Laundry Manager at Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, Prayer City, Mrs Kemi Omotinugbon, who welcomed her first child at the age of 56 after 31 years of marriage, shares with GRACE EDEMA how she overcame the trying periods
What do you do and how old are you?
I work at MFM Prayer City as a laundry manager. I am 57 years old. I was born on July 13, 1968.
When did you get married?
I got married in 1994.
When you got married in 1994, like most couples, you probably expected to have a child within a year or two. At what point did you realise there was a challenge with getting pregnant?
We realised it was a challenge about five years into the marriage.
What did you do after discovering that?
We started by praying. After that, we sought medical treatment and saw a doctor for possible solutions.
Was there any specific medical issue that was diagnosed?
No.
Did you try IVF at any point?
Yes, we did.
How many times?
We tried twice, as I mentioned in my testimony.
Did any of the attempts result in pregnancy?
No, they both failed, but we persisted in prayer and kept believing God. Whatever treatment or medication was required, we took it, and we continued trusting God. In His infinite mercy, God answered us.
That is why we are here today, thanking Him for what only He can do. This can only be God. It surpasses human imagination. It is purely God’s intervention.
How did you discover you were pregnant?
I was seeing a doctor at the time. When I began noticing some changes in my body, they ran some tests. It was through those tests that I discovered I was pregnant.
What year was that?
That was in May 2024.
Was it a natural delivery?
No, it was a Caesarean section because of my age.
Was the conception natural, or was there any medical procedure involved?
It was a natural conception. There were no injections or assisted procedures involved.
I want you to share your experience during the waiting period. How was the waiting period of over 30 years?
The waiting period was very challenging. It was a mixture of pain and occasional joy. Sometimes, when people know you do not have a child, they react to you differently. Some may not fully accept you, even within family or friendship circles.
Not everyone understands what it means to wait. There were painful experiences, and I had to deliberately cast them behind me so they would not affect my focus. At a point, I was dwelling on the situation too much, but later I received the wisdom to ignore the distractions. I had to put them behind me.
When some people later heard that I had put to bed, they said, ‘Ah, so she had been passing through that challenge? We didn’t even know.’ Many people did not know because, after some time, I stopped talking about it.
When people would ask, ‘How are your children?’ I would respond politely, but when I returned to my place of prayer, I would say, ‘God, they are asking You, where are these children? Let these children manifest. Let them not be far away from us again.’ That became my regular confession.
The journey was not easy, but I enjoyed the grace of God throughout. Eventually, His power was made manifest. I cannot point to any particular experience now that still makes me feel bitter.
However, I remember moments when I thought, ‘If I had my own child, this wouldn’t have happened.’ For example, there were times I sent another person’s daughter on an errand, and the mother refused to allow her to go. That was painful.
At one point, some children were visiting us, and their mother later suggested they were not well taken care of. That hurt deeply because I had done my best for them.
However, each painful experience drove me back to God. I would say, ‘Lord, only You can do this.’
There were moments I did not even know how it would happen anymore. I simply held on to God’s promise that I would not fail. That assurance sustained me.
Some of my friends later reminded me that during our conversations, I always told them that no matter how long it took, I would have my own child. I may not remember saying it, but two of them confirmed it.
In the end, the entire experience has been God-centred. God knew about it all along. His name alone deserves to be praised and glorified.
How did you go through all these and still remain psychologically strong?
Before I talk about how it feels now, let me add this: in such a situation, there are times you honestly do not know what to do. Sometimes, you lose interest in many things — even in going out or associating with people.
I remember one day, I saw a friend at a shopping mall. She didn’t see me, but I saw her — and I carefully dodged her. I avoided her because I didn’t want her to ask, ‘Where are your children?’ and start the conversation all over again. I didn’t want to explain anything. So I made sure she didn’t see me. That was one of the experiences I had.
At times, you become disinterested in outings because people will ask about your children. In our community, especially in the Black community, not having a child can come with stigma. You feel stigmatised. That was part of the experience.
On the other hand, I also had people who supported me throughout the journey — people who believed that since God had promised, it would surely happen.
Now that the baby has come, my interest in doing many things has been awakened. I feel more motivated. There is something pushing you, something more meaningful to live for.
What other painful experience did you endure?
There was another painful experience. Someone once asked me to give him money. I said I didn’t have any. He told me to go and bring my ATM card and then said, ‘What are you even using your money for?’ That day, I really felt hurt. I wondered, ‘Why would this person say that? Is it because I don’t have a child?’
When I told my husband, he asked how I responded. I said I didn’t reply; I just looked at the person. My husband himself also had experiences — comments that could easily demoralise someone. But we thank God. Only God’s name can be glorified. This can only be God.
Do you think it was just divine intervention or medications that helped you?
Even if you go through treatments, unless God permits them to work, they will not work. That is the truth. So, I give Him all the glory.
How did you handle your in-laws who couldn’t wait any longer for you to have a child?
I tried not to overreact. I understood that they, too, might be anxious.
Sometimes, the pain comes from general comments people make without realising how hurtful they are — not necessarily from in-laws alone. We did not have fights.
They didn’t fight me, and I didn’t fight them.
What would you like to say to other women who have been married for five, 10, or even 15 years without a child?
What I would like to say to anyone trusting God for the fruit of the womb is this: please look unto God. Be steadfast and remain focused.
At the same time, do the needful. If you need medical treatment, seek treatment. If you need to interact with people and maintain healthy relationships, do so. Do not dwell too much on the pain — even though the pain can be overwhelming. Instead, dwell on the Word of God. Focus on His promises.
I also want to say that God greatly used Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries to bless me. I have been deeply involved in the prayer life, counselling sessions, and the teaching of the Word at MFM. I joined MFM in 1998, four years after I got married.
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