In all that you do, never allow fear to hinder you from making any plans for the future. Remember, God’s plan is not always easy but His timing and strategy are perfect. In the scripture above, you will find that the main character in the passage is not Joseph or his brothers, but the sovereign God of heaven whose plan cannot be delayed or stopped by anyone. God’s plan cannot be thwarted. Why? Because He is our creator, sustainer and Lord of all. “Therefore, hide yourself in him; the name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous run into it, and they are saved” (Proverbs 18:1). No power of the devil can stop the plan of God for your life; His will for your life will always come to pass. Keep in mind that nobody can assault you without God’s permission. Children of God, you are indestructible unless God calls you home. Today, many Christians are more afraid of a witch doctor than God. Learn to not allow the fear of evil men and women stop you from moving forward with making plans for the future. I am here to tell you that no demon can destroy or attack you without God’s permission. Why? Because you are a child of God, and should not be afraid of evil men and women. Continue reading

God protected Joseph and He can protect you, too. Do not allow fear to hold you hostage and keep you from setting specific goals in your life. If you allow fear to dominate you, you will not set big audacious goals for your life. When you are afraid of people laughing and talking about you, you will never know the power of God. When your life is driven by fear of people, you will experience burning out and bitterness. Why? You can never please people. When you decide to trust God completely and take action, nothing can stop you. Continue reading

Hey Friends!!! I am working on launching a podcast!!! Here are 21 questions I will be asking leaders around the world!! Help me with some feedback after reading this questions. What are the three lessons you have learnt about hiring the right people? What are the three best business books you have read in the best five years? What are three bad habits you have been able to quit that have made you a successful business owner? What are three qualities that hold you back from hiring certain individuals? What are three qualities in a man that makes your wife uncomfortable with him being your friend? What are three habits that set good business owners apart from great business owners? Tell me about your morning routine ( three things you must do) before you leave the house and ( three things you do) after you get to the office? What three things to develop yourself every week? What are the best three lessons you have learnt about parenting your daughter, son or children? Tell me about a time you failed and what are three lessons learned from it? Who are your mentors and how do you find them? What are... Continue reading

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, I want to use this opportunity to thank you all for being part of my life. The past six months has been a very difficult one for me, but also a blessing in disguise. During this time, God has really surprised me. In February of this year, the young lady I had been courting for five months (I met her in October 2021) informed me that she was pregnant with another man's child. This broke my heart deeply and I refused to embark on my search for a godly wife. However, in March of 2022, I was privileged to meet a young lady whom I proposed to in May. By God’s good grace, we will be getting married this fall. Our engagement video.. She is a lovely woman who loves Jesus deeply and desires to serve Christ with me. She's twenty-eight years young and sixteen years younger than I, but loves the Lord. She is a fantastic young lady with a passion for ministry. She has some experience in youth ministry in a local church. She is also a college graduate from a Nigerian university. She is very passionate about reaching the next generation... Continue reading

Saints of God, whenever we choose not to allow the eyes of God to lead us and the voice of God to lead us, we will get ourselves into trouble. The title of this sermon is "Don't trust your eyes"than you. I want you to really remember that God is wiser than you. You are not wiser than God. Don't trust your eyes, trust the voice of God. Your eyes will mislead you.Trust God's instruction, direction and correction. Follow his eyes for he is wise!! That is why we are commanded to obey the voice of God and not the voice of men. “Now Jacob heard that he had defiled his daughter Dinah. But his sons were with his livestock in the field, so Jacob held his peace until they came. The sons of Jacob had come in from the field as soon as they heard of it, and the men were indignant and very angry, because he had done an outrageous thing in Israel by lying with Jacob’s daughter, for such a thing must not be done. On the third day, when they were sore, two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brothers, took their swords... Continue reading

This school will host 200 students in Nigeria. If God is speaking to you, let’s talk! Respectfully Pastor Owolabi Continue reading

Dear Young and Gifted Leader, Do not waste your life. Every single day, for the rest of your life, work on your gift. Develop your gift. Listen to your coaches. Work twice as hard. Do not repeat the same mistakes. Think!!!! You are a masterpiece in the hand of the master. Every pain has a purpose. Your life is a gift from God. I love you am praying for you. Your Catalyst Coach Pastor James Owolabi Continue reading

Dear Colaboures in the Lord’s Vineyard, ​Thank you for being a blessing to my ministry in Nigeria. It has not been easy relocating to Nigeria. Smooth seas don't make good sailors. No doubt, 2021 was a difficult year for but God has truly been faithful. Over the past 10 months, since the sudden and unexpected home-going of my father, I have seen God move in amazing ways and use us to change the hearts of young people in Ogbomosho. We held a conference for preteens that challenged them to embrace the skill of setting goals and reaching their God-given potential. Each speaker at this event challenged the teenagers to discover their God-given plans for their lives and pursue it with discipline. Over 100 preteens attended this event. Students were challenged from the word of God to embrace a lifetime of discipline and hard work. In September of this year, I started Bridge of Grace Baptist Church in Ogbomosho. Bridge of Grace is growing steadily, especially in our children’s Bible club and Wednesday night teen outreach sections. I was privileged to preach at the Commerment services at the Bible College which was started by my father and currently under the leadership... Continue reading

“Winning’ is not defined by me or your parents or even the market…it’s defined by you.” - Gary Vaynerchuk Dear Young Leader and Gifted Leader, Never forget your manners. Being polite & honest with your team and customers will not cost you any money. It would increase employee productivity and generate repeat customers Customers come in all shapes and sizes and so do their attitudes. When they go low into the abbeys of conflict, we go aboard the plane of emotional intelligence and fly high into the clouds of wisdom. Being calm and polite is not easy when you speaking with an unkind, annoyed, hostile, or aggressive customer. It requires special emotional management skills. You need wisdom to control of the fire of tension by speaking with tact and by watching your tone. Amidst your highest level of professionalism, never forget your manners. Watch your tone! You are a Nigerian we are loud.😂😂😂 We have learned that the best way to win a prospective client is by killing them with kindness by thinking carefully and quickly about when to speak, and when to be quiet. Being polite is not easy but possible with most customers. We Nigerians are rude and... Continue reading

Dear Friends and family! Use this link and code to purchase my book for $9.99 on my birthday. https://square.link/u/KL5XcL3I. I love you and am praying for you. Respectfully Pastor James Owolabi www.jamesowolabi.com/donate Continue reading

Just landed in Nigeria. Get back to Christin Education and Encouraging national Pastors. Just landed in Nigeria. Finished an amazing ministry tour in the United States Preached 70 times, 5 states, 10 unique audiences, over 100 souls saved and many lives recommited to Christ. Wow! What a ride!! One of the best summers of my life!!! Thank you all for your prayers and financial support . Jeff Pierce that breakfast was delicious. Karlene Toren dreaming of home cooked Jamaican food while jet lacked in Lagos (Thank you it was so good). God! Thank you! www.jamesowolabi.com/donate — feeling thankful in Ikeja G.R.A, Ikeja. Continue reading

I officially moved from Chicago to Nigeria on April 28 2021 to become an educator. By the time you read this letter, I will already be leading an elementary school and helping pastors my father trained in the ministry. Here are several ways you can pray for me right now. Ask God for: 1. 100 Donors ($25.00 each month) who will support my efforts in Nigeria with financial resources. https://www.jamesowolabi.com/donate 2. Door openers: strong relational networks and powerful connectors in Nigeria. People of means that can help me navigate the corrupt nature of this nation’s way of doing business. People of integrity are lacking here, so I need trustworthy people to help me. Honest workers like carpenters, painters and contractors. 3. Disciples, people who will allow me to teach and train them, I want to build teams committed to the vision and philosophy God has given me, with the same heart and mind. I want to build five schools and plant 5 churches in Nigeria in the next 25 years.($250,000.00 dream) 4. Discernment in relationships and safety while living in Nigeria. Nigeria is a very dangerous country. I am a prime target for robbers and people who want to kidnap... Continue reading

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Dear Friends and Family! God’s grace has sustained me during this season of deep anguish and immense sorrow. Your prayers, financial gifts, phone calls, and notes of encouragement have sustained me during this difficult season. The past 90 days have been the hardest day of my adult life. It has been difficult learning to trust God day by day after the sudden and unexpected home going of my earthly father. My father was the greatest gift God gave me. He was a passionate soul winner, a courageous church planter, a brilliant pastor, a generous father, the best father a son could have, and an effective Christian educator. His impact on my life has been felt every day of my life in every facet of my life. I love him so much and miss him deeply every day. His life has reignited in me a passion to return to Africa to continue the work and ministry that God has given him. My ministry with Youth for Christ in Chicago has come to an end. It is a new season of ministry in Nigeria and the United States. I will be the spending summer months in the United States and the rest... Continue reading

My heart is broken and my heart is sad....... Two weeks ago I got the tragic news that one of my team members suffered a major health setback. Andy has been my executive assistant and one of my virtual editors/content creators for the over five years. Andy has edited all my sermons, all my articles and has been a major contributor to my ministry while choosing to be behind the scenes. For the past fives years Andy has been a faithful friend, patient mentor, personal coach, intelligent friend and passionate supporter of my ministry. I love him so much. Please pray for my friend Andy and for God to heal him. Our God is a healer. Andy is just irreplaceable .......but God is a good God and a wise God! I am really sad ..... PRAY FOR ANDY..... On a positive note this past two weeks has been a wonderful week filled with God’s blessings and goodness. 20 students praying to receive Christ in Chicago and preaching seven times in two different states to seven different audiences has been a real joy to my soul. God was SUPER kind to me this October and November and the people of God... Continue reading

My heart is broken and my heart is sad....... Two weeks ago I got the tragic news that one of my team members suffered a major health setback ( a severe stroke... he is my age ...). Andy has been my executive assistant and one of my virtual editors/content creators for the over five years. Andy has edited all my sermons, all my articles and has been a major contributor to my ministry while choosing to be behind the scenes. For the past fives years Andy has been a faithful friend, patient mentor, personal coach, intelligent friend and passionate supporter of my ministry. I love him so much. Please pray for my friend Andy and for God to heal him. Our God is a healer. Andy is just irreplaceable .......but God is a good God and a wise God! I am really sad ..... PRAY FOR ANDY..... On a positive note this past two weeks has been a wonderful week filled with God’s blessings and goodness. 20 students praying to receive Christ in Chicago and preaching seven times in two different states to seven different audiences has been a real joy to my soul. God was SUPER kind to me... Continue reading

Teaching the word of God to teenagers is vital to their development. Only the word of God can change the hearts and minds of teenagers. Let’s connect teenagers to the heart of God by intentionally teaching them the word of God. Continue reading

While we love providing students with a place where they can play basketball, hang out with their friends, play board games, among many other things, our main goal is to introduce them to our Savior. Our biggest desire is for students to enter into a lifelong relationship with Jesus. We take about 5-10 minutes each day to sit down and do a devotional with all of our students. We recently spent a couple of days talking about giving God authority over our lives. That following weekend, we have a student who reached out saying that he wanted to give God authority. This is why we do what we do. Respectfully Pastor James Owolabi #yfcusa #yfcchicago #yfccitylife Continue reading

God is not mad at you!!! Do not make any permanent decisions based on temporary emotions. Life is hard!!God is not angry with you and punishing you because you did not pay your tithe and offering last week. God is not mad at you!!! God is capable of using these hard days to develop character in your life. God is not mad at you!!! Our faith in Christ does not except us from difficult days. You must trust God with the bad days and enjoy the good days. God is not mad at you!!! He has a plan! You are his child. Life is hard. God is good! Trust his plan. This difficult days should draw you closer to your father. He is good and kind father. God is working in your life to make you more like Jesus Christ. You are exactly where God wants you. Trust God with your future. He is large and in charge. God is not mad at you!!! Continue reading

August 28th, 2020. Dear Prayer Partners It’s a new day in America and around the world. It’s a time when Covid 19 is giving us a run for our money and a time when parents are afraid to send their students to our youth center. But even though attendance has dropped, along with some of our support, you must understand that more than ever Covid will not stop us from doing what God has called us to do. In fact, I’m convinced Covid should be a catalyst for us to continue the work we have been given. The Apostle Paul experienced numerous disasters in his life, including being shipwrecked, being jailed, being betrayed by fellow pastors, and even having disagreements with other ministers. However, he did not allow these threats or accusations or arrests to hinder him from God’s calling. I believe Covid 19 could also be a distraction from the enemy to hold us back from doing God’s work. But I also believe true Christian leaders to not allow events in the world to hold them back from serving as they have been called. I’m reminded of the passage in Matthew 14 where Jesus sent His disciples out in... Continue reading

Family! God has been so kind to me lately!!!! He has been teaching me so much lessons about preaching with excellence. Church was awesome this past Sunday! The response to my preaching was very heartwarming from the people of God. It is so good to be given the chance to preach every Sunday this month at my home church (www.thebridge.church). Preaching great sermons demand that the preacher be a student of the word of God and a student of human beings in his geographical location. Anybody can give a talk but it takes a man of God to be the mouth piece of God. Good preaching takes work but great preaching takes great work. The preacher must be studious standing on the shoulders of church scholars and theologians across church history begging God for the anointing and wisdom to precisely communicate the heart of God to the people of God. When I first started serving there, my preaching responsibilities were only twice a month at one of three locations. Preaching is hard work. But now I am scheduled to preach at one of our three locations every Sunday this month!!!! This happened in July 2020 when God challenged me to... Continue reading

Youth for Christ Chicago is so grateful for The Bridge Community Church who allows us to use their facility each week. Things definitely look different with Covid-19; we now do regular temperature checks, wear masks, and more frequently wash/sanitize our hands. Regardless of these changes, students still love getting to connect with their friends in this fun and safe environment! #yfcusa #yfcchicago #yfccitylife Continue reading

Satan hates the American Church. The American church is the most resourced church in the world for the past 20 years. The American church has been the engine behind many movements of God around the world. The devil loves to see the church divided by evil events in the world. The murder of George Floyd is a demonic act of Satan to divide the American Church. George Floyd was killed by a murderer who happened to be wearing a police uniform! He was killed not just because that police officer was racist; he was a cold-hearted, godless sinner. It had the DNA of the devil on the murder scene. We must not subject ourselves to watching this satanic act of violence over and over. It was pure evil, dark and satanic. The officer was a demonic agent who did not grasp that He was made in God’s image with a duty to protect and serve and more significantly that George Floyd also was made in God’s image. Let me be honest! This type of injustice is not unique to America. In my native country of Nigeria and all over Africa, police brutality is rampant and hardly anything is done without... Continue reading

Here are my ten quick observations about racism: Sin is the greatest virus and racism is one of the many symptoms of that virus. Racism is like an unseen symptom that is very real. Racism is not the biggest problem facing America today. Racism is merely a symptom of the greatest problem—that problem being sin. The worst part of experiencing racism is that it can ironically make you a sick racist. Racism is not the cure to Racism. Love will always win. Hate will always lose. Bitterness is not the cure. Christ is the cure to racism. Continue reading

There is a worldwide pandemic caused by an extremely virulent virus that is racing around the globe affecting every country, every people group and every age group. The bad news is there is no vaccination for this affliction. The good news is that there is a cure—a cure that works 100% of the time when the dose is properly administered. I know, because though I succumbed to this virus and suffered the symptoms, I ultimately recovered. Here’s my story. The events that led up to my infection began years ago when I was called to be the interim pastor at a church in Elma, Washington. This was an incredible culmination for a young man from Nigeria who had moved to the state of Washington to earn a seminary degree in order to work in full-time Christian ministry. Before moving into this role in Elma I had been a youth pastor at a church in Belfair, Washington for nine years where I enjoyed amazing love and support. They helped pay for my seminary training and financially supported my journey in my immigration issues in regards to gaining my permanent status. The love I felt from both of these churches was beyond... Continue reading