How I almost became a pastor at 19 – Tonto Dikeh

Nollywood actress Tonto Dikeh has opened up about her spiritual journey, revealing that she almost became a pastor at the age of 19 before walking away from what she described as a divine calling.

Dikeh made the disclosure during a viral livestream interview shortly after reconciling with her ex-husband, Olakunle Churchill, following years of public estrangement.

According to the actress, she has felt a strong spiritual calling from childhood but believes she ran from it as a teenager because God wanted her to first experience life in its fullness.

“I have always had this calling right from when I was a child. At 19, I was going to be a pastor until I just ran away for no reason,” she said. “I’ve been in church since I left secondary school. I’ve known God intimately and intensely from a very young age.”

Reflecting on the challenges she has faced over the years, Dikeh attributed her survival to faith and divine guidance, stating that her life experiences were part of a process meant to shape her purpose.

“If you watch what has happened in my life, it’s not ordinary. Anybody who may walk in my shoes may not have survived. God needed me to go through all of these things to come out as the firebrand that I am today,” she added.

The mother of one further disclosed that her calling is centred on prayer and healing, hinting at plans to launch an online prayer platform, subject to what she described as divine approval.

“Prayers and healing are my calling. God can heal. At this stage of my life, I’m just letting God lead. He asked me to start praying for people online, and that’s what I’m doing. I’m just a vessel,” she said.

Dikeh emphasised that her renewed commitment to faith is not driven by fame or wealth, insisting that her motivation is survival and obedience to what she believes is her mandate.

“I didn’t run to God because of money. I’m already rich. I ran to God because I wanted to live and to step into the mandate He wanted me to fulfil,” she stated.