Veteran Nollywood actor Yemi Solade has opened up about a personal journey that led him to step away from church services for more than a decade, shedding light on the challenges he faced in balancing his faith with his professional and personal life.
During a detailed conversation on the Honest Bunch Podcast, Solade recounted a pivotal moment in 2013 that significantly influenced his decision. He explained that a pastor at his former church explicitly instructed him to refrain from accepting acting roles that were scheduled on Sundays, effectively limiting his work opportunities on a day traditionally reserved for worship.
Solade revealed that the directive left him feeling uneasy and conflicted, as it directly impacted his profession and primary source of income. The actor emphasized that the work he was asked to avoid not only provided financial stability but also enabled him to contribute to the church through offerings and tithes, creating an ironic conflict between spiritual expectations and practical necessities.
He elaborated on the experience, stating that it prompted a deep reflection on how he could effectively balance his faith with his personal and professional responsibilities. This reflection eventually led to his decision to withdraw from regular church attendance, choosing instead to focus on his career and family life without the pressures of obligatory participation in church activities.
“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 explained, highlighting the practical considerations that influenced his choice.
Contrary to the popular belief that life deteriorates without consistent church attendance, Solade stressed that his life has remained stable and even more peaceful since stepping away. He pointed out that the freedom from constant church obligations has allowed him to invest more time in his family and to focus on his acting career, improving his overall quality of life.
“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 every day of my life when I was going to church, I got messages, all sorts of disturbances,” he said, addressing misconceptions about the spiritual consequences of not attending church regularly.
Solade made it clear that his decision was not a rejection of faith but a conscious effort to avoid unhealthy pressures that could hinder personal growth and professional productivity. He emphasized that maintaining a meaningful spiritual life does not necessarily require strict adherence to traditional church routines, especially when such routines conflict with other essential life responsibilities.
His candid testimony has sparked conversations on social media and among Nollywood circles, with many expressing admiration for his honesty and thoughtful approach to navigating faith, career, and personal well-being. Solade’s experience underscores the importance of finding a balanced approach to spiritual life, one that accommodates personal and professional realities while preserving individual peace and fulfillment.