In a deeply personal and emotional revelation, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, former President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Senior Pastor of Word of Life Bible Church, Warri, Delta State, shared his harrowing experience battling and surviving an aggressive form of cancer. The news came to light in a three-minute video that went viral on Tuesday, where the revered cleric appeared reflective and spoke candidly about his journey.
Pastor Oritsejafor, known for his strong faith and resilience, recounted the physical, emotional, and spiritual trials that accompanied his diagnosis. He credited his unwavering faith as a cornerstone of his recovery, highlighting the inner strength it provided him during one of the most challenging periods of his life.
“How do you face cancer and still stand like this?” he asked in the video, revealing for the first time the severity of his illness. “What I have not told you is when I was going to America, full of cancer, you did not know. I did not tell you. I looked normal because that is my way of life.”
The pastor also recounted a particularly poignant moment, describing how, on the day he traveled to the United States for treatment, a close acquaintance of his was also on a similar journey to the United Kingdom for the same type of cancer treatment. However, their outcomes were tragically different. While Pastor Oritsejafor returned to Nigeria after his treatment, his acquaintance was brought back in a casket.
Oritsejafor’s story underscores the unpredictable and often devastating nature of cancer, which, according to the World Health Organization, is a group of diseases characterized by the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells that can invade and spread to other parts of the body.
Despite his personal victory over the disease, Pastor Oritsejafor urged his congregation not to celebrate his survival. “Please don’t clap because I am not better than him,” he said, referring to his late acquaintance. “But God remembered me. He remembered my heart. I have always had a heart for God. I told God, if you save me from this, I will double my service. I will serve you twice more. And He saved me and brought me home.”
Pastor Oritsejafor’s testimony is a powerful reminder of the fragility of life and the strength that faith can provide in the face of life-threatening challenges. His experience serves as an inspiration to many, showing that even in the darkest of times, hope and faith can lead to healing and recovery.