Why I stopped Attending Church For More Than 10 Years - Actor Yemi Solade

Nollywood Actor, Yemi Solade

Why Yemi Solade Stopped Attending Church for Over a Decade

Veteran Nollywood actor Yemi Solade recently opened up about his decision to stop attending church services for more than ten years, a choice rooted in a deeply personal experience that challenged his professional life and peace of mind.

Speaking candidly on the Honest Bunch Podcast, Solade recounted a pivotal moment in 2013 that led to his withdrawal from regular church attendance. 

During a Sunday service he attended with his wife, the pastor of his then-church instructed him to stop accepting acting roles scheduled on Sundays. For Solade, this directive struck a nerve, it directly interfered with his livelihood, the very work that sustained him and enabled him to contribute financially to the church.

He explained that the pastor’s demand made him uncomfortable and prompted a reevaluation of how faith should coexist with personal and professional responsibilities. 

Solade emphasized that his decision was not a rejection of spirituality but a conscious move to avoid what he described as unhealthy pressures from church activities. He noted that the constant demands from church committees and programs had begun to consume his time and energy, leaving little room for his family and career.

Since stepping away from church, Solade said his life has remained stable and, in many ways, more peaceful. He dismissed the widely held belief that life deteriorates without regular church attendance, asserting that he has experienced no such decline. Instead, he found clarity and calm, free from the “messages and disturbances” that once accompanied his church-going routine.

“If you see me in a church, it’s probably because we’re filming,” he remarked, underscoring the shift in his relationship with religious institutions.

Solade’s reflections reveal a nuanced perspective on faith, one that prioritizes personal growth, mental well-being, and professional integrity over rigid religious expectations.