Veteran Nollywood actor Yemi Solade shares a personal experience that made him stay away from church services for over a decade.
In an appearance on the Honest Bunch Podcast, the actor recounted that the turning point came in 2013 when a pastor at his former church instructed him to stop taking acting roles scheduled on Sundays.
Solade admitted that the directive made him uneasy, as it directly affected his profession and means of livelihood.
He added that the experience prompted him to reconsider how to balance faith with personal life, ultimately leading to his withdrawal from regular church attendance.
He said …
“If you see me in a church, it’s probably because we’re filming. Back in 2013, I went to church with my wife, and the pastor told me not to take jobs on Sundays. That same work he wanted me to avoid is what puts money in my pocket and allows me to give offerings. That was when I decided to stop.”
Solade refuted the common belief that life deteriorates without regular church attendance, emphasizing that his life has remained stable and even more peaceful since he stepped away.
He noted that the decision has allowed him to devote greater attention to his family and acting career, free from the constant demands of church committees and activities that once took up much of his time.
“A notion that if you don’t attend church, one’s life will nosedive, I have not seen anything change. Rather, I have peace, I do well, because everyday of my life when I was going to church, I got messages, all sorts of disturbances,” he said.
The actor clarified that his decision was not an abandonment of faith but a deliberate move to steer clear of unhealthy pressures that could obstruct personal growth and productivity.
