Founder, Rainbow Foundation, Koko Kalango, has unveiled a new book, All things bright and beautiful, at the Alliance Francaise, Ikoyi, Lagos. At the book launch, Kalango was celebrated for her works in promoting reading, particularly, among young people. Her foundation was instrumental in Port Harcourt being World Book Capital 2014. From an ardent promoter of literary resurgence in the country to a woman of great faith, the book chronicles her faith, of relationship, of purpose, of social change and advancing the kingdom of God. In this interview with EVELYN OSAGIE, she shares her relationship with God and more.
My fascination with the “Rainbow”
oncerning Rainbow, a pastor actually reached out to me and said All things bright… My story of faith.
‘You are using Rainbow, do you know what it means?’ I said I know what it means. It is a sign of covenant that God made with us and put it in the sky. So, I am using my father’s property. Others are impostors. We need to drive them out of that space. So, anything I do is rainbow.
Inspiration behind All things bright and beautiful
When the Lord called me out of paid employment around 1992, and asked me to start doing things of my own, he gave me the name Rainbow. The origin of the name is God. God said to man – “When I see the rainbow in the sky, I will remember the covenant that I have made with humankind”. He gave me a scripture – “As long as the earth remains, seed time and harvest shall not cease”. And that is what propelled me.
When I’m doing the work, not to man but to God, because I know I will stand before God during judgment day. After that I set up the Colours of Life Ministry. So, I just think God has made my life bright and beautiful and very colourful, so that is where the title came from.
Growing up
I come from a family that values education. My father was a lawyer, who later became a judge. My mother started one of the oldest nurseries—and it became primary schools in Port Harcourt. So, it is in that environment where I grew up. I always saw my father reading newspapers, and my mother usually read Women’s World and Reader’s Digest. In the evening, you’ll see them having a cup of tea and just reading together. I had so many books all around me and so I grew interested in reading.
My legacy of Godly contentment
I have my parents to thank for bringing us up the way they did. Along the way, I’ve heard people say if it is money, they won’t get you money, it can be something else. So I thank God and my parents for that. People keep asking me about the word content. There is a God factor and God uses human beings to teach you contentment. God bless my father and mother for bringing us up not to respect material possessions or respect people because of what they own. We respect you if you fear the Lord and have integrity. It makes you able to cope in any circumstance. The first time I fasted for three days, nobody told me to fast. I didn’t have money for food, but something said why you didn’t call your father and tell him you didn’t have money to buy food. But, I said Pastor Adeboye is always encouraging us to fast. So, I fasted for three days and did not die. And I was this beautiful young lady with guys chasing her. And I said Koko why not take money from these guys to buy food. But no.
My journey of Christian faith
In the early 90s, we were at Apapa Parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG). We were little fanatics. We could believe God just for anything. We have been trained so much to give to God. Around that time, we were among the School of Disciples. Pastor Adeboye would train us at the headquarters at Ebute Metta, Lagos. We were very small then. I needed a car and as usual there was no money. I’ve put my money in the church. And I prayed to God to give me a car. There is a joke in the family, my immediate elder sister would say Koko, God knows I have sense I think, I will work hard. But, he knows you will wait for it to jump from heaven and that was what He did. Our other sister believed God was asking her to go to the U.S. to do mission work. Then God came through for her miraculously. She was getting rid of her things and she got rid of her car and she gave it to me. At one point, there was a need at the RCCG headquarters. And I felt the Lord wanted me to give the car. My brother-in-law, Pastor Tony Rapu, was going to see Pastor Adeboye in the camp and I accompanied him with the car. I handed it over to Pastor Adeboye and he asked if this was the only car that I had and I said, ‘yes sir’. And he prayed for me. When I was writing this book, I looked out of the window and counted five cars.
My message from my book to the world
This is very important to me. The book is meant to encourage your faith. It will show you how God can move in little things. This book is me pouring out my life as a thanksgiving offering to God. I will speak to my audience. Do I want you to buy the book? Yes! But above that I want you to read it. I won’t be happy even if you paid a million dollars for it and you didn’t read it. So, please read this book and pass it on to someone else. It is God flexing through me. My desire is that this book will go to the end of the earth and touch people for God’s glory.
Unforgetable memories of dedication to God’s work in the book
Meeting the Carlings (Old UK missionaries) has remained an unforgettable experience. After our marriage, my husband and I went to the UK for our Masters. It was interesting how God ordered our footsteps. In our accommodation, we had a welcome pack and there was a list of churches. Somehow, we went to an Evangelical Church. When they heard we were from Nigeria, this elderly couple came over to us and said they were missionary workers in Northern Nigeria. They even showed us a video documentary that the BBC did on their work.
We could have gone to any other church but we chose that one. They took us to their home. And that was how up till date, we’ve remained friends. They visited us in London and in Port Harcourt. They are like parents to us. They are now in their 90s. Before the queen died, they were honoured for their work in Nigeria.
My word to young couple today
I will backtrack. Before I met my husband, I was in a relationship. The man was a pastor. But the relationship was a struggle and God delivered me. Then I met him in Port Harcourt. I was working in Lagos. But my parents were in Port Harcourt. I met him at a barbeque and what I noticed was that he was easy to relate with. He took me out for dinner on December 31, 1996. My father asked when he was bringing me home and he said 9 pm sir. And he brought me home before 9pm.
What I struggled with in my previous relationship became easy. But it wasn’t easy for me to say yes because he moved very fast. As usual, I needed to ask and the Lord spoke to me. He said, ‘behold I come quickly and my reward is with me’. So, I call him my reward. In every marriage there are ups and downs but understanding is what counts. We are opposite in many ways. I am the faith part. He is the work type so he balances me. When we were in England, we had finished school. My husband was working in London and later got a job in the U.S. But it took longer than we had planned for him to get his visa. I was working at the Jamaican High Commission then. So when I get my salary, I will pay my tithe and transfer everything to his account. That was what I did in those four months.
When we got to the U.S., he had a job because of his visa. I couldn’t work. I was staying at home. He was giving me pocket money but I was getting frustrated. I needed to go to the mall to shop. But, he said he would give me his pocket money. My husband had the password to my account. So, there is total trust.
