Pastor Sarah Omakwu, senior pastor of Family Worship Centre in Abuja, has led a solemn reflection following the death of veteran Nollywood actor Francis Duru, using the occasion to urge Christians to take their health seriously and avoid treating medical care as contrary to faith.
During a mourning service at the church, Pastor Omakwu expressed her grief over the actor’s death, describing it as a painful loss for the church community. She said the congregation needed to pause rather than continue with its usual activities as though nothing had happened.
“Something terrible has happened to us today. And we cannot continue. We cannot. We must just pause. If it is just to sit quiet before the Lord, let us be quiet,” she said.
The pastor disclosed that Duru had been part of Family Worship Centre for many years, recalling that he joined around 1997 or 1998.
She also revealed that he had told her about an illness around that period and had been managing it.
“He had told me about this illness around that time. It’s a long time ago. He had been managing it,” she said, adding that she could not remember whether she had followed up with him about his condition.
Reflecting on the loss, Omakwu admitted that people sometimes see one another in church without asking important questions about their wellbeing.
“You just see people and you don’t ask questions. We should ask questions. And say, ‘How are you doing? Are you feeling better? Are you taking your medication?’” she said.
‘He was 57 years old. That is before his time’
The pastor referred to Isaiah 57:1 and Psalm 90:12 while urging the congregation to reflect on the brevity of life and the importance of making their days count.
She described Duru’s death at 57 as a death before his time and said the church should take the loss seriously rather than simply moving on with its regular programmes.
“I don’t want