Theophilus Sunday is not just a singer, but a worshipper who leads 1Spirit, a ministry that has a vision to prepare the church for the second coming of Jesus Christ.
His style of worship music is unique and powerful, as he blends contemporary and traditional elements, and creates an atmosphere of God’s presence.
His unique fusion of traditional melodies and modern beats creates an artistic expression that is culturally unique to the Igala tribe in Nigeria.
Sharing his journey from being a drummer and choir member to becoming a music leader and pastor, Sunday said only God could have taken him this far.
He revealed that his passion for music and God was ignited when he was a boy, after watching a preacher singing worship song on television. He said he was so moved by the worship that he felt a connection with God and made a vow to him not to sell his song.
“I could remember back then, when I was a boy, I was up at night watching a preacher singing, and smitten in worship, I promised God not to sell my song,” he said.
He said he did not have a childhood dream of being a musician, but he discovered his love and talent for singing and drumming at an early age. He said he started music as a singer who loved drumming more, and he was being led by others as a choir member or a member of 1Spirit. “I started music as a singer who loved drumming more. I was being led for a large part of my life as a choir member, or even a member of 1Spirit,” he said.
On becoming the team leader of 1Spirit and the music director of his home church, Peculiar Church of Glory, Sunday said 1Spirit is not a music ministry, but a burden in God’s heart to see the church married to him, pure and spotless without wrinkles. He said the musical arm of 1Spirit is a bait to call the church into this burden of God.
“To start with, I’ve reiterated over and over that 1Spirit is not a music ministry. 1Spirit is a burden in the heart of the father to see that the church is married to him, pure and spotless without wrinkles. The musical arm of 1Spirit is the trappings of God placed in us as a bait to call the church into this burden of God,” he said.
Speaking on his growing up days, he said faced some difficulties in his previous church, UEC, because of his unconventional way of life and ministry. He said he left the church after God directed him to seek spiritual parenting elsewhere.
“Well, for me…my style of dress and way of life as a christian youth with exuberance betrayed me at UEC being an orthodox church…I won’t say I had an issue with the church, I must say that it was my unconventional way of life and ministry that made me not stay long there coupled with God’s direction for spiritual parenting…Many challenges. I tell you. If you travel frequently, you should be able to relate…God’s been helping,” he said.
He said being in the spotlight has constrained him of a lot of things, such as being casual and having time for himself.
He said he is still friends with most of the people who were with him before stardom, and they are part of his ministry. “I loved being as casual as possible, putting on my shorts, living so fly just enjoying God; at least the life in the spirit affords us that luxury. However, being in the open has constrained me of a whole lot of things like I mentioned earlier…Yes, yes! As a matter of fact, most of them are in the ministry,” he said.