Nollywood actress Funke Akindele has opened up about why she now prefers to attend church services online rather than in person. In a viral video on social media, the star, who is a member of the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) Wonderland Parish, explained that the attention she receives during physical services has made in-person attendance challenging.
Why Funke Akindele Chooses Online Worship
According to Akindele, when she attends church physically, many worshippers focus on taking pictures of her instead of engaging in the service. This distraction prompted her to opt for online worship. She stated, “I’m getting ready for church… but I’m not going. Anytime I show up in church, people focus on taking pictures of me, so I’d rather join online.”
Her Roots in the Celestial Church
The actress also shared more about her background in the Celestial Church, revealing that she was born and raised in the denomination. She admitted that she had previously kept her membership private, often attending services discreetly, especially during tough times. Akindele declared that she would no longer hide her identity as a member of the church and promised to be more open about her faith moving forward.
Reflecting on her journey, Akindele noted that she frequently turned to the church during difficult moments and experienced positive outcomes. She encouraged others to commit their plans to God and seek divine guidance. She also appealed to fans to keep her in their prayers, asking for success in her endeavors and God’s protection over her life.
“I was born and raised in Celestial. My situation is like a lost sheep that God brought back home. I’m well known in the celestial parish in Mile 12, Alapere, Ojota; those are the places I grew up,” she said in a mixture of English and Yoruba.
“Every time I have challenges, I go back to the Celestial church quietly, and I go at night. And I would see that I get breakthroughs, but right now, I said enough is enough. I have to stop hiding; I have to be identified with the church publicly,” she added.
“I also want to advise everybody, anything you want to embark on, put it in the hands of God, and if He doesn’t permit you to do it, don’t. Every step I have taken in my life, I heard from God before I did it, and I thank God I’m here today. I also want to beg you to pray for Funke Akindele every time and everything that has to do with Funke Akindele. God should be with her, she shouldn’t die suddenly, and she should be successful in all her endeavors,” she concluded.
Challenges of Celebrity Public Life
For a star like Funke Akindele, who holds the box office record for the highest-grossing movie in Nigerian history, appearing in public spaces is always challenging because of the attention her presence commands. Managing their appearance in public spaces can be tiresome for celebrities who sometimes just want to be in these places without drawing attention to themselves.
