‘From secular to sacred,’ Mike Bamiloye reflects on transformation to gospel drama
Renowned Nigerian Christian filmmaker and founder of Mount Zion Faith Ministries, Pastor Mike Bamiloye, has opened up about a lesser-known struggle in his early years—an addiction, not to substances, but to secular writing.
He recounted the transformative power of surrendering one’s talents to God and embracing the call to Kingdom service.
In a Saturday post on his Facebook page, Bamiloye detailed how his journey to becoming a pioneer in Christian drama was marked by resistance, relapse, and ultimately, total surrender of his talents to God.
According to him, in 1982, a 22-year-old Bamiloye stood outside a crowded church hall during a convention, listening to the powerful ministration of a renowned gospel singer.
He described the experience as life-changing.
He said, “The anointing that morning was so heavy upon the congregation as the voice of that woman rent the hallowed chamber of the large hall.
“I couldn’t hold back my tears. I fell into deep prayer, crying out to God, ‘LORD, You are using a woman; use me too. I want to serve You. Use me too.’”
He said it was during this emotional plea that he heard a voice within him, urging him to surrender his writing gift for Kingdom purposes.
“I will use you if you surrender your gift at my feet,” the voice told him.
Transition struggles
Meanwhile, Bamiloye stated that at that time, he was already an accomplished writer of drama scripts and novels.
However, his works were secular, focusing on themes devoid of spiritual significance. The divine call to abandon his secular pursuits was daunting.
“I didn’t want to stop writing those theatrical dramatic pieces; I didn’t want to stop writing those adventurous and investigative novels that profited the Heavens nothing,” he admitted.
Despite his initial willingness to submit, Bamiloye soon found himself slipping back into his old habits. Writing had become more than a hobby—it was an obsession.
“It was like I was drugged. It was like I was addicted to writing those plays, poems, and novels. I was like a drunkard addicted to drinking. I was like a smoker addicted to smoking,” he asserted.
Divine call?
Several years later, already a few years into ministry, he revealed that he received a sobering warning through a dream.
According to him, in the dream, God made it clear that if he did not withdraw his secular scripts from the publishers, those works would be used by the enemy to undermine his ministry in the future.
“Unless you obey and urgently withdraw those scripts from the publishing companies, the devil will use the published books to rubbish your ministry later in life,” the dream warned.
He noted that the urgency of the message left him with no choice but to act immediately.
The pastor disclosed that he informed his wife of his decision and embarked on a mission to retrieve his manuscripts from various publishing houses.
One of the publishing directors, a Christian herself, he stated, tried to persuade him to reconsider, arguing that the scripts were harmless.
“I had come to withdraw my script from publishing. I never wanted it to be published again,” he recounted.
Consequently, he said that after signing the necessary documents, the manuscripts were returned to him.
“I hereby submit all my gifts at Your feet,” he declared.
Meanwhile, he admitted that his obedience, today, has yielded an abundant harvest.
Mount Zion Faith Ministries has produced countless gospel films and stage productions that have impacted lives across Nigeria and beyond, he noted.
“Have I not produced better drama scripts for the Lord? Have I not turned many drama scripts into great movies for the Kingdom of God?” he reflected.
Gifts, talents divine deposits
Furthermore, Bamiloye believed that his testimony was a challenge to everyone blessed with a talent.
He emphasised that gifts and talents are divine deposits, entrusted to men for the expansion of God’s kingdom.
“Every gift is deposited in a person’s life by God for the expansion of the Kingdom of God. It is not meant to serve your pleasures, nor was it given to you to do whatever you like with it,” the revered drama minister wrote.
Citing the parable of the talents from Matthew 25, he reminded believers that each of us is a servant entrusted with gifts by a Master who will one day return for an account.
To him, our talents are not our own. They are Kingdom assets, meant to serve a higher purpose.
He concluded, “Everyone possessing one talent or the other has been called to be a servant of God.
“It is a Kingdom issue. It is not a joke matter; it has to do with the matter of eternal life. Gift and talent is a kingdom issue.”
