Founder and Prelate of Perez Dome Chapel International, Archbishop Charles Agyinasare, has opened up about his journey to salvation, revealing that the first time he walked into a church, he was under the influence of marijuana.

In an exclusive interview with Roselyn Felli on Prime Morning on Joy Prime, the Archbishop recounted how a romantic interest led him to church while he was still indulging in drugs and living a wayward lifestyle in his youth.

“I was a private tutor doing extra classes for people. A family invited me to teach their daughter. When I got there, there were two sisters – and I liked both,” he recalled.

“When I made my move, one of them told me, ‘My boyfriend is Jesus, and I’d like to introduce you to Him.’ I thought she was joking. But I said, ‘If that’s all it takes for you to be my girlfriend, then I’ll go with you to church.’”

According to him, this decision led to a life-changing encounter in 1980.

“That day, I was high on marijuana when I entered the church. I wore my ‘bola shirt’ and tight trousers and sat at the back, just waiting for the service to end so I could talk to the girl.”

But things didn’t go as he planned. He was struck by conviction during the sermon, even though he doesn’t recall the exact words the preacher used.

“The preacher made an altar call, and though I can’t remember what exactly he said, something happened to me. That day, the power of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco broke off my life. From that day, I never went back to cigarettes.”

Archbishop Agyinasare believes it was the power of God that transformed him instantly, cutting off years of addiction.

However, when he informed his father of the change, the response was one of scepticism.

“My dad didn’t believe me. He said, ‘It’s because you’ve seen those young girls there,’” he added with a chuckle.

After he became a believer, the Archbishop revealed that he did not get intimate with any woman until he got married five years later. “And I’m glad to say that God has kept me. This year will be my 40 years in marriage and the only woman I’ve kissed in the 40 years is Vivian, my wife.”

Looking back on his past experiences, Archbishop Agyinasare strives to leave a legacy of education and to empower young people to change their world. He admonished the youth never to despise their humble beginnings, to see themselves as the future, and to trust that their latter end will be great.