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| Prophet Abiara and wife, Grace Abiara |
Grace is the wife of
the retired General Evangelist of the Christ Apostolic Church Worldwide,
Prophet Samuel Abiara. She speaks with PUNCH NEWSPAPER about her marital
experience
Tell us about your background
I lived with my grandma and this made me move from one place
to another because my grandma always visited her children whenever they gave
birth. I didn’t really have a stable primary education. One of the schools I
attended was CAC Modern School, Ondo. For my post-elementary education, I went
to Ifetedo Grammar School, Okeigbo, Osun State. Then I attended Teachers
Training College, Osogbo. I also studied Nursery and Primary Education at the
University of Ado Ekiti.
Where did you spend
your childhood?
I spent my childhood partly in Ikole Ekiti, Ekiti State,
with my grandma. Then, I went back to my parents in Ondo town.
How did you feel
getting married at 57?
Everything is in God’s hands. It wasn’t because I didn’t
want to marry but at a particular time, I knew there was a problem in that
area. Then, I started talking to God concerning it. I attended Mountain of Fire
and Miracles Ministries at that time and there were lots of programmes for
spinsters and bachelors which I attended. At a time, I travelled to the United
Kingdom for vacation; so, I decided to visit my sister who works with Papa
(Abiara). After a Sunday service, I went to him for prayers and he told me
three things. The third one was that I would get married to a man of God. After that day, I never saw him again. I
didn’t even know when mama (Abiara’s wife) died. However, I believed that at the end of the
tunnel, there will be light. I believed in God because He is faithful. At
times, when people told me to change church because I was single, I told them
that I was the problem and not my church. And by the time the Holy Spirit
finishes with me, the problem will be over.
How have you coped
with being married to the former leader of a big church?
I would give all the glory to God. When you have the spirit
of God, He will lead you on the right path. The main thing that kept me going
is the Holy Spirit and the word of God. If you understand the word of God, He
will tell you the right thing to do without being pushed by anyone. He said, in the Bible that you shall know the
truth and the truth shall set you free.
How did you meet your
husband?
I had been hearing about him for a while but the first time
I saw him was in the UK when I was on vacation. After the service, I went to
him with my sister to pray for me. After praying for me, he gave me three
revelations concerning my job and he told me that he had the feeling that I
would get married to a man of God. He told me some things about my job and God
helped me; I was promoted without paying anybody anything. When I got the job,
it made me believe more in the power of God because He did that for me. For the
next 13 years after that, I didn’t see him, neither did I know that he lost his
wife. If I had known, I might have called my sister to express my condolence.
It wasn’t until last year August that we met again and he told me to pray if
the shoes will fit my feet.
Was it love at first
sight for you?
I can’t say because immediately he said that, I went into
prayers. I told God that only His will should be done. Even before we went on,
my husband went to meet Pastor (Daniel) Olukoya because I worshipped with MFM
and he told him about me. The next day, Dr Olukoya called me and asked me some
questions. He prayed for me and I was under his counselling and prayers until I
got married. In a nutshell, it was the handiwork of God because even when I travelled
with him recently, I saw so many people and I then understood what he meant by
me praying for the shoes to fit.
Can you recall the
first conversation you had with him, aside from the UK meeting in the church?
I went to see him and he asked me some questions about
marriage and I smiled. He even challenged me but I just smiled and kept calm. I
expressed my sympathy on the death of his wife. Then we discussed generally.
But he told me to pray to know if the shoes will fit. Even after the revelation
came, we kept watching.
How do you feel when
people say you married your husband because of his fame and riches?
They can say whatever they like but within me, I know that
it is the divine intervention of God and not the handiwork of man. When God is
by your side, He will make everything possible. No matter the people you are
competing with, if God says it is you, nobody’s opinion matters.
How did he propose?
(Laughs) It was through the wisdom of God.
Were you bothered
that he was a widower?
No, I was never bothered. It is in the Bible that if a
widower does not marry again, he may be pushed to miss heaven. So, he made the
decision early and heaven confirmed it. If you are a widow or widower, you can
remarry, rather than fornicating. I am so glad for my husband. He organised a
memorable wedding for me. He is my husband and father. He did the wedding as if
he was doing it for his daughter. There
is nothing I can ask for again. He makes sure I travel first class and makes me
happy.
How would you
describe the experience of being married to him?
He is a wonderful man of God. He is also a very generous and
kind person. If someone gives him one million (naira) right now, he will give
everything out almost immediately. He is a loving father. I call him daddy and
he calls me ‘my honey’.
How romantic is your
husband?
He is very romantic. He buys me gifts that I don’t even
expect. There was a day I met a box full
of clothes on my bed. He spoils me. I call him my daddy because he is that to
me.
What is the best gift
your husband has given you?
They are countless. There have been so many that I can’t
even remember them all. He treats me
like a queen.
What can you tell us
about your husband that people don’t know?
Initially, he liked to eat biscuits but that was because
there was nobody to cook for him. When I came in, I made sure I replaced
biscuit with proper foods.
What is your
relationship with his children?
Glory be to the Most High.
God is in control. I call his first son my second daddy.
What other things do
you do?
I sell different things because I buy things to sell
whenever I travel.