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Fifty-eight-year-old Pastor Funmilola Abraham, Regional Overseer at the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, speaks to GRACE EDEMA about how she conceived and was delivered of twins after waiting for 24 years..CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
When did you get married?
I got married on March 31, 2001. It has been 24 years since then, and I was 57 years old when I gave birth to my children. I am 58 years old now.
What do you think must have delayed your conception after marriage?
In 2002, I had surgery to remove fibroids. The doctor assured me that everything looked fine. My husband also went for medical checks, and everything was perfect. But since then, we’ve had no comfort; we kept moving from one hospital to another, hoping for a solution.
I’ve done the procedure known as ‘flushing’ almost 10 times, but still, no comfort. Eventually, in 2019, I decided to go for IVF. By God’s grace, it worked, and I became pregnant with triplets.
But five months into the pregnancy, the doctors said the babies had a heartbeat problem. Their hearts weren’t functioning properly. So, I had to evacuate the pregnancy. They did a D&C for me, and I lost the triplets.
What action did you take after the disappointment?
Later, I tried another round of IVF, but it didn’t succeed. At that point, I just looked up to God and said, ‘Lord, I’ve done everything humanly possible, but nothing has worked.’
So, I put my full trust in God and focused entirely on my ministry. From the beginning, I never backed down from my calling. I continued doing what God asked me to do.
I forgot about myself and the problem. But as a woman, my mind still went there from time to time. Whenever it did, I would cry—sometimes openly, sometimes silently. Often, I would just sit quietly and stare into space.
I’ve never seen it written anywhere in the Bible that a woman must have children to enter heaven. That truth comforts me. If I can still make heaven without children, then it’s okay. That’s what gives me peace now—I no longer look back.
All I pray for now is that in my old age, God will take care of me. That’s my constant prayer: ‘Lord, just take care of me.’
Some people often assume that when an older woman gives birth, it must have been through IVF and then tag it as a miracle. What is your response to this?
When we talk about IVF, we must first acknowledge that it was God who gave people the knowledge to develop such a process. Yes, God gave scientists the wisdom to put things together and come up with IVF.
Now, in the case of a woman of advanced age like me, if she goes for IVF, the doctors will usually say her eggs are no longer viable. The eggs are weak and may not be able to produce a healthy child, and because of that, they often recommend using the egg of a younger woman.
They will then combine that younger egg with the husband’s sperm. After fertilization, they implant the embryo into the older woman’s womb.
So, when we look at it, some may say, ‘Oh, that’s not natural.’ But in reality, it’s still a better option than remaining without a child at all. At least your husband’s bloodline is still involved, and in some cases, the woman’s body carries and nurtures the baby.
Even in that process, it is still God who helps because IVF is not easy. I’ve gone through it, so I know. It’s not just about the money—it costs a lot physically, emotionally, and spiritually. You have to take drugs, inject yourself, and go through procedures. It’s a serious journey.
During my IVF process, I wasn’t the only one. Many of us tried, but not all of us carried our babies. Some people even died along the way. So, for anyone to come out of it with a testimony, it is only God who made it possible.
When someone says, “It is God who did it,” even if they went through IVF, they are not wrong because without God, that process cannot succeed.
How did you conceive naturally?
At the 2023 crossover into 2024, while people were shouting Happy New Year, I would be on my knees, crying to God. I would tell Him, ‘Lord, I want to carry Your presence into the New Year. I’m standing between the old year and the new, connecting to great things.’
Within that period, a woman came to me. She was also seeking the fruit of the womb. I prayed for her and encouraged her.
Later, someone mentioned a place where a matron lives. They said she had helped many women. I was very cautious because I didn’t want to go anywhere that would bring future problems.
Eventually, I told the woman I prayed for to go and try. Within a month, she came back to me and told me she was pregnant. She didn’t even know I was also trusting God for a child.
Did you finally meet the matron for treatment?
I later went to meet the matron. That’s how the treatment began. She inserted some medicine into my body, both orally and vaginally. It wasn’t cheap either; it cost money. But she continued with the process.
That day, we also prayed. It was just prayer. When I slept with my husband, within two weeks, I started feeling different. In fact, before the love-making, because of the drugs she gave me, I could already tell that my ovulation was active.
When did you put to bed?
Yes, they were born on March 12, 2025.
How did you feel at that time, being the one constantly praying for others—seeing them come back after nine months to dedicate their babies while you were without a child?
You see, in this journey, I just thank God. I’ve prayed so many times in my life. Whether in rain or sunshine, I’ve followed Christ. I carry my cross and follow Him with all my heart.
So, I already settled it in my spirit long ago: whether God answers or doesn’t answer in the way I expect, I cannot go back. I’ve given my life fully to Him.
Yes, I’ve seen people, many of them—who have received their testimonies through me. There’s a woman I prayed for; she had four children. Four!
There were even times I would go to the hospital and be given drugs, and I would end up recommending or giving them to others. They would use them and get pregnant and give birth. I rejoiced with them every single time.
That’s why my testimony shocked people. When I finally gave birth, some people looked at me and said, ‘You mean you haven’t had children all this while?’ They couldn’t believe it.
Each time I pray for people and the Lord answers them, I truly rejoice with them. But somewhere deep inside, something would whisper to me, ‘God, please—see how you answered them, answer me too. Let my joy come.’
Some people believe that if they’re expecting babies from God, they must reject medicine completely and so they don’t explore medical options. Do you think that’s a good decision?
I was even talking to a younger friend recently. She said if someone undergoes IVF, they shouldn’t talk too much about it. I said, ‘Why not?’
So, I want people to understand: it is not a lack of faith to use medicine. God is the one who gives knowledge. It’s still His mercy and His hand that brings results—whether through prayer alone or with the help of medicine.
I just want to advise people. Our God is a God of blessing. Everything we are asking Him for, He has already made provision for it.
We must believe that. All these prayers we’re praying—God has heard them. But we also need to take steps, because if you don’t take a step, you can remain stuck. The same thing applies to those trusting God for the fruit of the womb.
If you don’t check yourself medically, how will you know what the problem is? There are many hidden things that could be hindering conception. I speak from personal experience. For instance, I had infections that I didn’t know about. I had fibroids.
So, medical intervention is extremely important alongside prayer. You can’t separate the two. Both work hand-in-hand.
When it comes to IVF, I always advise people: if you’re considering it, try to do it early—between the ages of 35 and 40. That’s when your chances are better. If someone wants to attempt IVF at 60 or 65, only God’s mercy can make it work.
I wasn’t the only one who went through IVF. We were about 12 of us doing it around the same time. None of us had a successful result then. We all went our separate ways. I remember when I was crying, the doctor told me clearly: ‘IVF works better for younger people. It’s very difficult at your age.’
How did your in-laws react to your delivery?
Prayer and good behaviour helped me a lot. The way you carry yourself matters. My character and the way I behave have gone a long way. My in-laws couldn’t say anything negative about my situation.
The only thing they ever said was, ‘God will do it.’ Sometimes, they were even the ones encouraging me. My mother-in-law encouraged me, my father-in-law too. My sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law—they were all supportive.
Why was it so despite your situation?
Because anytime there was something to do in the family, I was always in front—taking responsibility. Even when others didn’t want to, I stepped in. I brought my mother-in-law to my house and took care of her as if she were my mother.
The same with my father-in-law; every month, I made sure we sent money for his needs—even though he had another woman who didn’t even know me. We had already sent money to the hospital for his checkups before she could say a word.
So, when people see that kind of kindness, they say, ‘This woman is good, and she’s spiritually sound too.’ Why would they then cause trouble for me? They just believed that everything was in God’s hands.
So, when the miracle happened, it was joy everywhere. Those who were abroad, in Lagos, at home—all of them came back rejoicing. It was a celebration no one could forget.
But the truth is that what kept me standing all these years was prayer and character. Without character, if you don’t have a child, people won’t tolerate you. That’s just the reality.
How about your husband?
Thank God for my husband—he’s a born-again Christian. At a point, I even told him, ‘Go and get another woman from the village, like Sarah did.’ But he said, ‘What do you mean? Didn’t I see the village before I married you? I’m not going anywhere.’CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
