Becoming dedicated servants in the Lord’s vineyard can be considered a noble act but when you have seen both the best and worst of characters played by these incredible individuals, it makes it a bit hard to accept their new chosen paths.
In this article, we will spotlight all the Nollywood actors and actresses who have moved from being in front of your screens to being behind a pulpit.
1. Liz Benson
Liz Benson, born 5th of April, 1966, and currently 58 years old, is a veteran Nollywood actress and TV personality. She is popular for her remarkable acting prowess and has played major roles in numerous movies and TV series.
She was ordained as an evangelist and currently runs the Freedom Family Assembly in Warri, Delta State with her husband, Bishop Great Emeya. Liz joined the ministry when she got married to her husband Bishop Great in 2009.
When asked in an interview with Legit NG about how fulfilled she is in her path as an evangelist compared to her career in acting, the nollywood veteran shared;
“I can’t put it in a box. I can’t really describe how it feels now but it is one of the most fulfilling times of my life. Being available to God, to humanity and doing something that is touching lives. In one way or another, you are investing in the lives of people and seeing that effect on them is most fulfilling.”
Having been married for sixteen years now, she is a mother of three of three lovely children; Richard, Lilian, and Rosel.
2. Charles Okafor
Charles Okafor, currently 64, was a pioneering figure in the Nigerian film industry and is a veteran Nollywood actor. He became a preacher in the 2000s and has since then been in ministry full time, winning souls to Christ.
Okafor noted in an interview that although he is still a film maker and career actor, he picks his scripts mindfully and he prefers to do advocacy films because of they address social issues.
He noted “You cannot just do any kind of film anymore if you’re going to be the light to the nations of the world. We must be seen in the context of the things that glorify God totally.”.
3. Patience Ozokwor
Mama G — the name that made incoming daughter-in-laws tremble is now making the kingdom of darkness have earthquakes.
Patience Ozokwor, currently 66 years-old is a veteran Nollywood actress who has cemented her name both in Nollywood and in the hearts of Nigerians and fans across the African continent. She is among many things notorious for her roles in numerous movies as a troublesome mother-in-law.
The Nollywood vet is now a born again Christian and has been doing the Lord’s work since the late 2010s. She said she received a revelation from the Lord during her 2016 retreat and got the instruction to go into ministry.
She disclosed that it was difficult for her to reconcile with her daughter at first over her decision to honour God’s call and go into evangelism.
While preaching at the PowerHouse Interdenominational Worship Centre in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, during the grand finale of the church’s 40-day fasting and prayer program she said, “God called me to work for him and I obeyed immediately. When I answered the call, my daughter queried me. She asked why I decided to go into evangelism and I explained to her. She misunderstood me and we had issues.”
The evangelist has been spotted at several church programmes preaching. She also was spotted at St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Alaba, where she spoke about how God arrested and called her to do his work.
4. Zack Orji
Zack Orji, also a veteran actor has been captured by the zeal of the Lord. In 2012, he accepted the call and became ordained as a minister and preacher of the gospel.
On why he accepted the call, Orji said that he gets excited when he has the opportunity to speak to people, inspire them, and draw them closer to God.
He has since devoted his life to God and has become a full-time evangelist and a pastor at the Power Line Bible Church.
This ordination has made Zack pick his roles in movies carefully.
5. Eucharia Anunobi
Eucharia Anunobi is an eloquent, elegant veteran actress famous for her role in the movie series Glamour Girls released in 1994 and since then has featured in over 100 movies including Letters to a Stranger and Abuja Connection.
She is now a preacher, youth counsellor and an ordained evangelist at the Fresh Oil Ministry, Egbeda, Lagos.
6. Kanayo O Kanayo
Anayo Modestus Onyekwere, is a celebrated Nigerian actor, producer, and director.
Kanayo, as he’s popularly called, has also taken the path to serve the Lord.
His foray into the path of ministry was confirmed in a church programme, where the actor was invited as a guest ministers at Christ Mission Worldwide (CMW) aka Mission for Heaven where a 3-day spiritual programme was held with the title “.
7. Pat Attah
Pat Attah is a prominent director, model, and musician who gained notability in Nollywood in 1994 after an A-list performance in the movie Glamour Girls.
Pat found Christ and became born again in 2015 and relocated to Germany with his family to kickoff his journey as a man of God.
He frequently preaches on social media platforms, using them as a means to spread the gospel.
8. Yul Edochie
Yul Edochie, a Nollywood actor and social commentator is another actor who has chosen to accept the call of God.
On the 23rd of January, 2024, Yul unveiled his ministry called “True Salvation Ministry” on a post on his X account captioned “It’s time to answer the call of God Almighty. It’s time to do His work fully. To spread the true message of God. Tune in, and be transformed.”
The 43-year-old actor, in an interview he hosted with two other co-hosts, posted on his YouTube page Monday, claimed that his calling as a minister of God was predetermined.
He said becoming a pastor was the best thing he’s ever done and that his new path as a pastor was predestined.
“First of all, becoming a pastor is the best thing I have ever done for myself. Serving God and being able to tell people about Him are wonderful and bring me a peace I never had before.” – Yul said
Since the launch, he’s held regular services on his social media platforms.
He’s also clarified that he didn’t start up his ministry for financial gain but to fulfill God’s purpose and plan for his life.
9. Jimmy Odukoya
Jimmy Odukoya became the senior pastor of the Fountain Of Life Church after the death of his father Taiwo Odukoya who founded the church in 1992.
The ascension of the actor to role of senior pastor raised eyebrows because of the type of roles he had played during his career in Nollywood and suggested that the ministry could be a family business.
But contrary to popular belief, Jimmy’s journey in ministry didn’t begin at his appointment. He has been a minister since the late 2000s and was ordained as a licenced minister in the star of Oklahoma in 2009. He’s been actively involved in the church’s activities and contributed to it’s growth.
Despite the controversial appointment, the church has continued to grow and one can say it has become even more popular now.
Jimmy Odukoya is married to Kemi Banjoko. They tied the knot on Saturday 9th March 2013.
10. Sylvester Madu
Actor Sylvester Madu, nicknamed after his dangerous roles in Nollywood as “Bad Boy”, became a full time pastor in 2018 at Christ Embassy Church, Eric Moore Branch in Suruler, Lagos.
He made the decision after he survived a lethal car crash in 2015.
The actor got married to Ify Ubah, an actress and model in 2020 and has since had 2 kids with her. They both met at Christmas Embassy Lagos where they tied the knot in small crowd of close friends and family.
Although he is now a full-time pastor, Sylvester combines his ministerial duties with acting, through his self-titled movie production company, “Sylvester Madu Creation.”
11. Majid Michel
Top Nollywood and Ghallywood actor Majid Michel is now a born again Christian and pastor. He publicly announced that he has given his life to Christ and will no longer be seen on romantic movies. Apart from sharing the word of God on his posts, he also preaches in different churches as a guest minister.
On 4 October 2016, the actor was seen ministering at a Zoe Sanctuary where he performed deliverance. On an interview with Joy F.M Ghana, Majid described his new spiritual life as “genuine and inspired from his understanding from the Bible”.
12. Larry Koldsweat
Nollywood actor Larry Koldsweat gained notoriety in the early 2000s with hit films including Oganigwe, Oracle, Onye Eze, Igodo, and Izaga, as well as other historical Nollywood productions at the time. Uncle Larry, as he is affectionately known, has likewise abandoned Nollywood and all of its glitz and splendor in favour of a life on the altar as a steward of the lord’s pasture.
In an interview with Mordern Ghana, Larry shared that became a Christain in 1985, but made a U-turn after the death of his sister almost immediately after his conversion. He was said he was restored in 2003 throuh Pastor Peter Onyenubi giving up the pleasures of the world such as drinking, smoking, womanizing, etc.
In his words: “You cannot run away from God if his hand is upon your life. You can only delay it for a while, but at the fullness of time, He will come for you”.
He recounted how God made him move from Abule-Ijesha in Yaba, Lagos where he had lived for 20 years peacefully. After moving, at the burial of his mother in Onitsha, he met Alex Usifo, another Nollywood veteran, who requested that they pray together. While praying, he prophesied to himself and said God was giving him a second chance. He decided to turn to God after that moment.
His work in ministry kicstarted when a pastor friend of his asked him to stop recieveing prayers an start praying for people. Since then he’s been doing just that, through evangelism and his ministrations in other churches.
In 2019, he and several other celebrities led a solidarity walk, seeking an end to banditry, and kidnappings in the North-West.
Aging gracefully, Larry has continued to be a faithful servant in the lord’s vineyard, maintaining his faith and advocacy for a better Nigeria.
