Willis Raburu Opens Up About the Impact of Church Model on Him During His Toughest Times

Media personality Willis Raburu recently opened up about his deeply personal experiences, revealing how his faith and relationship with the church were tested during some of the darkest periods of his life.

In an interview on Ofweneke’s ‘Lessons @30’ YouTube segment, Willis discussed the profound pain he experienced following the loss of his daughter and his subsequent divorce from Marya Prude.

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Previously, Willis was actively involved in Jubilee Christian Church (JCC), frequently sharing his experiences there. However, he explained that after his divorce, he felt hurt by the church’s rigid stance on divorce, particularly the belief that ‘God hates divorce.’

He expressed his frustration with the church’s model, stating, “The church model—specifically the notion that God hates divorce—was hurtful. People cling to that without understanding its historical context, where it was meant to address situations where people were abandoning their spouses without support.”

Willis elaborated on the emotional toll this took on him. “After being active in the church and then going through a divorce, it felt like the church viewed me differently. It’s as if they couldn’t accept me anymore because I was no longer in a relationship, which was what they endorsed.”

He also recounted the most painful moment of his life—the death of his daughter, Adana. On December 31, 2019, Willis and Marya were expecting their baby at the hospital when their joy turned to sorrow as their daughter was pronounced dead at birth.

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“The lowest moment was finding out my daughter wouldn’t survive. Holding her and realizing she wasn’t breathing was a pain like no other,” Willis said, his voice trembling with emotion.

The grief from this loss made Willis question his faith. He described a moment of deep despair, sitting alone and doubting the existence of God. “I told God, ‘I don’t believe you exist. A just God wouldn’t let this happen.’ We took a break from our relationship, but now we’re okay.”

Following his daughter’s death, Willis and Marya divorced, and the combination of grief and separation led him into a severe depression. He even considered suicide as a means to reunite with his daughter.

“I thought about suicide because I wanted to be with my daughter. It was a dark time, and my therapist had to intervene, leading others to check up on me,” he shared.

Willis emphasized the importance of a strong support system, noting the value of friends who accept you in all states—happy, sad, or angry—and who stand by you even when you reveal your deepest struggles.