I believe everything in life is, no doubt, determined by God!

God laid this Ministry on my heart after the break-up of my marriage and I found myself become a ‘significant’ mother ‘yet again’! As a mother raising two adorable and amazing children on my own, it has always been my desire to live a life of grace in spite of all the hardships, challenges and storms I faced in my journey as a ‘significant’ mother.

1992: God blessed me with my first fruit, my beautiful daughter. Her father and I were in a relationship for 7 years. A week after her birth, her father had his ‘Wine-Carrying’ (Igbo traditional wedding) with someone else in Nigeria.

1992-1996: Endured years of heartbreak, but rested in the promise of God’s word in Philippians 1:6.

Fast forward to 2004:​ Got married, but must say that I leaned more on my own wisdom as a woman in her late 30’s (37 to be precise), ignored the red flags, losing focus and not hearing or receiving God’s direction.

2006: God blessed me with my second fruit, my amazing son.

2009: Marriage broke-up and found myself yet in another unplanned situation, now so, with more responsibilities.

2009-2014: The journey during these years were so tough, hard and difficult where I faced so many challenges, financial, spiritual, health etc. There were so many nights that I cried myself to sleep, and then wake up and wear a smile for my children, but deep down, I knew this was my punishment for running ahead of God presumptuously on the journey of my marriage. Let me just say that as Christians, it is important to seek God’s guidance and counsel in major decisions, be it marriage, relationships, business, jobs etc., trusting that He has our best interests at heart and will lead us in the right direction. [Proverbs 3:5-6].

2014: I was so aggrieved with God on the eve of my birthday and I remember crying out with so much pain [Psalm 18:6].

It was on this day I had a strange encounter with God and heard His voice very clearly saying He had taken me through the wilderness for His glory to be manifested, that he has turned my mess into a message and my story will be told to so many through the birth of a Ministry. Even though I heard God’s voice very clearly, I started doubting if it was just my imagination and pondered for so long about birthing a Ministry and sharing my story to the world, a story that I was ashamed about. I was so ashamed because of the negative connotations and stigma associated with ‘single’ parents especially with ‘single’ mothers in the black community. There was always the conception that where a ‘single’ mother is raising a male child on her own, that child is bound to be involved in crime, gangs, drugs etc., but I am proud to say that both my children have been a source of joy and happiness to me, and I won’t change them for the world!

2015: God spoke to me again regarding the birth of the Ministry saying the journey is not always clear, but it is purposeful. I knew deep down in me that it was GOD!

One thing I will say is that I almost let my brokenness destroy me, but I believe the beauty in my terrible brokenness was the intimacy that I developed and had with God after my encounters with Him. You see broken people can become blessed people if we let God do the mending. I LET GOD IN AND ALLOWED HIM TO MEND ME! That said, I believe there is someone or there are people that God is speaking to, to tell their story, and also know that God gives beauty for ashes.

2015-2019: I kept pondering on the Ministry God laid on my heart, (yes, it took me years pondering it) as I had no clue on how it will commence, but I had it at the back of mind that God will never send us on a journey without going before us neither will He give us what we cannot handle.

2020: I attended Praying Parents meeting organised by Pastor Lade Ajumobi where she was led to pray for single parents and it was at this meeting that the word SIGNIFICANT flashed in front of me like lightning. Months down the line, I began to serve Pastor Lade as an Administrator in her Ministry, Praying Parents, (how I started serving her is a story for another day) and the word of confirmation about my Ministry was revealed to her.

“PROCRASTINATION IS THE THIEF OF TIME!”

I procrastinated for so long starting this Ministry because of the naysayers in my head, which I knew I had to battle with before taking on the world. I clearly remember speaking to a close friend about this Ministry and what I got was negativity, discouragement, belittlement and invalidating my experience, which even made me procrastinate the more.

THE SECRET OF MY CHANGE – I thank God that through my resilience, determination, and faith, I refused to be discouraged by the naysayers, absorbed all of my energy not embracing the negative connotations or letting it define who I am, and chose to focus on God’s purpose in building the new that He placed in me. God definitely has a way of working in us and through us no matter how long it takes!

2021: Even though, I carried my story quietly for years, Significant Mothers ‘N’ Fathers was birthed/launched, to God’s glory, on 31 July 2021. It started with my story, but this space is for many others to share theirs!

My story is one I share not just to recount my struggles, but to show others that no matter how hard life gets, the strength to endure, to rise, and to succeed is always within reach. I hope that my story serves as an inspiration to anyone who is facing their battles. When we choose resilience, hope, and believe in ourselves, there is no obstacle too great to overcome. We can rise from the ashes, just as I have, to create a life filled with purpose, joy and success!

‘Bunmi is a Significant Mother who loves God and who God has placed this mission on to serve and support Significant Mothers and Fathers both far and near.

MY PRAYER TO EVERY PARENT – SINGLE, MARRIED, SEPARATED, IN A RELATIONSHIP OR WIDOWED
Father Lord, I pray and give you permission to heal every hidden hurt and that you do a deep work in those who are yet to heal from the pain, trauma and hurt they went through or are still going through so that they can fulfil every ounce of their purpose IJMN. Amen

God bless you.

‘Bunmi Adesanya
FOUNDER – SIGNIFICANT MOTHERS ‘N’ FATHERS
Staying In God’s Newness Is Focusing In Cutting All Negative Tales

You broke me open, not to destroy me, but to plant seeds in me I never knew I carried;
You took away the comfort of what was, forcing me to step into the unknown;
You turned endings into beginnings and silence into STRENGTH;
You showed me love over loss and made room for something greater to bloom;
Thank you for the tears that softened my heart;
The darkness that taught me to seek my own light;
And the emptiness that reminded me how much I have to give.
Abba Father, you built me ANEW!