By Moses Nosike
Pastor Nonnie Roberson is the resident pastor of Revival Assembly Church. She  is a woman with a divine mandate.  She uses her God-given talents to impact on humanity. She believes women can achieve their rightful positions in leadership and become great achievers in life .

Pastor Nonnie Roberson is a wife, mother, writer and publisher. She is also the coordinator for Women for Change Initiative, a Peace Ambassador and Consultant for John Hopkins University, USA.
How do you combine being a mother and publisher with your gospel ministry?

God’s grace and wisdom have been available to me. I have four children: JJ, Jessica, Jeozinna and Dabanana. I’m married to Pastor Joseph Roberson, a retired U.S Military veteran. My husband and children were living in Nigeria but now he and my two older children are living in the States. I am here presently in Nigeria with my set of twins.

Our first ministry is the home and it has not been easy because I travel to US for every birthday. I have to be there for my teenagers. You cannot save the world at the expense of your children. Even when I know and understand that my core assignment for now is in Nigeria, I don’t have to abandon my family.

I am the publisher of Lipstick and Tie, a first contemporary Christian magazine of its kind which is affiliated with high powered internationally acknowledged Christian writers like Mitchelle Mckinney Hammond, Juanita Bynum, Apostle Anselm Madubuko and many more.

Pastor Nonnie Roberson

The reason for this type of magazine is to help Christians come out of their hiding places. It’s a thought- provoking magazine which is for men and women. It deals with all the areas that affects their lives; we talk about sex, infidelity, homosexuality, body piercing, we don’t mince words. It’s not a religious magazine. Instead, it seeks a well balanced holistic approach to trends, fashion, skin care, top international models and musicians. It showcases Christian men and women who are doing very well in their various sectors.

As an Abuja coordinator for Women for Change Initiative, what is your motive and what has been the achievements of the Initiative so far?

I am an advocate of change who believes that Nigerian women can prosper in politics. We have danced enough at political rallies, we must have our fingers in all pies in this country. You can minister to God and your people in politics; you can be a professional and still be on a divine assignment. Whatever you find yourself doing as a woman, you have to take it as your means of contributing to the development of your environment.

I am interested in Nigeria and a better Nigeria for the masses, not for some isolated few. In that respect, you may consider me political in my thinking. After all, the Bible says: The government shall be upon His shoulders. So, even as a pastor, I must keep abreast of what is going on in my political environment. How do we effect change if we are not involved? Joseph, Daniel, and other prophets all occupied political offices. The two offices go hand in hand. From my antecedents, I have little time to waste on things that do not add or bring value to people’s lives.When I was called as one of the pioneering members to bring a preamble to set up the core objectives of the initiative, I had to prayerfully sought the face of the Lord because I didn’t want to be part of a project that was not from God. I also had to know the real focus of the mother of this our great nation who is Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan . I saw the genuineness and the realness in her. I saw a woman who loves her husband, the nation and womanhood. She is a woman who loves children. Her intentions and heart were genuine. I didn’t hesitate in giving it my all.

The Women for Change Initiative is all about being a voice for women in all sectors : political and social empowerment for women at all levels. Women have been misrepresented and unable to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. Oftentimes, we are the subject of abuse, rejection, widowhood malpractices and a host of other evils in the society.

Though it is good to turn to God through the church or mosque for help, we can also look outward and be a part of the change in our environment. We worked tirelessly on this project, and have gotten the international exposure. Also my long history as a crusader with strong international affiliation and spokesperson on gender issues helped many of the international associations I’m affiliated with to know that Women for Change Initiative and development is a cause that has come to stay.

With the increase in the percentage of female Ministers and Special advisers and appointments of women to boards and parastatals, it is obvious that women are making headway in the agitation to be a part of the decision making process. The FCT chapter of the Women for Change Initiative is on an advocacy that will ensure that round pegs are put in round holes, while also educating women, especially those in the grass roots, on politics, elections and democracy.

We’d like to thank Mr. President and Dame Goodluck Jonathan for moving women forward. He has fulfilled his promise to promote women in political offices.

What do you think the Nigerian women need to gain their position in government and what does it take for a woman to achieve things like men?

First of all, a woman who desires and have a passion to serve in government should work tirelessly towards that goal in an ethical manner. She has to be prepared, and live each day as if she’s going somewhere. She has to develop character, because your gift can make room for you but your character is what sustains you. Take time and harness the gifts inside you and live each day as if someone is watching you with a mirror, guard your reputation and integrity at all cost, don’t sell your birthright, because once you mess up your integrity, there’s hardly a second chance by man. God can forgive you but men never forget. Be pro-active and assertive especially in national issues, those affecting government; and when the time comes, you will be announced. In my world as a female clergy, I’ve been asked so many times how I’ve been able to conquer the discrimination meted out to women by men even in the religious circle where some still do not fully accept women as clergy, I usually respond by saying: when you call yourself and when your time has not come, you struggle. My Apostolic leader, Apostle Anselm Madubuko has a favourite saying,“there is no man as dangerous as man or woman whose time has come.”

I interpret that to mean that any man or woman whose time has come cannot be opposed; not your words and not your ministry. The oil that is on your head and life will speak for you. God has given me great favour with men and Himself. I came with a mandate and an assignment from God and God who handed it to me will ensure he makes room for me. I am well respected among the clergy.

I radiate God’s glory. Even if you are blind, you will know I carry Him. His anointing is very evident in my life. The oil on my head announces me.

When do you have time for writing considering the above mentioned responsibilities and why are you into writing?

I think when something is important to you, you always create time. Writing is an outlet for me, and it is therapeutic. I write under inspiration and it’s a means of escape, as well as educating and making a difference in someone’s life. When I write, it’s very real for me. I find myself living in the scenes of my write -ups. Many times when I settle down to read my work, I often wonder if they actually came from me! Writing is one of those gifts I didn’t even know I had, something I stumbled upon(laughs). It’s communicating and my style is unique to me. I have a very creative mind and most times , I don’t even know what I will be writing about but once I hit the key board, I am lost until I finish.

Then its waoh, where did that come from? I pass a message through my writings. I have found out that my writings come as a captivating story line with easy read but once you are captivated, bamm! I give you whatever medicine I want you to take.

How do you go about as a peace Ambassador and consultant?

I woke up one morning to become a peace ambassador (Laughs). I guess when God wants to raise you up; nothing will stand in your way. When we do certain things, we do not know who is watching and when it is time to be given the necessary rewards for our actions, that is when we know that people are watching us. I am happy that I have been found worthy to be chosen. The duty of a Peace Ambassador comes with immense responsibility to maintain and encourage peace and harmony in our communities and the world at large. I am happy to be a part of this cause and I am grateful to those that found me worthy to be an ambassador for peace.

I do believe in the Nigerian state and came back to serve and ensure I am part of the kind of good change we all want to see in our country. I am sold out to my mandate, for which reason I was born.

No pain, no gain. It’s a sacrifice, giving a voice to the voiceless, seeing drug addicts, prostitutes, homosexuals, those that the world has written off, the hopeless and the rejected . The dejected receive the love of Christ and living a transformed life has really given me a beautiful different perspective to life.

As a consultant for Johns Hopkins university, an Ivy league university among the best 10 in the whole world, I assisted in organizing and anchoring the first world pneumonia day celebration in Nigeria. I also assisted and anchored NGOs in getting grants, working with many international donor agencies. I help to package NGOs for grants. I am a strong advocate on curbing maternal/infant mortality rate and also for our nation to get vaccines free. All other nations have free pneumonia, diarrhea preventive vaccines except Nigeria but we are working towards getting it now.