By Vera Wisdom-Bassey
Canadian-based Bishop, Funmi Tayo-Ajimoko, President of Balm of Joy Humanitarian Foundation, was recently in Lagos, Nigeria, where she shared insights into her remarkable spiritual journey, her calling into ministry, and the humanitarian work that has taken her across continents.
In an encounter with Sunday Sun, she opened up about her early struggles, her decision to leave a profitable life in banking and oil trading, and how divine instructions transformed her life and calling.
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-1718806029429-0’); });
Bishop Funmi’s story begins with abundance, but not fulfilment. “I made a lot of money while I was in Ghana,” she recalled. “I had diesel contracts with Shell Petroleum and managed nearly 50 trucks. I was in banking before that, and money wasn’t my problem. But I was never happy.
“God told me, ‘If you will not do my will, I will not leave you alone.’ Once I accepted His call, peace entered my life.”
This life-changing instruction led her to abandon all her businesses and fully embrace her divine assignment. “It wasn’t easy,” she admitted. “What is the essence of making money when your heart is empty?” she asked tearfully. “Today, even with less, I am fulfilled because I am doing what I was called to do.”
Her foundation, Balm of Joy Humanitarian Foundation, now impacts lives in Nigeria, Ghana, Europe, and North America. Though she lives in Canada, her philanthropic work reaches thousands back home through trusted local partners. “I may not know each person individually, but I have structures in place. My Nigerian coordinator, Rev. Edna Essien, supervises our operations, gives me reports, and ensures that women, widows, orphans, and vulnerable groups receive care and support.”
Funmi believes her mission is unique. “God gave me a very specific assignment: to host what He called a Royal Banquet. But not the kind where you invite friends who can return the favour. He said, ‘Give to those who cannot repay you.’ That’s what true evangelism looks like.”
For her, charity is not about being recognized. “So many people do good for clout or because they want to be seen,” she said. “But everything I do comes from my pocket, and from the support of my husband and children. God instructed me not to ask anyone for money. My assignment must be done in obedience.”
She has been offered awards and honours over the years, but she declines many of them. “If I have to pay for an award, I don’t want it. I believe if I’m truly deserving, it will come. Let the award match the work I’ve done, not my ability to pay for recognition.”
Despite her global reach, Bishop Funmi admits that walking in divine calling hasn’t always been easy. “Every day, I feel like giving up. Sometimes, I can’t even pray. But I just call out to God and say, ‘If you’ve called me, please help me.’ And He always shows up.”
Interestingly, her ordination as a bishop wasn’t something she pursued. “One day, I felt the urge to return to school. Then a respected female minister told me, ‘Some of us are watching you—step up into ministry.’ That’s how the bishopric came. I didn’t chase titles; I chased the work.”
She’s aware that some people question the idea of a female bishop. “That’s their problem,” she said firmly. “God gave us dominion over the earth. But religion has placed boundaries on women that have blocked the move of the Holy Spirit. That’s why miracles are scarce in some churches; there are too many man-made doctrines. The Spirit of God cannot move freely.”
Born in Nigeria, Bishop Funmi was adopted and raised by a woman she calls ‘mum.’ The emotional impact of her adoption still lingers. “I don’t know my mother. I later found out who my father was, but the pain never fully left. Being adopted comes with a deep emotional wound that many don’t understand. It limited me in ways people can’t see. But I found healing in the Word of God. The Bible gave me peace.”
To others going through the pain of abandonment or rejection, she advised: “The Bible is the only thing that gave me peace. I read it cover to cover. Every day it brings fresh insight. If you are struggling, bury yourself in it. It heals.”
Today, she lives in Canada and balances family life, being a wife and mother of three, with her international ministry. “I work with the Holy Spirit. Everything I do, I do by divine instruction. I don’t know most people I help, but by trust and divine connection, the work gets done.”
Her foundation was formally registered in 2014, but her journey of service began long before that. “I started at the age of 12. But ministry is a journey, you grow into it. Only God can elevate you.”
Her final message is simple but profound: “When you pray, don’t just expect the answer, listen. God speaks to those who hear. And when He calls, answer. Because peace only comes when you are in the centre of His will.”
The post Why I gave up wealth for life of impact – Bishop Tayo-Ajimoko appeared first on The Sun Nigeria.
