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Taiwo Onasoga

taiwo onasoga
Person Details
All Persons

Country

  • Serbia
Participants Details

YRM Network

  • Disciple-Making for Senior Leaders

ELF Network

  • 2024 Disciple-Making Leaders (Foundational) Network

Ministry Focus

  • Pastoring and Bible Teaching

Occupation

  • Christian Ministry

Funding Status (ELF)

  • Needs ELF Funding

Funding Status (YRM)

  • YRM Funded
Participants Answers
What is your ministry?

I'm pastoring a church and overseeing the work in an established church plant. Also, I'm supporting a church planting process in a nearby village. Besides the work connected to these churches, I mentor young pastors, counsel and disciple young believers, and record messages for our Internet ministry.

When did you trust Christ?

I'm from a Muslim family in Nigeria. I was 18 when I went to a church meeting to stop my friend from begging me to do so. When I heard the preaching, I thought my friend must have told the pastor everything about me. Why else would he have talked about all of my sins? I told my friend I wouldn't return, but he didn't stop calling me. So I gave in one more time. This time, the topic was death and everlasting life. I was afraid of death, so I listened well. When an altar call was offered, I was the first to go out. I hid my new life from my family for some time, but my father noticed that my lying had stopped. When he asked me what was going on, I told him about my conversion. He forbade me to go to church. After two weeks, I went to him and told him I was obedient, but I couldn't live like it anymore. Either he would let me go to church and live in this house or I would move away, but I would not give up my faith. Finally, when he saw how determined I was, he allowed me.

What have been the defining moments of your Christian walk?

My pastor in Nigeria saw potential in me and said it would be a waste if I would not do anything in the church. He was persistent; so soon, I found myself in the children's ministry. Sometime later, I came to former Yugoslavia to study civil engineering and got involved in starting an evangelical student union. I also got involved in church planting and street evangelism. As the work grew, I became an assistant pastor and Bible teacher. This is how God prepared me for what was coming next—evangelism, counselling, and teaching.

When I got married, I moved to Backa Topola and took over a home fellowship that grew into a small church. All this started because my pastor asked me to serve in the Sunday school!

What do you hope to gain from participating?

I hope to get a deeper understanding of discipleship and to be changed by that.

What is your leadership role or what were your past leadership roles?

As the senior pastor, I am involved with daily church life: visiting church members, counseling/discipling, preparing sermons and organizing events. I have weekly opportunities to support those young in faith and have questions about it. Part of my ministry is also to support those already in the ministry. Besides having one-on-one time with my team members, I regularly meet with young pastors just starting to serve. Also, because of my age, I'm a father to many young men starting their walk with God. Discipleship is part of my call.

Why should someone invest in your ministry?

Whatever I learn, I give to others. Some by doing things better, some by teaching them. All I have is for God to be glorified, so what I learn at the Forum will bless the wider community.