Pastor Jimmy Odukoya Opens Up About Grief and Faith After Mother’s Sudden Demise

• Personal Grief: Nollywood actor-turned-pastor Jimmy Odukoya has shared his struggle with the Christian faith following the unexpected death of his mother, Pastor Bimbo Odukoya, in 2005.
• Impact on Faith: In an interview on the Truth Table podcast, Odukoya revealed how the sudden loss of his mother challenged his belief in God.
• Choosing to Confront Pain: Odukoya discussed his decision to confront his grief rather than abandon his faith.

Nollywood actor and pastor Jimmy Odukoya has spoken about his intense personal grief and the impact it had on his Christian faith following the sudden death of his mother, Pastor Bimbo Odukoya, in 2005.

Speaking on the inaugural episode of the Truth Table podcast, hosted by his sister Pastor Tolu Odukoya, Jimmy reflected on how the loss of his mother tested his beliefs and emotional resilience.

Odukoya described the suddenness of his mother’s death as a severe shock, revealing that it was his greatest fear at the time. “The difference between when mum died and when dad died was that with mum it was very sudden and no one saw it coming,” he said. “I think that my biggest fear in life at the time was losing a member of my family and mum was the most important woman in my life.”

The actor-turned-pastor recounted his struggle to maintain his faith in the face of such a devastating loss.

He found himself at a critical juncture where he could either reject his faith or confront his pain. “When it happened, I felt like I was at a crossroads with God,” Odukoya shared. “It was either the middle finger to God and saying, ‘You know what? I’m done,’ or staying and crying.”

Ultimately, Odukoya chose to remain in his faith, confronting his grief rather than walking away.

He likened his emotional state to that of a battered soldier in the midst of battle. Despite his feelings of devastation, he found comfort in a powerful message from God: “I remember God saying, ‘Get up, soldier. Don’t you realize that you’re fearless now? The worst has happened so what can the devil use to threaten or scare you anymore?’”

See the full interview below: