Growing up in a predominantly Catholic neighbourhood, I felt no tension with others who were not Catholics. The family next door were Pentecostals. This was in the heydays of Pentecostalism, in the 80s when we had only the likes of Assemblies of God, Deeper Life Bible Church and Scripture Union. Our neighbors were just an amazing family. Almost everything blended: their dad had same job as my dad, and their mum was also a primary school teacher as mine. Both families were ‘strangers’ in that little town. Our parents were the best of friends and we, the kids, followed suit. There … Continue reading An Open Household – Ikenna Paschal Okpaleke

I woke up on Thursday morning, May 3, 2018, to be greeted with the picture above. My very good friend who sent me the picture accompanied it with a troubled complaint, “Passy, just negodu”. It was indeed a troubling picture. In the history of diatribes among Christian churches in Nigeria, never before have I seen anybody go to this extent. Never before have I witnessed any church go on the billboards to ridicule another church. Yes, we may have the Jehovah Witnesses with their normal foreign bulletins that try to argue against some core Christian doctrines like the Trinity, but … Continue reading Beware! – Ikenna Paschal Okpaleke

Ezinne is a music freak. An avid lover of Gospel vibes. She sleeps and dreams music. Once the music sounds, she becomes ecstatic and may even start hallucinating. Whatever the genre – Classical, Jazz, Hip-pop, Afrobeats – provided it is Gospel, she is up for it! Growing up she had had lots of influences that made her love for music grow incrementally. Nurtured by a mother who was a Nollywood star and who like most of our movie goddesses had her second vocation as music, Ezinne was already copying her mother’s second choice as her life’s passion. And so, every … Continue reading At the Sound of Music – Ikenna Paschal Okpaleke

Ekene and Abayomi are two seminarians who found themselves enjoying their short holiday together in the cool city of Owerri after they had finished their first semester exams. One evening, while hanging out at their favourite Suya spot and waiting for their beef skewer to get done, they got accosted by a pretty lady, Ada by name. She was indeed charming and beaming with morning glitter in the evening shadows. ‘Good evening, I am Ada,’she introduces herself amidst smiles that could steal a soul. ‘May I know you please?’ Somewhat startled and thrown between the state of confusion and excitement, … Continue reading Lured by a Church Damsel – Ikenna Paschal Okpaleke

Once, I lived with a very prayerful friend, who would spend almost every minute in church and prayer houses. Initially, her faith was intimidating to me. She would vibrate at prayer, speak to God with seasoned grammar and quote a great deal of Bible verses. She must be a powerful Christian. I thought to myself. But one day, all these impression vanished and I realised what they said about empty barrels.In this case, prayer without a skin-deep faith. And so, one evening I returned home to find her praying and jerking.  ‘Father in the name of Jesus, I bind and … Continue reading Misfired Missiles – Chidindu Mmadu-Okoli

Chika: Father, I am very angry. Fr. Kelechi: What is the problem my daughter? Chika: My teachers are always disturbing me for having the rosary around my neck. In fact, they have warned me never to put it again, and even had to flog me the last time I did so. They do this because they are not Catholics and they are always saying that Catholics will not go to heaven. Me … I am very angry ooo. In fact, the other day I had to insult them too. They also will not go to heaven! Fr. Kelechi: My dear, … Continue reading Alongside One Another – Ikenna Paschal Okpaleke