Today, we joyfully celebrate the 58th birthday of two remarkable women of God, twin sisters whose lives and ministries continue to shape countless destinies across the globe — Pastor Jane (Omar) Pela and Pastor Joy Amenkhienan.
About Pastor Jane (Omar) Pela
Pastor Jane Pela serves as Co-Pastor of The Grace Trybe (formerly House of Grace), Lagos, Nigeria. She is also a gifted songwriter and author, using her unique voice and pen to minister life and hope to the body of Christ. Her ministry has blessed many with the simplicity of the Word and the richness of heartfelt worship.
About Pastor Joy Amenkhienan
Pastor Joy Amenkhienan serves as the Director of International Missions for South-East Asia at Christ Embassy. A devoted minister of the Gospel, she is known for her passion, zeal, and unwavering dedication to the vision of the ministry under her Man of God, Rev. Chris Oyakhilome.
On this special occasion, we thank God for His faithfulness over both their lives. We pray for greater grace, increased strength, and multiplied wisdom as they continue to shine brightly in God’s Kingdom.
Pastor Joy’s Powerful Testimony of Salvation
In her own words, Pastor Joy Amenkhienan recounts the unforgettable day her life was transformed forever:
“I am eternally grateful to my Man of God, Pastor Chris, for the opportunity to share my testimony of salvation.”
It was September 1985. Pastor Joy’s father had taken her in his car to visit her twin sister Jane, who was then attending a different higher institution. Unknown to her, God had orchestrated this trip for her eternal destiny.
Upon arrival, Pastor Joy met her sister in the hallway of the hostel. Pastor Jane, already born again for six months, invited her into her room and began to share about a recent program with Pastor Chris. Looking at her sister — frail but full of conviction — Pastor Joy wondered at her countenance until Jane suddenly asked the question that would change her life:
“Are you born again?”
Feeling uneasy and unsure, Pastor Joy hesitated. But Jane pressed further:
“You must be born again!”
Though she didn’t fully understand, Pastor Joy responded yes and prayed to receive Jesus into her heart. She recalls:
“Looking back now, I know God was in that room reconciling me to Himself that day. I asked Jesus to come into my heart, and immediately I felt like a new me.”
On their way home, an extraordinary moment occurred. While attempting to answer her father’s casual remark, she spoke in tongues for the first time, not even realizing she had been filled with the Holy Spirit at salvation. Her father, shocked, asked what language it was. To avoid suspicion, she kept quiet, but the fire within her could not be contained.
That same day, she led five of her siblings — Peter, Paul, Ewaen, Ota, and Sophia — to Christ, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Soon after, she also led her aunt (her father’s sister) to Christ.
Her father, however, resisted her newfound faith. For 48 hours, he pressured her to renounce Christ, even refusing to pay her school fees, saying:
“Since you refused to renounce your faith, let Jesus pay your school fees.”
Yet Pastor Joy stood firm, boldly proclaiming her salvation. From that day, she became known for her fervency, zeal, and flamboyant expression of faith — qualities that continue to define her ministry today.
“By the grace of God, I’ve been expressive, fervent, exuberant, and even flamboyant about my salvation. Hallelujah!”
A Double Celebration of Grace
As we celebrate these two remarkable sisters — Pastor Jane and Pastor Joy — we thank God for their unique journeys, their powerful ministries, and their unshakable love for Christ. Their story reminds us of the beauty of God’s grace and the ripple effect one soul’s salvation can bring to an entire household and beyond.
May the Lord continue to bless, keep, and lift them higher in every dimension of life and ministry.
Happy 58th Birthday, Ma’s!
With heartfelt love, prayers, and celebration.
