How a dream led Chika to Christ, BYU-Pathway, and a lifelong mission to bless his family
Chika Collins Odoemenam lives in Nigeria with his wife and four children. A humanitarian worker with a passion for family history, Chika never expected that a dream would change the course of his entire life.
A dream that changed everything
Chika hadn’t always been religious. Past experiences with other religious organizations left him skeptical, and he preferred to pray to his ancestors for protection — a practice rooted in cultural tradition.
One night, he prayed and asked his ancestors to watch over him. Shortly afterward, he had a dream. “I saw two missionaries in my dream. Black and white clothing, name tags on their chests,” he said. At the time, he didn’t know who they were or what church they represented, but the dream stayed with him.
Two years later, he saw the same two figures walking past him — this time in real life. He stopped them and read their name tags. “I saw the words: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” Chika said. “I remembered my dream. I knew this was a sign. The next Sunday, all six of us — me, my wife, and our four children — came to church together.” Later, he and his family were baptized.
Discovering BYU-Pathway
Shortly after, Chika was introduced to BYU-Pathway Worldwide . Wanting to strengthen his testimony and gain useful skills, he earned an associate degree in family history research and is working to complete his bachelor’s degree in professional studies . Today, he works for FamilySearch.
“I studied for four or five years at a university in Nigeria before joining BYU-Pathway,” Chika said, “but I didn’t gain what I’ve gained here in one year.”
Before BYU-Pathway, Chika constantly worried about the future. “Now, I work from home. I have stable internet. I have electricity. I don’t think about what I will eat tomorrow. I don’t think about what I will wear. That is a blessing.”
“[My wife] saw the change in me and said, ‘I want to join too.’” Now they study side by side while raising their children, serving in the Church, and working.
A calling to remember
Chika’s work with FamilySearch is meaningful on a spiritual level as well. As a family history student and convert to the Church with deep reverence for his ancestors, he feels a close connection to those who came before him.
“I used to think my parents and grandparents were gone forever. But now I know they are still there. I feel them with me.”
Look to Christ
As a leader in his ward, one of Chika’s greatest joys is sharing the gospel and BYU-Pathway with others: “I want my cousins and relatives to see what this has done for me.”
Joining the Church and studying through BYU-Pathway has changed every part of his life — his work, his family, and most importantly, his faith. “I used to think, ‘Why am I in this world? What will I tell God when I die?’ Now I know. The greatest gift I have given my children is the gospel of Jesus Christ.”
Like Chika, thousands of students around the world have strengthened their faith, developed valuable skills, and prepared for a brighter future through BYU-Pathway.
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