Pastor Bola Adepoju's journey from economics major to international ministry leader proves that purpose can emerge from the most unlikely — and painful — places.
When Bola Adepoju arrived at Spelman College in 1980, fresh from Nigeria, she had little sense of the magnitude of what lay ahead, and her aspirations were refreshingly straightforward.
"My primary goal was simple — earn good grades and secure a stable future," she recalls. Today, four decades later, Pastor Adepoju leads a global ministry that spans continents, has authored nine books, and empowers women across racial and generational divides through her nonprofit organization, Woman on Purpose Inc.
The transformation from economics student to international ministry leader wasn't part of any carefully crafted plan. Instead, it emerged from a crucible of academic excellence, personal trauma, and an unwavering belief that every individual carries untapped potential within.
The Spelman Foundation
"Spelman didn't just educate me; it redefined the horizon of my imagination," Adepoju reflects. As an economics major, she learned analytical skills that would prove invaluable in ministry—how to analyze systems, identify gaps, and devise sustainable solutions. But the real transformation happened beyond the classroom.
"I came not knowing the legacy of accomplished Black women, but soon I was introduced to the likes of Alice Walker, whose words shaped culture, and Marian Wright Edelman, whose advocacy altered the lives of countless children. If they could do it, I realized, so could I."
That realization became prophetic. Today, Pastor Adepoju, C'84, leads multiple ministry initiatives including Project R.E.A.C.H. (Restoring & Empowering A Community's Hope), which aids the homeless and underserved both locally and in Northern Nigeria, including rescuing children from infanticide. Her annual Gathering of the Eagles conference empowers youth and women, while her leadership summit, The Total Makeover, transforms lives across continents.
"Spelman was more than an academic institution — it was a crucible of leadership, intellectual discipline, and social consciousness," she explains. "Perhaps more importantly, I was immersed in a sisterhood that celebrated Black womanhood unapologetically. That affirmation gave me the courage to see ministry not merely as a spiritual endeavor, but as a strategic mission with global implications."
From Servant to Transformational Leader
For years, Adepoju led as what she calls a "servant leader—modeling Christ's humility in washing His disciples' feet." But in 2020, a life-altering experience fundamentally transformed her approach to ministry and leadership.
Pastor Adepoju was kidnapped by rebels—an ordeal that became the subject of her latest book, "Glory in the Wilderness: A Personal Account of Experiencing God in the Darkest of Times." The experience, she says, shifted her from servant leadership to transformational leadership.
"I emerged not only determined to survive but to build a legacy. Woman on Purpose could no longer be just about today; it had to outlive me," she explains. "Now, I lead as a transformational servant—casting vision, modeling integrity, and empowering women to become agents of change."
Finding Glory in the Wilderness
The kidnapping could have ended her ministry. Instead, it became its greatest catalyst. "Wilderness seasons often feel like the unraveling of everything familiar," Adepoju shares. "In the aftermath of my kidnapping, I wasn't thinking about writing a book or teaching a lesson. I was just trying to survive the storm and the trauma."
But in that survival, she discovered something profound. "Glory in the Wilderness emerged not simply as a memoir, but as a declaration: pain does not have the final word. There is purpose in it. Untapped power can be birthed out of it."
Her message to young women facing their own wilderness moments is both tender and fierce:
"To every young woman standing in her own wilderness—whether it’s the pain of rejection, illness, grief, loss, abandonment or invisibility—know this: you are not forsaken. Don’t give pain power over your life and destiny. If you do, it may be hard to take it back! Always remember that pain loses its power when your strengths are revealed in it. This moment is not your ending. Let it shape you, but do not let it define you."
The transformation of trauma into purpose reflects a core belief that drives all of Pastor Adepoju's work: "There is nothing God cannot do. With God on your side, there is nothing you cannot do. The only person who can stop you is YOU!"
Building Bridges Across Divides
Perhaps most remarkably, Pastor Adepoju has built what she calls "a diverse army of women across all age groups, races, and ethnic backgrounds" at a time when cultural and generational divides seem insurmountable. Her approach is rooted in both faith and pragmatism—the kind of strategic thinking her Spelman economics education fostered.
"Bridging generations and cultures is not easy work—but it is sacred work," she explains. "Leading across racial and generational lines begins with humility. I lead with conviction, but not with coercion. The Gospel, at its core, is good news for all people. And it is only good news if we live it with empathy, justice, and truth."
Her methodology is intentional: "I listen to the younger voices, honoring their fresh insight. I honor the wisdom of the elders, who have paved the way. And I stand in the middle—interpreting, translating, unifying. That's the work of a bridge."
A Legacy in Motion
Today, Pastor Adepoju's influence extends far beyond her Atlanta base. Through PBA Global Outreach and the Bola Adepoju Empowerment Initiative in Nigeria, she leads evangelistic platforms focused on soul-winning and empowering underserved communities. Her monthly programs like Command Your Month Prayer and Voice of Glory deliver prophetic messages to prepare the Church for what she calls "end-time Kingdom work."
Her professional credentials, including an MBA from Atlanta University and certifications in human resource, complement her ministerial calling, reflecting the analytical approach to ministry that began in her Spelman economics classes.
Married to Dr. Olatunde Adepoju, a Morehouse College graduate, and blessed with adult children and grandchildren, Pastor Adepoju embodies the integrated life her Spelman education envisioned — one where academic excellence, professional achievement, and spiritual calling reinforce rather than compete with each other.
"Spelman taught me how to build with heart, soul, and strategy," she reflects. "That foundation has become the blueprint for a global ministry grounded in transformation and legacy."
From a young Nigerian student with simple aspirations to an international ministry leader who transforms trauma into triumph, Pastor Bola Adepoju's journey exemplifies the Spelman tradition of producing women who don't just succeed — they transform the world around them.