Prophet Abiara Explains Why He Remarried An Older Woman + An Insight Into Their Love

Retired General Evangelist of the Christ Apostolic Church, Prophet Samuel K. Abiara and his wife speak about their love and ministry.

As one of the leaders of the Christ Apostolic Church Worldwide, what kept you there for that long?

It is the decision of the church that when a leader attains the age of 75, he will vacate the position for the younger ones. That is the policy of the church and I love the system because it is unique. Above all, it was the Lord that kept me for that long.




How did your service in the ministry impact your life?


I thank God Almighty because I live my life according to the teachings of the Bible. When you base your life on the word of God and follow His instructions, He will help you to live right.




When did you decide to obey the calling to preach the gospel?


I was called in 1963, and God has sustained me and performed miracles through me. For the past 53 years, I have been under the care of God. When I was working under a man of God, I was earning 150kobo. It was at that time that God told me that he wanted me to leave and preach the gospel. I didn’t want to do that at first because I had seen a lot of prophets going about with their bells and the sight was not appealing to me. I had already registered my company but God told me that He would give me anything I wanted in life, if I obeyed His instruction. I am so grateful that He has never left me till this point.




Was your family in support of you quitting your job to preach the gospel?

My family and friends didn’t support me at first; they said I was lazy and didn’t want to work. But I never felt discouraged because of God’s promise that He would be with me and provide me with everything I wanted.



Did you attend any theology school to learn the rudiments of preaching the gospel?


By the grace of God, I was sent to the Christ Apostolic Church Seminary School, Lagos, by the church from 1980 to 1982. I was also honoured by the St John University Bible International College in America. Prior to that time, I had little education because I had no one to sponsor me. Many people are even surprised that I can communicate properly in English language. God told me not to worry about communicating because He is the one that called me. I was visited by an angel of God who asked me to open my mouth, and told me to go into the world and spread the gospel. By the grace of God, I have held meetings with white people and important personalities all over the world.



How do you feel about the growth of the church?


I am grateful to God that CAC is all over the world and is one of the leading Pentecostal churches. The church is moving on. Soon, we will celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the church. Also, we have quality leaders who have been able to bring growth into the kingdom.



What can you tell us about your wife, Grace?

I love her so much. God chose her for me and she is a very wonderful person. She is very intelligent and humble. She is also very knowledgeable about the Bible. She just returned from America where she went to preach. They didn’t even want her to come back to Nigeria but I told them to allow my ‘honey’ to come back. I love her so much.



How did you know that she was the one for you?


God revealed it to me that she is my wife because there were so many women that wanted to marry me.



Where and when did you meet her?


We met many years ago in London when her sister brought her (to me) for prayers. After the prayer, I told her three things and one of them was that she was going to marry a man of God. By then, my late wife was still alive. Then, we went our separate ways. However, since we got married, she has taken special care of me and she enjoys me as well.



How did you make your intentions known to her?


It was through the Holy Spirit because it is not by her beauty or the fact that she dresses in a certain way. It was the Spirit of God and the authority of the word of God she carries that got me interested at first.



Having advanced in age, most people would have thought you would marry a younger woman that will take care of you. What is your take on this?


I didn’t marry a younger woman because the shoes will be too big for her to wear. I wanted a mature person who can listen and accommodate people. I am well loved by people.

How do you relax?


Before I got married, I don’t think I did but since I got married, my wife tells me when it’s time to rest and time to eat, and that why it is very good to have a partner.





Wife's Interview

My husband is very romantic, treats me like a queen – Grace Abiara
Grace is the wife of the retired General Evangelist of the Christ Apostolic Church Worldwide, Prophet Samuel Abiara. She speaks with JOY MARCUS about her marrital 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.


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