Fr. Tochukwu Onyeagolu is a priest of the Catholic Archdiocese of Onitsha, Nigeria. He is passionate about bridging ancient wisdom with modern life through storytelling and digital evangelization. His Sunday homilies on YouTube have reached thousands globally, with viewers praising his ability to make Scripture come alive through powerful narratives and practical applications.

Known for his engaging preaching style that combines historical legends, theological depth, and real-world relevance, Fr. Tochukwu believes that the most profound truths are often best conveyed through stories that touch both heart and mind.

When not preaching, Fr. Tochukwu is dedicated to parish ministry, pastoral care, and exploring how priests can effectively use digital platforms to reach souls who might never walk through church doors.

LINKS:

YouTube Channel: [https://www.youtube.com/@fadatochukwuonyeagolu2617

Email: [Tochukwuonyeagolu@gmail.com

Welcome to 12 Minute Converse with Jesus Believers.

God chose first to have a conversation with us, his creation.

Our prayer is that this listening space brings growth and transforms your life forever.

Good day Father Tachukwu.

Praise God for you.

Thank you.

Amen.

For those that are listening who probably just heard the accent, what part of Africa are you from right now?

I'm from Eastern Nigeria, the Igbo tribe.

Eastern Nigeria.

All right and well I did say father, so how long have you been a priest?

I was ordained 2017, so I've been a priest eight years and by July 15th I'll be turning nine years in the priesthood.

Wow, congratulations.

Thank you so much.

God bless you.

What was your inspiration for turning the mic on and joining YouTube to communicate the benefits of following Jesus?

Oh, as a priest, whatever I'm on the pulpit to preach at masses, from time to time you see people who will bring out their phone to record what I'm saying and then after a while I felt like oh maybe this thing can also get to audience beyond my immediate church congregation.

So I started using my phone to also do a bit of recording for my homilies and maybe after masses you see people who will come and be requesting to have the recorded homily.

In fact, a particular man came to me and requested that he wanted his daughter to hear this particular message I preached in the church, that he would pay anything to have the recorded version of the homily.

So that made me to see the need that really people don't just want what I say to end in the church, they want it, they want to listen to it often also.

It became an inspiration to start making electronic version of my messages.

What influenced you to bring it across the way you're doing it on YouTube?

Okay, I also wanted to become a kind of a resource material for fellow preachers.

So because from time to time you see fellow priests who maybe have heard their messages and they'll be like oh I wish this thing came earlier before the masses, I would have used the insights I used in your homily to enrich my own homily.

So I now see that I can also become a resource material for my fellow priests.

So I started planning, I normally post my messages Friday, at most Friday so that other people, other preachers can also take it as a resource.

In fact, somebody like Bishop Baron, I saw the way he was doing it because I also go to his channel to also listen to his homily preparation to help me prepare my own.

So I felt like oh I can also do what Baron is doing.

So that was also part of it.

Tell me a bit more about how you are getting your insight for the word that you then decide is going to be what you're sharing.

Okay, normally it's a reflection that is done both on my knees and also a lot of reading.

Normally before I pick up any particular homily or message, I always ask myself one question.

What is something new that anybody who has been listening to this particular biblical passage, what is something new that this person will get from this message?

Something novel.

So it made me to take time, read a whole lot of materials and resources and then when I'm done reading those materials, I want to sit down and begin the reflective aspect of it and then in that reflection, I start looking for a story that will capture a particular message or a particular theme I would like to pursue or explore in that message.

So first of all, I will read fast.

I will make my own researches.

Then when I'm done, I will narrow down to a particular topic or message I would like to pass across and then when I settle on that topic, I would then enter the test stage of looking for a story that will become a vehicle that will now carry the message and make it easily accessible to people.

Are you using technology with the new advancements of AI in researching the word?

Not at all.

I've tried, honestly, I've tried to explore the AI aspect of passing my messages.

Most days, I would just like get the three readings and be like, the AI man, develop something for me and it has never resonated with me.

It has never resonated with me, honestly, it has never.

How did you come to know Jesus?

Oh, I was born and brought up as a Christian.

Right from when I was a kid, I was baptized by my parents and I was raised up in a Christian home.

Then I don't think it was even, there was never a thought about me not being a Christian.

So I just, I'm not even considering this question because it was natural.

It was like the air I breathe, it was natural.

How has that been though?

Is there some level of comparison that comes into play at times in your life when you wonder what would life be like if I didn't walk this?

Or is your well or your cup completely filled?

From time to time, that doubt tends to seep in.

Yeah.

From time to time, I'd be like, oh, I wish I had also, like being a priest, for instance, is, I can say, it can be limiting because the structure of the church is such that you have pledged obedience to your bishop, you must be here, you must be there.

Even though, as a person, you have your own inner desires and the cravings that, oh, I wish I can have the freedom to pursue this or pursue that.

But you also, so if it is about, with regard to my priesthood calling and where I found myself, that thought do creep in.

But beyond that, I think I'm very much happy where I am.

I'm also very much fulfilled as a person.

I don't think I have anything to regret as of now.

What's on the horizon for you?

I feel fulfilled as a priest and getting people inspired by my messages, getting people come to know God more, feel more enriched in their knowledge of God.

For me, nothing beats that feeling.

For me, that is the most fulfilling aspect of my ministry and what makes me feel that, yes, I'm in the right path.

Yes, I think I'm doing the will of God.

Amazing audience for that, Tachukwu.

Hey, this has been a great pleasure, one I treasure.

Before we leave, is there anything else you'd like to share?

Okay, I think I would also like to add the point that stories are powerful and stories are really what make messages easily accessible.

Stories have a way of making their meaning felt even without being pushy.

In fact, it has a way of bringing down our intellectual defenses.

That is why if you go through the scripture, it's called that the most powerful messages Jesus ever gave were his stories.

There are people who have never entered the church and who can tell you the story of the Good Samaritan, the story of the Prodigal Son, and name it, because those stories are so powerful that they have continued to resonate with humanity and with the world.

So for me, I think what I needed to bring here is that I found story as a very good tool for evangelization and I'm not leaving it anytime soon.

Tachukwu, a pleasure, I treasure.

Thank you for being on What is Inspired by 1200 Convos.