Chioma Jesus:
FROM AN ORPHAN TO A PROMINENT GOSPEL ARTISTE AND EVANGELIST
Evangelist Amaka Okwuoha popularly known as “Chioma Jesus” is a Gospel Artiste, Songwriter and Evangelist. She was born in Abia State, on the 12th of February, 1972 to Nze Euzebius Chukwumaeze Ebizie and Polo Dorothy Ebieze. She hails from Imo State. Chioma came from a poor home and lost her parents at a tender age, leaving her to cater for herself, being the eldest child and her six siblings. Things were extremely difficult for her but she took solace in singing which she knew how to do extremely well. She was known in her school for her lovely voice. While she sang in the classroom, her classmates will surround her to listen. It didn’t end there, she decided to join the choir at her local church at the age of 9. It was in her church that her talent was discovered by her pastor who encouraged her to sing more and inspired her to do more in music.
She became officially born again on the 28th Of August, 1986, at a very tender age in a revival programme organized by her local Church in her village. Because of this, she was persistently persecuted both in school and at home. In her final year, during her secondary school days, the school authority and the final year students agreed to contribute money for exam malpractice, Amaka being a highly committed born again christian even though very young was the only student in the whole school, who dis not agree with the decision to bribe the examiners so as to allow them practice examination malpractice. She decided that it was better for her to fail her West African Examination Council exams than sin against God by involving in such crime. Other final year students planned to disturb her in the examination hall in addition of confiscating her properties. She reported this to one of her brother who wrote a petition to the school and informed the principal of the school the consequences of their action. The issue raised very serious controversy both in the school and in the community; this helped to put a stop to their action and even the planned examination malpractice. As if this was not enough,her mother joined in the persecution. Her mother who did not like the fact that she gave her life to Christ brought out a Bible and dictionary and asked her to pick one. The Bible representing her faith, meaning no more school and if she chose the dictionary representing her school, it meant no more Church. In her words, “It was a very big challenge but Holy Ghost helped me. I chose the Bible and I was disowned and chased out of my home. But God saw me through, today the same Bible is paying me in millions in Naira, Pounds, Dollars, Euros, more than any oil company will pay me, what a Mighty God we serve.”
It was not long she started singing in the Scripture Union Fellowship in her church as a soloist. She would sing and through her songs, souls will be won to Christ. This led her to be invited to various crusades and Churches to minister especially at St. Andrews Anglican Church, Mile 1 Diobu Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria where she gained prominence after being invited as a Guest Artiste to minister. She ministered severally at the church and people were astonished by her gift. This opened doors to several other ministrations.
Prior to ministering at churches, she was a trader in the food business. God called her to become a music minister at this time but she refused to heed the call, scared that she won’t be able to feed her family and cater for their needs financially. She would often get revelations seeing herself singing to a crowd. But because nobody knew her then, she doubted if those revelations would come to pass. However, she kept on prophesying and praying for the manifestation of her dreams. There was a time she revealed that she wanted to ‘run away’ with some foreign missionaries because of so much pressure but God told her not to go because He would take her all around the world.
When she started her music ministry, she revealed that despite the hardship, she was not charging anything. She could go and minister for four days and be given just N20, 000, then her crew would want to fight with her. When she told them that it was the work of God, they told her to use herself to ‘sow seeds’ but she should pay them their money. she faced this problem until God brought people that agreed with her and by God’s grace today, she can pay them conveniently. In her words, “the people that work with me don’t do other jobs, so I have to pay them well. They have stayed with me for more than 15 years and they have being faithful. I have to pay them well because they are also graduates. Some are married and have families to feed. There are some places we go and don’t ask for anything. They just give what they think we deserve. In some churches, musicians are placed on payrolls. If not, they would leave the instruments in search of better jobs.
Eventually, Chioma got married. The marriage was not groovy as they were held in poverty for years. They had a son and it became more difficult for them. She revealed that she roamed the street begging for food to eat to feed her family. She would back her son looking for where to go so that her son could eat. She would have to collect rice on credit, borrow oil, salt and other seasoning to help her feed her family and was often disgraced for not being able to pay back. With all of these difficulties, she kept the faith.
She kept the faith until God gave her a song titled “Chioma me Chioma”. This song made her rise to limelight and became the hit song that got her name on everyone’s lips and since then has become a household name in the Gospel-Afro genre in Nigeria. The song also give rise to her name, “Chioma Jesus”. She decided to add “Jesus” to the song title, adopting “Chioma Jesus” as her stage name. The song was released and became a hit in 2003. This was also the name of her first album. Prior to this, she had written a couple of songs with her first song written in Yoruba, even though she is known for writing and singing her songs in Igbo.
In 2010, her popularity soared in 2010 after her Delta Yadah Award nomination. The Delta Yadah is an annual concert in Delta State which features professional Gospel Artiste. She didn’t win the award. In 2011, she released her biggest Album titled “Praise” which topped Gospel charts in Nigeria. Church Gist. She eventually won the Delta Yadah Award in 2011 and 2012 respectively. Some of the other awards she has won include the Omega Legend Award as the most outstanding Gospel Artist in Nigeria, Advocate of Christian Excellence in Christianity, HFTBT Award for transparency and integrity in the Gospel Music Industry, Gospel Music Legacy Award by the spirit-filled International Network Of Gospel Ministry and Churches in conjunction with Kingdom Life Gospel Church for her contribution towards the growth of gospel music across ethnic and national frontiers, Advocate Of Christian Excellence In Christianity; An award given by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Ideato South Chapter, Award Of Meritorious Services to the gospel of music in Nigeria and of Christ in general, Award For The Sustained Support of the work in Redemption Ministries and the world at large by Redemption Ministries Port Harcourt, Award For Excellence In Service of the Lord by Men’s Christian Association [MCA] New Generation Faith [Ang.] Church, City of Favor Port Harcourt, World Ambassador for Peace Award by United Nations-pol-ac peace Nigeria.
She has worked with top Gospel Artistes including SINACH, Mercy Chinwo, Lionel Peterson, Juanita Bynum, Kurt Kay, Don Moen and Ron Kenoly and Samsong with over 8 albums and 20 songs to her name. In 2019, she released an album titled ‘My Testimony’. The songs in the album includes “Prophetic Praise”, “I Have Never Seen Anyone Like you”, “Okike Imela (Almighty God Thank You)”, “Odiro Onye Dika Gi meaning There is no one like You and many more”. She is one of the true representatives of the peculiar Nigerian gospel music. Chioma’s music and lyrics are known worldwide, even though she sings in Igbo. Advising younger Gospel ministers, she said, Because of the hunger for fame, don’t be sexually used or join secret cults because of the desperation for fame. Not everyone is called to record songs. Some are called to be worship leaders, praise leaders, songwriters, music directors, back-up singers and vocalists. If you know where you are supposed to function, things would be easier for you and that was what helped me when I started my career. Music is a calling. Church Gist. A lot of people may be singing but there are few people that have been anointed as music evangelists and I happen to fall into that category. However, everyone wants to quickly make a name and that is endangering their destinies.
She is also known as a Philanthropist. Coming from a background where she could barely afford to eat and having no one to cater for her and her siblings, she started the Chioma Jesus Charity Foundation in 2013. While she was preparing for her first praise community crusade, God told her to get wrappers for widows and the underprivileged. She started by giving out 50 wrappers but now they can give out 2000 wrappers. In her words, “God has helped us to give loudspeakers, generating sets and microphones to churches. We also empower widows and youths. Church Gist. The foundation has built a four-bedroom flat for a widow and we would be doing more by God’s grace.”
She is married to to Evangelist Calistus Okwuoha. She welcomed her son years later and had to wait for another 15 years before she welcomed her daughter who she calls “miracle baby”. Presently, they have three children.
It doesn’t matter what your story is, it is not too late for it to change. With God, winning is sure.
SOURCE
Punch
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