Today, we are interviewing Toyin, a wife, mother, grandmother, and a glowing child of God! She runs a podcast ‘Chat with Toyin’ on Spotify and invites everyone to grab a cup of tea, relax & experience this exciting journey of greatness with her.
Please tell us something about yourself.
I love God, my family, dancing and making new friends:)
I’m passionate about encouraging and supporting teenagers as they navigate life into adulthood.
How did you get into what you do right now? Please tell us more about your journey.
Growing up in Ibadan, Nigeria. I went through a lot of hardships after losing my dad at 13. It was tough for my mum to raise my siblings and me.
I feel I don’t want the young people teenagers to go through what I went through as a young person and growing up as I learned a lot through trial and error. I want to delve into some things that are challenging to them.
I feel most times people misunderstand them and want to relate with them so they can speak. I feel some have been through things and come out, and they need to tell their stories of how it happened, and others can learn.
So they don’t make the same mistakes I made.
Who are your role models?
My sweet mother, Rev Funke Ewuosho, I call her Mamse.
What inspires you?
The strong women in my life inspire me. I have always had a passion for helping people not to ever go through what I went through as a young person after my father’s death.
I love helping people and hate to see people suffer. And I feel I need to tell my story.
What inspires me is that when I was young, some people didn’t help me, and now God did make way for me without them, so the God factor is dominant in my belief that you can’t write anyone off.
My journey is a journey of mercy and grace. A journey of a girl helped by God’s love and purpose.
God is sending me help at every stage of my life. A journey where I didn’t know what is in it but trusting God and God holding my hand.
Please tell us about your organization.
I am a speaker, teacher, and encourager. I have an organization called Total Package Connect, where I run courses and conferences on relationships and marriage preparation.
What’s your most memorable experience?
Life experience……….I got electrocuted at a party watching people dancing when I was young.
What’s your greatest wish?
My greatest wish is my children turning out to serve God faithfully and pass the baton to their children.
That’s why I love to be described as the woman whose children know love and serve God.
What keeps you going when things get tough?
What keeps me going when things get tough is when I remember where God took me from. I mean how God helped me before, and what He’s done in my life. Knowing HE has a purpose and HE can control it, though, at times, I feel HE’s slow. God, my children, and my family keep me going.
Looking back, what’s one thing you wish you understood better before you ever got started?
Strategies………I used to expect everyone to be perfect when I was young. Elders, parents tell us to do the right things so, I always think they are perfect. Then especially when I became a Christian, I expected all Christians to live up to the standard, not knowing people are on a journey or can be different. So as I grow up, I realized people are different, and their backgrounds shape their actions and who they become. I felt offended, disappointed, especially when I helped people, and they fail me.
But when I started having children and I realized how all my children were different. ( I think God purposely allowed me to have many children for this????) So, I began to see people can be different from the same father and mother. Then, I started studying people, and when I meet people, I can see my children in their behavior and be like, oh, they are not bad. Especially as a Pastor’s wife, it was huge for me so, it helps me to forgive them and move on.
What are the strategies that helped you become successful in your journey?
So I don’t compare people or carry the offense on my head. I know that no one is perfect, and people, including myself, are working in progress.
I tell people what I feel, what I am not happy with. I don’t hide feelings as I won’t be able to sleep. I always say I can’t be sleepless rolling over while the other person doesn’t have any idea.
So, I will discuss it, and that will be the end. Whatever the explanation is ok and I move on. Forgetting the past and the relationship can be as if nothing ever happened like I said no one is perfect.
Life is very interesting, and the world is very small. Be careful what you do to others. Live by the word of God, you are not your own. God owns us, and all that is ours. Follow HIS instructions as we navigate through life.
If I have to start all over again, I will check what the word says and do it no matter how difficult or unpopular, because no matter what God word is supreme.
Any message for our readers.
Don’t ever look down on anyone in life. Be a part of people’s success stories. Forgiveness is a choice, a principle, and a privilege.
How can people connect with you?
I am on Instagram, Youtube, Facebook, and I have a podcast Chat with Toyin on Spotify.