Apostle Michael Orokpo reveals how his mother’s death in 2010 caused a faith crisis that led him away from God before rediscovering his spiritual calling

The founder of Encounter Jesus Ministry International, Apostle Michael Orokpo, has revealed that the death of his mother in 2010 triggered a profound personal crisis that caused him to abandon his faith for nearly a year.

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The cleric disclosed this during an interview shared on the PriesthoodTV Facebook page, where he spoke candidly about some of the most painful experiences that tested his spiritual convictions.

According to Michael Orokpo, he was deeply committed to Christian ministry at the time, travelling from church to church to preach and actively participating in various church programmes.

The sudden illness and death of his mother, whom he described as a lifelong intercessor, left him devastated and questioning his beliefs.

“I loved God passionately; praying. We were going from church to church, preaching,” he said. “But my mum, whom I knew to have been an intercessor all her life, suddenly fell sick briefly and died.

It broke me so much that I became bitter with God.”

He explained that the grief pushed him into a difficult period during which he distanced himself from spiritual activities.

For nearly a year, he said he returned to worldly habits, including excessive partying and alcohol consumption, as he struggled to process the loss.

Another emotional setback occurred in 2017 when his brother died despite extensive prayers and spiritual interventions. Orokpo said he fasted, prayed and invited other ministers to intercede, but the outcome remained painful.

“It was like an arrow thrust into my soul,” he said, describing how he spent months in grief. He recalled retreating to quiet places where he listened to worship songs and wept as he tried to cope with the loss.

The cleric said he eventually experienced what he described as renewed encounters with God that gradually restored his faith and purpose.

He also revealed that about three years ago he faced another testing period marked by controversies and accusations while actively serving in ministry.

According to him, the challenges initially affected his preaching until he felt spiritually prompted to refocus on prayer and his calling.

Reflecting on the difficult seasons, Orokpo said the experiences ultimately strengthened his resolve and deepened his commitment to his faith.

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“All I live for now is to please God and do the will of God,” he said, adding that the trials reshaped his perspective on life and ministry.