Actress Sarah Martins Explains Why She Stopped Going to Church: “I Had to Walk Away”

Actress Sarah Martins Explains Why She Stopped Going to Church: “I Had to Walk Away”

  • Nollywood star Sarah Martins said that pastors’ unwanted advances made her quit church gatherings
  • In a recent interview, she revealed she now focuses on charity work and personal devotion instead of regular services
  • The actress insisted she still has a strong Christian faith despite leaving organised worship.

For Nollywood actress Sarah Martins, the decision to stop attending church was not one she took lightly.

The actress has now revealed that a series of disturbing experiences led her to walk away from organised worship altogether.

In an interview with The PUNCH, Sarah explained that she is still a Christian, but her faith is now practiced differently.

Sarah Martins speaks on why she stopped going to church
Sarah Martins says that pastors’ unwanted advances made her quit church gatherings. Photos: UGC.
Source: Instagram

She said:

“I am not an atheist. I’m a Christian, and I used to be very active in church"

Sarah said she once poured her energy into church activities, believing it would bring her closer to God. But over time, she realised that outward appearances didn’t necessarily reflect one’s true standing with God.

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When the Pastors crossed the line

What truly pushed her away was the behaviour of those meant to guide the congregation.

She stated:

“Unfortunately, in every church I attended, the pastors started making advances at me. So, I stopped"

Sarah described the experience as deeply disappointing, explaining that instead of finding spiritual guidance, she often had to navigate unwanted attention.

Rather than abandon her faith, Sarah decided to build a personal relationship with God — one that doesn’t require a pew or a pulpit.

She explained:

“I made a promise to stay faithful to Him by doing things that please Him. Since then, every time I go down on my knees, He answers.”

Legit.ng recalled that the actress shared her hot takes concerning Davido’s new restaurant, "The 5IVE Kitchen by Davido.

The Nigerian singer moved to open a restaurant to promote his newly released body of work, which has been doing amazing numbers on top streaming platforms.

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'I rejected God': Kemi Badenoch speaks, shares religious standing

Sarah Martin, in this vein, went online to express her opinion about this, adding that it should have been named after his wife, Chioma Adeleke, seeing as she’s an amazing and passionate chef.

Netizens react to Sarah Martins' interview

Legit.ng compiled reactions of netizens below:

@BolajiTund26601:

"U took d right path. Why not turn your attention to a better Church?"

@paulbabalola041:

"We now live in a gross decadent society where those who preach moral values are the real architect of moral decadence. It’s really sad."
Sarah Martins speaks on faith
Sarah Martins reveals she now focuses on charity work and personal devotion. Photos: @sarahmartins/IG.
Source: Instagram

Sarah Martins addresses criticism

Legit.ng earlier reported that Sarah Martins recently addressed criticisms from netizens regarding her single status, which they claim has left her envious.

In a strongly worded Instagram post, she responded to claims suggesting she is jealous of fellow actress Judy Austin and relationship therapist Blessing CEO, daring her to forcefully take and keep a man if she thinks it's an easy task.

Read also

BBNaija 2025: Sultana opens up on faith, shares why she left Christianity for Islam

In reaction to statements like these, she emphasised her personal values, stating that she chooses to remain single rather than be responsible for another woman’s heartbreak.

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Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Olaniyi Apanpa avatar

Olaniyi Apanpa (Entertainment Editor) Olaniyi Apanpa is a seasoned journalist with over 6 years of experience in sports, metro, politics, and entertainment reporting. He has written for renowned platforms such as Opera News, Scooper News, The PUNCH, and currently works as a Senior Entertainment Editor at Legit.ng. A graduate of English Education from the University of Lagos. He is also a trained Digital Marketer from the Digital Marketing Institute, Lagos. Contact: olaniyi.apanpa@corp.legit.ng.