God Was Preparing Something Greater!
"June of 2025, I attended my weekend. At the end of the weekend, I felt comforted and ready to go in whatever direction the Lord had for me. I felt washed and renewed."
I am from Nigeria and have been a pastor for close to a decade in my church in Nigeria. I started pastoring when I was 24, leading different small groups in my church. I attended several retreats, and equally organized others. However, I needed to be in the US because my wife is a student at the U of A. It is not good for a man to be alone :), and it was the right step to be with her through her study. So, I left everything behind to start again in the US. To keep myself sane, my pastor back home consistently assigned discipleship responsibilities to me for some of our church members in the diaspora. Yet before I left Nigeria, the Lord led me to start praying John chapter 17, the same prayers of Jesus Christ for the church. On getting to the US, I found that it wasn’t just me praying- it was the Lord preparing me for a bigger responsibility, some of which are still unfolding.
I arrived here on December 6, 2024, from Nigeria, as a Nigerian with no affiliation to the US outside my master’s degree from Princeton in 2021. A few weeks after my arrival, I found J17 Ministries and all their programs and partnerships, including John 17 Weekend. I had no idea what that weekend was about, but I was interested in going for a retreat where I could talk to the Lord about my desire to serve Him actively here in the US, and to seek Him on what direction He wants me to go.
My heart cry was: “Lord, I do not want to labor like a fool. I do not want to just exist in this country without impact.”
My heart was heavy with those words. I had lots of questions, especially as the Lord brought me to be in the US with my wife. And then finding out that in June of 2025, my wife was leaving the US for a year, for academic purpose, and it was going to be just me. I felt confused, not knowing exactly what the Lord was doing with me. "You brought me to the US to be with my wife, yet she will go to another country, and yet You want me to stay in the US?" My heart’s posture was, “Lord, how does this work? I do not understand.”
I felt both legally and spiritually trapped.
My John 17 Weekend
Additionally, I am in the US on a student spousal visa, so I can’t get a job that will keep me very busy. I could only volunteer. In other words, I felt both legally and spiritually trapped. I felt like Jeremiah: “Lord, you have deceived me, and I am now deceived…” (Jer.20:7). I felt I could have just been in Nigeria doing good works for You without having to worry about where I will live, or what I will do. But in all of these, the Lord was preparing something greater.
June of 2025, I attended my weekend. Yes, it was my weekend!
Yet, with heavy burdens on my heart, looking for answers to questions I could not even put together correctly, I worshipped the Lord with the brothers. It was such a joy to be able to fellowship with people with a variety of life experiences and states of heart. We were all in different stages of our lives, yet the Lord sent His Word, and He healed us all.
I remember the conversation I had with one of the spiritual directors. The Lord used it to realign my life and to show what His plans were for me.
At the end of the weekend, I felt comforted and ready to go in whatever direction the Lord had for me. I felt washed and renewed.
So, my caution to you if you want to attend the weekend: Don’t come if you are not ready for the Lord to be Lord of your life. I left the weekend with renewed vision and assurance that God is with me and He is leading me in the path that I must walk.
God's Vision for my Life
I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go into the house of the Lord.” But now, I understand why I was glad. I went looking for answers, and I left with renewed vision and assurance that God is with me and is leading me in the path that I must walk. I was not just glad I attended John 17 Weekend. I was glad because I had encountered the Lord. I left with God’s vision for my life.
The same June of 2025, after the retreat, I was on a prayer walk, and the Lord began to help me understand what He wants me to do here in the US, one of which is a ministry to teachers in public schools.
It has been over a year now since I attended my weekend, and I still remember the conversation that changed my life like it was a second ago.
With all my heart, I invite you to come to the John 17 Weekend. It’s not for those who are strong in faith, or for those who are weak in faith, or for those who have no faith. It is for everyone who wants to have a deep, intentional relationship with the Lord. He will meet you too.
COME!
Adedayo Adebayo
J17 Ministries Digital and Social Media
meet the team
Name and Role with J17 Ministries: Lisa Byl, John 17 Weekends Rep
About: I've lived in Tucson, most of my life. I've been married to Art for 21 years and we have a blended family of 7. Our youngest is 15 year old Charlie (Charlotte). I presently work part-time at my church, Desert Hope Lutheran, as the "Family & Ministries Coordinator" and I LOVE that.
And I have a deep passion for Christian Unity, so I love to explore that whenever possible, in my work at my church.
What do you enjoy in your free time?: I really love to read, especially historical fiction. I have also recently discovered 3D puzzles and love putting those together. And then, my family looks for every opportunity to camp and fish, off-grid with our two labs, Brodie and Sage.
What drew you to be part of Jesus' Prayer in John 17?: I grew up understanding that it was every church's responsibility to meet every need of their parishioners and neighborhood people. So, it was such a light bulb moment for me to see that Christians could focus on what we have in common and not what things divide us. We can work together to meet the needs of our congregations, neighborhoods and city. And most importantly, share the Good News of Jesus to those that don't know it yet. I have loved working with other churches with our youth ministries, Grief Share, worship teams and Pastoral swaps every once in awhile on a Sunday.
Is there a specific moment, event, or relationship through J17 that has impacted you?: John 17 Weekends have been a wonderful tool for church unity in Tucson. While the 3-day Weekend Retreats offer an opportunity for personal reconnection to God, it also offers an opportunity to worship and share with Christians from all over southern Arizona. It's a wonderful time to lean in and practice Christian Unity.
Favorite Scripture or life verse: Psalm 23:1 "God, my shepherd! I don't need a thing." (The Message translation)
Favorite snack, or "go-to" treat: Black Dark Roast Coffee, either hot or iced
