, when somebody referred to as advised me that the UK embassy had modified their thoughts and had despatched me a letter of approval, i simply laughed it off–it should be a rip-off. I used to be banned for five years. Skeptical, I contacted the UK embassy in Nigeria, they usually confirmed the information, instructing me to come back to Nigeria with my passport for my pupil visa. I used to be surprised. This God! With no funds for a ticket, I reached out to a good friend within the US, who generously despatched me $800 as a mortgage, masking the price of my ticket and leaving me with extra funds for fast wants.

“Behold, I’m going ahead, however he’s not there; And backward, however I can’t understand him: On the left hand, the place he doth work, however I can’t behold him: He hideth himself on the appropriate hand, that I can’t see him: However he knoweth the way in which that I take: When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23: 8-10)

This expertise marked the start of a brand new chapter in my life, educating me the ability of religion and the significance of trusting in God’s timing, even within the face of overwhelming difficulties.

Earlier than I ever thought-about donating my final bit of cash to a church, as impressed by the Holy Spirit, I had tried all the pieces attainable to resolve my chaotic state of affairs. With no job prospects, I sought methods to depart South Africa for a greater alternative. You will need to acknowledge that there’s all the time one thing at your disposal to beat chaos. Though I lacked cash and employment, I possessed two levels, substantial work expertise, and the flexibility to write down.

I started making use of for MBA scholarships throughout Europe, submitting essays to assist my purposes. Sadly, I didn’t obtain any responses from these establishments. Quick ahead to when my good friend despatched me $800 to facilitate my return to Nigeria. I wanted a brand new admission letter and a financial institution assertion to assist my passport request on the embassy. I feared that my visa utility could be denied with out these paperwork.

A couple of days after arriving in Nigeria, my brother knowledgeable me {that a} college within the UK had despatched me a bundle. Inside, they discovered a suggestion for an MBA program with a £4,000 scholarship. I used to be astonished. I proceeded to the embassy with the admission letter however with no financial institution assertion. To my shock, they issued the visa on the spot, and I traveled to Scotland. Upon arriving in Scotland, I visited the college. To my delight, it was the interval when all MBA college students have been being flown to France for an all-expense-paid enterprise coaching journey. I used to be included within the staff, and we went to France. The remaining, as they are saying, is historical past. My life modified endlessly. As we speak and by the grace of God, I maintain six levels with a doctorate from a prestigious College in Europe; consulted for greater than seventeen world class organizations in Europe and North America; written 15 books and have been utilized by God to bless so many individuals world wide, all by the grace of God and to His glory alone.

This expertise demonstrated how the Lord reworked my chaos into triumph. It’s a story of religion, resilience, religious sensitivity, perseverance, and obedience. As we speak, my ministry was born out of this chaos. In case you are at present dealing with a chaotic state of affairs, don’t hand over. God permits chaos to reset us. Simply as Jonah was swallowed by the fish to be transported to his place of future, chaos can function a possibility for a divine reset. You aren’t empty. There’s a pot of oil in your house. There’s a rod in your hand. You solely haven’t found them. That’s the secret to ending your chaos.

Ayo Akerele is the senior pastor of Rhema Meeting and the founding father of the Voice of the Watchmen Ministries in Ontario, Canada. He will be reached by ayoakerele2012@gmail.com