LET'S TALK ABOUT HYMN - Min. TOLUWANI

Can we meet you sir?

My name is but everyone knows me as TOLUWANI.

Tell us about your journey to music ministry.

Wow! Let me say it's something that has been predestined by the Lord, as the Bible says "...no one receives anything except it's been given from above".

Though I didn't know it in the beginning because I was once a Muslim until I discovered Jesus which is the God of purpose.

I started from the church choir and as time goes on, the Lord made the vision clearer and here I am by His grace.

What's your salvation story?

Let me address this because salvation must precede ministry. By the grace of God, I am born again. But initially, I wrongly accepted Jesus because it was the message of hellfire that I listened to that made me to believe in Jesus, just because I don't want to go to hell. But I later knew that the only way someone could be born again genuinely is to hear and know the love of Jesus for his/her life (John 3:16) not because of hell fire. So, I genuinely gave my life to Christ when I came across my school daddy that showed me the way of salvation.

Since when did you start your ministry sir? What are your challenges since you've started and how were you able to overcome it?

I started singing like 12 years back by the grace of God, but I started ministry properly not quite long. It's not really been easy, but God has been faithful. As a soldier of Christ, we don't expect everything to be smooth. By the grace of God, I have tasted the sweet and awful part of the ministry.

And to buttress my point here,

Note: BEING A CHORISTER IS DIFFERENT FROM BEING A MUSIC MINISTER. Though it's deep.

Can you tell us more about this Revelation?

A chorister is to serve in the church while a music minister can't be restricted to a particular church.

That's one of it.

Can you share some of your awful part in ministry?

Hmmmm...okay. When I wanted to do my first album and I went to someone who I presumed that he can be of help. When I got to him, he was like "SE CD TI WON NTA NI #50 NI IBADAN NI MO NDA ARA MI LAAMU SI?" I wanted to collapse when I heard those words but I encouraged myself in the Lord. That's one of them, though there are many other things.

What kept you moving even though you know the road was rough?

It's because it's my purpose. I have known that's what God wants me to do.

Being the first time, how did your first ministration look like when you started and what later motivated you?

Hmm... it was not really a spectacular event to me because I have been doing it in church before. So the Lord really helped me.

What motivated/motivates and what will keep motivating me is that I HAVE DISCOVERED IT AS MY PURPOSE IN LIFE.

Being a public figure, how do you handle your female admirers?

Hmm... thank God I have been engaged before I started going out or launching into ministry, maa ti subu (I would have fallen). So I put them in their place.

As a music minister, how often do you sing Hymns?

Chaiiii... I sing hymns gaaaannn (exceedingly). Hymns are not ordinary songs that can be overemphasized when it comes to praise God. It gives me inspiration. I love it.

Can you tell us some testimonies from singing Hymns?

Hmmm... My main testimony is that whenever I sing hymns, whether during ministrations or quiet time, deep calls unto deep and I feel refreshed.

What do you want to tell people about Hymns?

Even the Bible recommends hymn as the songs of praise, supplication and expressing the situation of our heart to God (Col 3:16).

For you to know that there's a power in hymns, ever since they have been composed, as long as the time is, they are still evergreen and do wonders. Whenever hymns are being sung, miracles happen.

Apart from GOD calling you and anointing you sir, are there other things you do or did that have made you come this far in music ministry?

No one can receive anything, except it's given from above. Not that I didn't do anything but they are not the determinant of where I am today.

ALL IS BY THE MERCY OF GOD AND WHAT HES DONE OF THE CROSS.

Can you tell us, what are those things you did apart from HIS MERCY factor?

Okay. I always make sure anything I do, I deliver excellently. As far as music is concerned, if you don't package yourself, it will be hard to make it, you will just be full of talent and there won't be anything to show for it. Also, make sure you surround yourself with people that matter, not people that will bring you down with their mouths, move close to those who you can learn from, those who can challenge you on what you are doing.

And Mike Abdul does tell me something, and that's CONSISTENCY.

It's not easy but we keep pushing.

Also as a music minister whenever you want to do anything, for example, a concert; Make sure that as you're considering the spiritual aspect, make sure the physical aspect is also balanced. Don't go and rent devil speaker that will make the minstrel you invite to start looking for OROGBO and TOMTOM after the program. Always make sure you deliver excellently and as time goes on, you will get there.

Including your music production, go to good studio. There are studio that are good and affordable... Don't take the song that ought to be an evergreen song to the studio of 5k just because you want to release it on time.

Can you relate how Hymn works to heal?

I can say in summary that ANYTHING THAT CARRIES THE PRESENCE OF GOD IS CAPABLE OF HEALING ANY FORM OF INFIRMITY.

And according to biblical and a spiritually proven fact, hymn carries the presence of God.

If you weren't a music minister, what would you be doing?

I would have been a valuer because I studied Estate Management and Valuation from YABATECH.

Thank you for your time on this day.

God bless you.