Former President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, has shared his personal battle with and survival from an aggressive form of cancer. In a heartfelt video that went viral on Tuesday, the Senior Pastor of Word of Life Bible Church in Warri, Delta State, opened up about the profound physical, emotional, and spiritual trials he faced during his illness.
Appearing reflective, Pastor Oritsejafor detailed the difficult journey, emphasizing the pivotal role his faith played in his recovery. “How do you face cancer and still stand like this?” he asked, before revealing that he had kept his diagnosis private, maintaining a normal appearance despite the gravity of his condition.
In the three-minute video, Oritsejafor recounted a particularly poignant moment when he traveled to the United States for treatment. He disclosed that a close acquaintance of his, suffering from the same aggressive cancer, was also traveling to the UK for medical care at the same time. While Oritsejafor returned to Nigeria after his treatment, his acquaintance tragically lost the battle and was brought back in a casket.
Reflecting on the gravity of the situation, Oritsejafor urged his congregation not to celebrate his survival, acknowledging the sorrow of his acquaintance’s death. “Please don’t clap because I am not better than him. 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,” he said.
Oritsejafor’s testimony has resonated deeply with many, highlighting the unpredictable and often devastating nature of cancer, a disease that the World Health Organization describes as a large group of diseases characterized by the uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells in the body.
The pastor’s story is a powerful reminder of faith and perseverance in the face of life’s most daunting challenges.
