With The Hebrew Women, Nseabasi interrogates pregnancy

Nseabasi Michael Nseabasi is a graduate of the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. The banking and finance graduate, is a pastor with The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG). He also has a Post Graduate Diploma (PGD). He spoke to The Guardian on his recently released book on women and pregnancy.

Who is Nseabasi Michael Nseabasi?
I’m a pastor and the provincial prayer coordinator of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Lagos Province 76 — a position I have held in various provinces since 2012. Currently, I supervise more than a hundred churches. My areas of specialisation are training, seminar and conference teaching, facilitator and preacher of the good news. I’m married to Funmilayo Nseabasi and we are blessed with children.

The Hebrew Women, what is it all about?
The Hebrews Women is a book on pregnancy. The book is a daily prayer devotional on the journey and challenges women face during pregnancy. It emphasises the relevance and importance of prayers during this period. It is the first in a three-fold series on the nine-month pregnancy journey. This particular book covers the first trimester. The second and third trimester will be coming out very soon.

It explores the spiritual dimension and issues involved in pregnancy. It states what to expect during the journey and some very important tips needed in order to make the best use of the journey. It is a devotional book that is created to aid and help pregnant women to be ready for the responsibility of bringing a living soul into this world.

The book has been broken into three trimesters of 13 weeks each. The book is an inspirational piece that captures issues related to pregnancy and hindrances to conception. It is not a medical book and does not give any medical advice. It is purely a book exploring the spiritual angle in pregnancy and the importance of prayer in the journey.

Why Hebrew women?
The Hebrew Women was chosen as title because of the nation of Israel’s story in Exodus 1. The Hebrew midwives testified that the Hebrew women were strong and vigorous, and that, even before they — the midwives attend to them, they have already delivered (Exodus 1: 15 – 19).

When did you first realise you wanted to be a writer?
I love reading. It is a great passion for me, but I never saw myself as a writer. I did write a drama script after my secondary school. I also tried to write a book in my final year in school. It was a book on jazz music.

How long did it take you to write the book?
I started the book, The Hebrew Women, around 2010. It took me that long because it is a specialised book on pregnancy. I needed to do a lot of research on pregnancy and its attendant issues like pregnant women with fibroid, cancer and hypertension etc.

What was your work schedule like when you were writing the book?
I knew from the beginning that it was going to be a book that will take me some time to write. That subject matter was not what could be handled, anyhow. There was a need for thorough research works on different issues as related to pregnancy. I really did not have a rigorous schedule. I outlined basically the different issues to be covered in the first, second and third trimester and I added them to the information I had and inspiration.

Where do you get your information or ideas for the books?
A good story depends on what you are writing about and your ability to convey accurately the emotion and tone of the events as they unfold. Of course, you need to develop the characters, the plot and other important areas like the setting.

What do you think makes a good story?
A good story depends on what you are writing about and your ability to convey accurately the emotion and tone of the event as it unfolds. Of course, you need to develop the characters, the plot and other important areas like the setting.

When did you write your first book and how old were you?
I wrote my first book in 2015, and the title is The Good Shepherd. I was 48 years old then. The book took me close to six years to write.

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?
It is like giving birth to a new baby. My first book, The Good Shepherd, was a book on discipleship. It gives me so much satisfaction that I can contribute to conversation on Discipleship, which is a critical issue in Christendom today.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
When I am not writing, I like to read and preach the gospel of our Jesus. I also like to watch films that are well acted with great plot.

What does your family think of your writing?
My family was very supportive and even more eager for me to write. My first son, Anietie, is my first sounding board. For instance, the teenage book on bullying called, The Boy Called Joy, took me less than four month to finish. The book came out of divine inspiration. It will be out in the next four months.