Mrs Oluwaseun Okuneye with Tribuneonline

Oluwaseun Okuneye is an entrepreneur  and the convener of the Damsel Ministry, a ministry that is given to building up Christian ladies to fulfill their God-given destinies. In this interview by ONOME OMATSOLA, she speaks about the reason she decided to teach young ladies about decent dressing.

How did the Damsel Ministry start?

I had some challenges while growing up and it all started when I lost my mum. Then, I did  not know much about myself or what the future held for me and I was lost in the hands of wrong people. I also did not have a close relationship with God, but after the sad occurrence, I decided to get closer to God, as I realised He was the only one who could console me and the only one I could rely on to see me through in my journey of life. I made up my mind to worship God and to get  serious with Him because there was no one else I could turn to. As I continued in my walk with God, one day, I came across a scriptural verse in the Book of Mark where the word ‘damsel’ was used, and to me it meant a beautiful girl. It was a situation where a dead girl was brought back to life by Jesus and this scripture was interpreted to me that as a lady, no matter what your past was like, there is still hope for you and that anything dead in your life could be brought back to life by the power of God and that was how Damsel Ministry started. I just knew it that it was a revelation and a call to go to many nations to preach what I had seen and heard. We started in 2019 with some ladies who aligned with the vision, and to the glory of God we are making progress, and we have recorded quite a number of achievements.

What is Damsel Ministry about?

If we look around us now, we can see that indecency is now the new trend of fashion for almost all ladies, both believers and unbelievers. Ladies are exposing their bodies, wearing clothes that are extremely tight just to bring out their shape and all. So, I had this strong burden on the need for me to preach decency to as many as I could reach out to that was what formed the major vision or goal of the Damsel Ministry. Damsel Ministry was commissioned to preach decency to ladies in the world using some strategic and realistic means. We presently have an online page where information is passed across to people about what to do as a member of the Damsel Ministry. Some of the approaches we have been engaging in to make sure this vision comes to reality include a weekly decency campaign whereby we put up a quote on dressing with a picture of a lady decently dressed on it and share it  to all the social media platforms every week to create awareness about decency and how important it is for ladies to always dress well. Also, we have had teachings on our online platforms on decency to make sure members are equipped with adequate knowledge of what decency  means and what  is expected of them. There is one programme we plan to do on the page which we tag “Make it Good.” Make it Good is about sending different styles that aren’t decent enough to the page and we would all deliberate about how we could amend those styles to look decent and make them good and befitting enough to wear

What are some of your achievements so far?

The ministry is doing great. We have increased a lot in numbers and this has contributed immensely to the growth of the ministry. In the past six months, we have been able to create more awareness on social media platforms through the weekly decency campaign and we have received testimonies from people about how the ministry has helped built their consciousness of the need to dress decently. Also, we have been able to reach out to secondary school students to teach and preach decency to them by going to their schools with the permission of the school principals to enlighten the students about what decency is all about, the importance of dressing decently and the disadvantages. We also used the opportunity to enlighten them about the need for them to believe in themselves  and assured  them they could be who they want to be no matter what their past looks like. This was really a big accomplishment for us because lives of young girls and even boys were liberated from bondage of sin and indecency. Another accomplishment we have had is the teaching of decency that has been ongoing via our social media pages to enlighten people about decency, as we all know that we can’t give what we do not have.

As a strong advocate of decency, do you think decency can be inculcated in the heart of every lady?

Yes, it is not impossible. If we could create more awareness about decency and those who believe in it take it upon themselves to remain consistent in looking decent and not decide to join those who dress indecently, then others would see us and emulate us. It all starts from the place of identity and recognizing one’s worth. If you believe you are wonderfully and fearfully made and that dressing indecently would not beautify you more but diminish your worth and value as a lady, then to dress decently won’t be a problem. The first problem to get rid of is realizing one’s worth and who we are. We were created after God’s image, therefore, if we believe we are as honourable and beautiful as God is, dressing decently would be our way of life and it won’t be something friends, government and relatives would be forcing us to do. Our reactions to life are controlled by our mindset. If we could have the right mindset towards decency, then we would try our best to see to it that through us, decency is preached to the end of the earth. So, in my opinion, it’s possible for the consciousness of decency to be inculcated into all ladies as long as those that are advocates of decency do not go back to indecent wear, therefore, being an example to the society, both the young and old.

How did you get into the business of pearl making?

Pearls are for queens. So, I believe every lady is royalty and should look like one. This was my belief that made me fall in love with pearls. I have always loved pearls since I was very young. Then, when I watched the television and I saw Queen of England wear pearls, I loved it and I believed every lady should be able to look as beautiful as the Queen. The pearl might obviously not be as expensive as hers but I think I could make it available at prices that many people could afford and still look beautiful and classy. That was how I started learning pearls at a very tender age. I grew up to love it more and more till it became what I do to earn a living even when I grew up. I have made beads for queens and pastors’ wive’s and many other women, and it gives me joy when I see them wear it because it makes them look beautiful and outstanding.

How have you been able to combine your responsibility as a minister, business woman, mother and  wife?

It can be very challenging, but because I have a husband who keeps encouraging me to be more and would go to any length to ensure that I’m not overburdened with chores, coupled with the fact that we do ministry together, I have been able to combine all my roles successfully. My children too have made life easy for me by how they show me love with their many pecks and help around the house.

With your years of experience in marriage, could you share with us some of your marital experience so that young ladies could learn from it?

Well, marriage is not what you should run into like you are going to school and you will graduate from it. Marriage is a lifetime decision and it is meant to last forever, as long as the husband and wife live on earth. Marriage, according to God’s purpose, should be once. That is why we need to be careful about the choice we make today. Marriage is a new life. You have left your parents to start yours. You need to rely on the God who created your parents to help you through it. And this is why you must pick the right choice. The truth is this, you will not miss it in marriage if you put God first before choosing and when you are married, continue to make Him the Lord of your marriage. You will surely enjoy marriage as much as you should.

Culled from

https://tribuneonlineng.com/our-reactions-to-life-are-controlled-by-our-mindset-okuneye/

Never Give Up - Suicide is not an option

During the darkest hour
Be quiet
Listen to a still small voice within you,
"Never give up" 💪🏿

The Lord is with you in that darkest room
You are not alone

Your world is waiting for you

Your world is waiting for you
You may not know it yet
The stage is still your own

Don't compare yourself with another
God is still for you
He will see you through

You might have been rejected so many times
The time is not over yet
You will get there too

Never give up
Don't reject yourself
It's better late than never

Your heart is warm
You are beautiful
You are handsome

You are someone's daughter
You are someone's son

The daughter of a king
The son of a king
A useful one

You are not useless
You are a bride
You are a groom
Another will not take your place

Be happy
You are able
Look at yourself in the mirror
Say to yourself, "I'm able"

You may not have gotten that job yet
You will still get a better one
Keep working

Believe in yourself
Keep believing
Never give up

You've been backstabbed
Accused wrongly
Miscalculated
Or abused
Never give up😕

Your prayer will be answered
You will get there too

You are God's prayer for someone and he will find you; she will find you

You may seem alone
But you are not alone
God is with you and
He loves you

Never give up!

Let us run the race that is set before us with patience.

Wait!

Following Divine Timing

There's an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on the earth

Ecclesiastes 3:1 (MSG)

That verse up there can't be more simpler than it already is. There is a time for everything. As much as it might appear like everything is within your reach, you simply can't achieve everything now. God follows an order of sequence in the way He does things and it is visible in the system's operating in the world.

See, it doesn't matter how much you pray and fast, it can't reduce  pregnancy period for human to five months or a new born to grow to the size of an adult overnight. If you plant a seed today, it doesn't grow to a tree by the next morning. We are all aware of this natural processes in life, but when it comes to our visions in life, we want to hit the sky in one night.

The many failures and rejection we encounter on our journey in life often come with their own benefits although we might feel bad during those times. Interestingly, the same things we have always done with nothing special added, will now produce much more results and impact. It's the reason you can't afford to stop doing whatever God has clearly instructed you do.

The natural systems in the world reveals how the things of God operates too. Any call, vision, mission, idea or purpose that originates from God, will also follow its natural cause. That you were caught up to the third heaven and God showed you millions of souls that will be affected by your ministry doesn't mean the hall for your next event will be packed full.

The extent to which we can carry on with the vision against all odds tells how much faith we have in it. Every vision will be tested because it has its own peculiar timing. That you and a friend both ventured into God's plan at the same period doesn't dictate the glorification of yours. The test period will always come before the glorification.  Don't carry the mindset that  because it's of God then it should happen immediately.

If God that has all power could take his time to bring about the universe in 6 days before resting on the seventh, He is not about to rush you into purpose. Every little step you make out of faith today, is pivotal to how well the vision you saw will be accomplished. Hold on. The vision will come to pass.

Divine Purpose

One of the reasons many of us don't get to see the results of our faith is because we always have things figured out on our own. We believe so much in setting goals, that God is not left out in our plans. We give him a timeline to act else we use our method. If He doesn't show up at the exact time, we need Him, then He can as well not bother showing up. King Saul has a story to tell when he couldn't wait for Samuel God's prophet and lost the throne for his lineage.

As much as we humans have plans, what do we think of God? He is such a master planner that He planned the life of Prophet Jeremiah before his birth. Can you imagine what plans He has for you? Have you given It a thought that there is a master plan for my life that I might not be aware of? It simply means if God has a plan for you before your existence, you will be wise to find out what plans He already has for you before you start running on yours and assume you are in line with Him.

Whenever a believer is yet to find out his purpose, the work of the devil is to intentionally not allow him/her to see it. He knows if you find out your purpose and follow it, it will negatively affect his kingdom because you will be working for God's. So, you must be aggressive and intentional about it too.

One of the lies the devil has always sold out to many is that since the Bible says His thoughts towards me are thoughts of peace, not evil and an expected end, then it will always "appear good". As much as His plans are good, it doesn't always appear so to us. It could be to start a project when you don't have it all going well for you financially at that time. When you obey, you will surely what it means to walk by faith and not by sight. Even when He leads you to do something bigger, you'll remember His faithfulness and be ready to walk with Him.

That goodness you now enjoy because you chose to trust His leading won't be there for you if you did otherwise. Always know it's not so much as to how big the vision is, but in the person, who sent you. If God has called you, sent you, led you, inspired you to take a step to start something, follow Him with all your heart and He will always come through for you.

BORN OF GOD

For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.  1 John 5:4.

Anyone that is born of God, is an overcomer by nature. We have been born into a life of endless victories and triumphs. This victory is not as a result of our past actions but by our faith. Jesus' death and resurrection secured us this life and when we put our faith in him, we become recipients of the same victory he had. He had victory over death when he was raised up from the dead the third day by God (Act 13:30), showing an enormous power display.

There is a reason why living in this world can be challenging, demanding or frustrating for some, it is because it's an intentional work of the devil to make you think defeated. Hence you must always arm yourself with this consciousness, "It doesn't matter how I feel at the moment, I am always on the winning side". When you think you are hopeless, you will soon speak about it and it will become your reality.

This victory is over the world and all in it. You can exercise your victory over lack, sickness and failure by affirming what God has said about you in His word. His word has said, "you are above only", so, you proclaim it. His word has said, "you will lack no good thing", then, say it. The best time to proclaim your victory is when situations don't look like it, so when the changes occur you can trace them back to your words.

A good way to start the year is to find out all that God has said concerning your victory and begin to affirm them with your words. Like a rudder in a ship, your whole life will gravitate towards your confession. Amen.

If you have not given your life to Jesus Christ, here is the time to do so. Say this prayer:
LORD God, I thank you because You have given me a new life in Jesus Christ, and today, I have come to take it. I let go of my struggle, I've come to embrace God's rest. Please, Lord, forgive me all my sins and I will be cleansed forever. I thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit who will indwell me & fill me up with power to live the righteous life and enable me to speak in other tongues and guide me always into the fulfilment of my destiny, in Jesus name. I'm New!
Congratulations! Now that you have given your life to Jesus Christ, as the Holy Spirit directs you, find a Bible believing Church to attend and be a good member of the Church. God bless you.

Word Culture

Rom 4:18, KJV Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.

Many times as believers, we see a disconnect between what the word of God says about us and how our lives are playing out. We stumble and or listen to messages that teach us who we are in Christ and what we can do now as believers, however, the reality is not seen in our own everyday living. 

Some have come to the conclusion that the Bible is no longer applicable to us and our time, so they don't take it seriously anymore. They seemed to have high hopes in the scriptures until they begin to notice how their expectations from the same scriptures have not seen the light of day.

Maybe they shouldn't take it seriously as they did. And they begin to see preachers and those who take the word of God seriously as fake since they can't see any difference in their own lives.

However there is an incontrovertible truth that is not based on the experience of any singular person, it is that the word of God is true. Our individual experience can't overrule this truth. The word of God is true, no matter the generation or time it is preached. The word of God is living and powerful. It will always produce.

And this is where many miss it. They read the Bible consistently for the space of 7 days and expect so much to have changed about them within that period of time. Patience with the word is one virtue you and I must cultivate. It's not that the word of God cannot change us, but how long have we've exposed ourselves to the word, some habits will take longer time in the word to be stopped. 

For some people it was after a 5-hour word teaching that certain negative desires were dropped off. Imagine if such fellow didn't go to that length of word baptism, will they get this result? Don't see devotion to the word as a 100meter race but as a marathon. Expose yourself to the word via different means consistently. You will see the word of God work in your own life too.

The God Pardon

THEREFORE, there is now no condemnation no adjudging guilty of wrong for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live [and] walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit. Rom 8:1(Amp)

Can simply believing that God raised Christ from the dead and confessing Jesus as Lord be sufficient payment for your sins? Can the slate really be wiped clean of all your iniquities and sins just like that? It looks too simple to be true, yet it is. Welcome to the God pardon. But first, let us consider a similitude of it called ‘the prerogative of mercy’ or what is popularly called ‘Executive Pardon’.

An executive pardon is at the discretion of the president/governor and is granted to any offender (convicted or accused) to acquit the offender and erase the offence or alleged offence. Whereas justice demands a commensurate punishment for every offence i.e death sentence, imprisonment, fines or probation and the offender is labelled for life as an ex-convict, the executive pardon gives the beneficiary a new life entirely without any remembrance of the offence. The ex-convict might be barred from voting and is often limited in the job opportunities available, but the recipient of the pardon knows no such limitations.

If then the systems of this world recognizes and accepts the executive pardon as a valid process for justice, how much more you whom the creator of heaven and earth has made free and pardoned of all sins? Hear what God has to say about you

… for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. Heb 8:11-12

Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? Will God? No! He is the one who has given us right standing with himself. Rom 8:33

If the Son, therefore, shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. John 8:36

So walk boldly with your head held high without any sense of guilt or condemnation because you are the recipient of the God pardon.