Today, I will tell you a true story about an adolescent girl named Ayoka who learned to be faithful to God. Ayoka was born in a non-Christian family, but she learned about Jesus at the Seventh-day Adventist church near where she lived. She became an Adventist Christian at an early age and went to church as often as she could to go to Sabbath worship and Vespers and Wednesday night prayer meeting. Ayoka’s parents became upset with her going to an Adventist church. They sternly forbid her to attend any services at the church. Ayoka began sneaking out of the house to go to church. Very often when Ayoka came home from a church service, her parents would punish her.

Ayoka continued going to church and her parents continued punishing Ayoka for disobedience. One Sabbath when Ayoka came home from church, she found all her dresses thrown outside the front door… and the door was locked! Ayoka was no longer welcome at home because she didn’t stop going to church.

Not knowing what to do or where to go, she went back to the church. When church members heard what happened to Ayoka, they promised to take turns caring for her. Although she was alone, away from her real family, the church people became her new family, so she grew up living with God’s faithful people. She also learned today’s sermon text, and it became very special to her: “We must obey God instead of people!” (Acts 5:29, NIrV). Ayoka had chosen to obey God rather than her parents.

Ayoka continued to walk with God. Although she faced difficult situations in life, she always claimed God’s promise to bless those who are faithful to Him. When it was time for Ayoka to go to university, she didn’t want to go to public university, but she did not have money to pay for her school fees at the Adventist university.

First, she prayed to God to help her. Then she contacted the women’s ministries director who was leader of a large group of churches where Ayoka lived, and the woman said, “We do not have enough money to pay for all your school fees, but we do have this tiny little bit to give you. We will pray that God makes it grow into the amount you need for an Adventist education.” 

This gave Ayoka hope. She had always trusted God would take care of her needs. She had seen how God helped the people of the church take care of her. Now she asked God to bless the tiny little bit of money given by Women’s Ministries for school fees. She also prayed that God would answer the prayers of everyone who prayed for her tiny little bit of money to grow—because Ayoka wanted everyone to see that God is faithful to His faithful children. Do you think God answered their prayers? Oh yes, He did! Ayoka always had just enough money to pay her school fees at just the right time.

Do you want to know what happened to Ayoka? She finished her education at the Adventist university and graduated…and she is not alone anymore! She married an Adventist pastor, and they are raising a family.

Ayoka continues to grow in her love for God, and He continues to bless her. Today she works for God as leader of Women’s Ministries for the large region of the worldwide Adventist Church called West-Central Africa Division. Ayoka wants you also to believe that God is faithful to bless you when you choose to be faithful to Him. You may suffer when you obey God rather than people, but God will always be with you and bless you.

“Father in heaven, please help me to love You and to obey You, rather than people. Bless the women’s ministry in our church and help them to continue to help and support those in need. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”

--This excerpt is from a story written by Omobonike Adeola Sessou, Women’s Ministries director of West-Central Africa Division. (Women’s Ministries & Day - June 11th , 2022)