Prayers Are Seeds that Become a Garden
An interview with author Rayo Adegoke
Rayo Adegoke is paying attention. The Nigerian-Canadian writer is attentive to how stories carry meaning across generations.
In this instalment of 10 Qs, Rayo shares how the writing life is the listening life, how her new book on prayer emerged, that the dreams we carry can be carried by others, and why prayer isn’t an end point, but a place to go first.
Can you share about your journey from Nigeria to Canada? What motivated you to immigrate, and how has that experience shaped your perspective on life and creativity?
We first arrived in Canada in the middle of the pandemic. In some ways, immigration wasn’t new to me — I had lived in the U.S. while studying in New York, spent time in the U.K. studying and working, and then returned home to Nigeria about 5 years later. But this move to Canada felt different. This time, we came as a family, and I sensed, even then, that this carried a different purpose.
We moved because so much of our family already lived in North America. We wanted our daughter to grow up close to her cousins, with Aunts and Uncles nearby. And as a homeschool mom, I wanted the freedom to shape our days — to take her to a Monday afternoon gymnastics class or a quiet Thursday morning piano lesson. It felt like we were choosing a life where we could create our days with more intention.
In the beginning, that’s all we thought it was. A practical, family-centered move.
But when we arrived in London, Ontario, we realized God was writing a much bigger story. Our local church became a turning point — a place where purpose began to unfold, where our steps felt guided, not random.
The impact on my life has been incredible. Being part of this church community has stretched and matured my faith. It has made me bolder in my creativity and in the opportunities I’m willing to step into — things I might have once turned down. I have become more dogged, more steady, more sure. And I know this growth was nurtured here, in this city we hadn’t planned for but were gently led to.
This move has taught me something important: you can think you’re making a decision for one simple, straightforward reason, but God is often weaving a bigger purpose. Joseph and Mary thought they were traveling because of the census; meanwhile, God was positioning them so that prophecy could be fulfilled in Bethlehem.
That truth stays with me. Now, even when I sense I’m being led to do something that feels small or ordinary, I pay attention. I’ve learned that: God is always doing more than we see.
What’s a story or book that has shaped you as a writer?
I’d like to mention two books that have shaped me in very different but meaningful ways.
The first is The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom. I remember the first time I read it about eight years ago — I was profoundly moved. I couldn’t stop talking about it. It isn’t only the story of Corrie or the unimaginable hardship she endured; it’s the legacy of faith her father passed down to her and her siblings. Even in the darkest moments, even in a concentration camp, they clung to Scripture. They meditated on God’s Word as their lifeline because they had been raised to understand its power.
Reading her story taught me something profound about storytelling: that a story rooted in truth can carry light across generations. Corrie’s father strengthened her with Scripture, and decades later, through her writing, she strengthened me and many others in a similar way. Her story showed me that words can become even a form of discipleship.
The second is The Listening Path by Julia Cameron. In this book she writes, “Writing is a form of active listening. Listening tells me what to write. At its best, writing is like taking dictation.” When I read that, something in me clicked.
Before I ever opened her book, about six years ago, I wrote my first eBook. At the time, we were in the middle of the pandemic, and every morning at 6 a.m., after my prayer time, I would sit at my desk and write at least 500 words. I was trying to prove to myself that I could start and finish a long project — that I was truly a writer.
In four months, I was done. It worked. I had shown up every day and simply wrote what I heard. I didn’t know then that what I was doing was “listening,” but reading Cameron’s book made everything click for me. Since then, I’ve approached writing as a listener — someone who is paying attention, waiting for God to pour His words through me.
The shift from trying to “think up” ideas to learning how to listen for them has been one of the most empowering changes in my creative life.
What inspired you to write a children’s book specifically about prayer? Was there a personal moment that sparked the idea?
During the pandemic in 2020, my family and I stayed with my parents in Nigeria for an extended time. It was a slow, quiet season, and during those months I watched my dad and my daughter form a beautiful bond. Their relationship bloomed so naturally — conversations, laughter, dance, and so many gentle moments I’ve carried with me since.
At the same time, I was wrestling with my own questions: Why aren’t we seeing miracles the way we used to? Are healing and the supernatural things of the past? Those questions led me deeper into Scripture and into teachings about prayer — real, biblical prayer, the different kinds of prayer, and the power of God’s Word.
Somewhere in that tender intersection — watching my daughter with her grandfather and searching for answers myself — the seed of this story was planted. I kept it quietly in my heart.
As I continued learning about prayer, I found myself teaching my daughter what I was discovering: that God’s Word is a seed. When we pray using God’s Word, we’re planting His promises into the soil of our hearts and into the situations around us. Some seeds sprout quickly; others take time. God was teaching me that prayer is both an act of faith and an act of perseverance.
The book was born from that season — a quiet blend of watching the two of them together, carrying my own questions, and rediscovering prayer as something simple, powerful, and alive. The story lived in my heart for a long time. And it wasn’t until four years later that I finally sat down to write it.
So much of our Christian journey is learning to stand on God’s Word until we see it unfold. It’s a walk of faith. And that’s what I hope children learn through this book —to approach their prayers with faith and with patience.
How does your heritage influence the themes or storytelling in your book?
I come from a heritage shaped by prayer, and a strong family bond. Even though I was raised Muslim, prayer was woven into the rhythm of our home. I have vivid memories of sitting beside my mum as she prayed. She made sure that I understood that prayer is important. That early picture of what daily devotion looks like has always stayed with me, and now I get to pass it on to my daughter as a Christian – with a deeper understanding of prayer.
Family is also central to my storytelling. I was very close to my dad — truly a daddy’s girl — and watching him form a similar bond with my daughter was deeply meaningful. Some of my favourite memories from that season are of the two of them dancing together. Those moments inspired the dancing scenes in the book. I knew my daughter wasn’t the only child who adored her Grandpa, and I wanted kids like her to see themselves in the story.
When my dad became unwell, my daughter and I prayed together. That journey — the sweetness of their relationship, the questions, the waiting, the faith — shaped the heart of this book. I wanted children to see what it can look like to pray through seasons of uncertainty, and how we can keep believing no matter what.
Another part of my heritage that influenced the book is the beauty of diversity. My family spans cultures and backgrounds, and my daughter is growing up surrounded by friends and loved ones of many races. I wanted the book to reflect that — to create space where every child could see themselves in Gracie.
So much of my heritage — prayer, family, culture, diversity — naturally found its way into the story. Although, I didn’t set out to “include” it; it simply came through. The book became a reflection of the world that shaped me and the world in which I’m shaping my daughter.
What challenges did you face to get your book published and how did you navigate those hurdles?
This was my first time stepping into book publishing, even though I had studied publishing at Columbia Uni. My background was in magazine publishing, not books, so it felt like building something from the ground up. I had to learn it all. Find the right illustrator, understand production, figure out funding, and then launch in both Canada and Nigeria.
It was a lot. And I quickly learned something essential: you need people.
Family and friends carried this book with me in ways I didn’t expect. God sent help every step of the way. I had to let go of the idea that I could—or should—do everything alone.
When I told my brothers in the U.S. not to “bother” coming to the launch, they showed up anyway. I cried when I saw them. And because of this, I learned something:
Your dream is BIG, no matter how small you start. So let people “bother” to carry it with you.
Another challenge was navigating printing. I had to compare costs, ask questions, and learn how to choose what worked best. I’m glad I asked those questions. They saved me from making mistakes I didn’t know were possible.
Then came the part no one prepared me for: the work after publishing. Getting the book into stores. Reaching families. Learning how to share it with confidence. I’m naturally introverted, so this stretched me. I sent emails, made phone calls, walked into bookstores, and spoke to complete strangers about my book.
I had to make a mindset shift:
I’m not selling a product.
I’m sharing a message.
Once that clicked, everything changed. I began sharing my book’s message online through social media and with families and children I met.
Through it all, I’ve learned to walk by faith and to lean into the strategies the Holy Spirit gives me. Every challenge has become a meaningful part of the testimony behind this book.
The book is beautifully illustrated—tell me about the collaboration and how you brought the art to life.
Thank you so much. I LOVE the illustrations too. I still message my illustrator every now and then just to say thank you. When I began this journey, I knew that writing the story was only the beginning. I had come across many illustrators, but I kept praying and searching for the one who would not only be talented, but who would truly see the story — someone who understood the heart of it, the characters, and especially little Gracie.
I tried working with another illustrator early on, but our conversations didn’t quite connect. Then one day, my brother-in-law sent me an Instagram profile—Tiolu Yoloye—and I was immediately drawn to her work. I spent a long time on her page, looking through everything, I could find, and the Holy Spirit in me said, “This is her.”
We started talking, and within days she sent me the first sketch. I remember being both nervous and excited — seeing Gracie for the very first time felt surreal. Suddenly, she had a face, a posture, a presence. She came alive on the page.
My daughter became our unofficial art director. I ran every version by her. She would say things like, “Oh, I like her hair packed up this way,” or “I like when she smiles to this side.” Those little details shaped Gracie’s final look in such a sweet way.
One of the things I appreciated most about Tiolu was how she illustrated with heart. She wasn’t detached from the story. She entered into it. She cared about the characters, the emotion, the message — and you can feel that in every page of the book. She is an incredible illustrator, not just because of her talent, but because of the love she pours into her work.
The entire process took a little over a year, but it was such a meaningful, joy-filled journey. I truly loved every part of bringing the art to life.
What age group is your book aimed at, and how do you hope it helps children understand or engage in prayer?
The book is written for children ages 4–8, but something beautiful has surprised me: it keeps touching people far beyond that age range. Parents, grandparents, teachers — many adults have shared that the story helped them see prayer with fresh eyes. I think that’s because the book isn’t only for children; it’s for the childlike heart in all of us.
My hope is that children begin to see prayer as something simple and steady — a place they can go first, not last. I want them to understand that prayer is like planting a seed. Some seeds break through the soil quickly. Others take time. But either way, something is happening beneath the surface.
When children learn that God hears them — truly hears them — they begin to pray with confidence rather than worry. And when they learn that prayer sometimes requires patience, they lay down every anxiety – and make room for faith.
The analogy of planting and waiting has resonated with so many children. They understand seeds. They understand watching something grow. Prayer works the same way: we plant, we water, we wait — and suddenly, one day, we find ourselves standing in a garden we’ve tended with God.
That is what I hope the book gives them: a gentle understanding that prayer is alive, active, and growing — even when they can’t yet see the “fruit”.
How has prayer shaped your life as a creative person?
Prayer has become the beginning of everything I create. I’ve learned, again and again, that my best ideas arrive right after I pray. The words come easier. The direction feels clearer. I trust the idea because it met me in prayer.
Over time, prayer has become the place where ideas stir, where clarity rises, and where I’m reminded that creativity is a partnership with God.
In this season, I’ve been rereading Julia Cameron’s The Listening Path, and her language has given fresh expression to what I’ve practiced for years — that both prayer and creativity are rooted in listening. She talks about listening as a creative gateway, and that resonated deeply with me. It felt like someone putting words to something my spirit already knew.
I often tell other creatives this too: prayer is the key to overcoming blocks of every kind — writer’s block, creative block, emotional block. When we pray, we stop trying to “think something up,” and instead, as Cameron writes, we “listen and take something down.” That has been my experience exactly.
So, prayer is where I listen first and write second.
It’s where I receive.
It’s where I’m guided.
It’s where the seed of every idea is planted.
And when I sit with Julia Cameron’s words — “writing is like taking dictation” — I’m always reminded of Psalm 46:10: Be still and know that I am God.
In my quiet times with God, I’ve learned something: the more we slow down enough to hear Him, the more freely the words come. Creativity doesn’t need to be forced — it is given.
What feedback have you received from readers, especially children or families, and has it surprised you?
The feedback has been deeply moving. Some of it has surprised me, but then I pause and remind myself: this is what I prayed the book would do. Still, hearing it from real families makes the impact feel fresh every time.
One message that touched me deeply came from a parent whose family had been praying for their Grandpa’s healing for years. She told me her son hadn’t talked about his Grandpa much recently. But after reading the book, something in him stirred again. He began talking about his Grandpa. He began praying for him again. And now, after many difficult years, his Grandpa is doing much better. That story still makes me cry when I think about it. A testament to the power of fervent prayer.
Other parents have shared that their children now pray differently — with less worry, with more steadiness, with a better understanding of patience and perseverance. Teachers have read the book in classrooms. I’ve received videos of little ones reading it aloud, hugging the book, or whispering, “Can we read it again?”
I’ve heard stories of children who no longer overthink prayer — they simply step into it with trust. They’ve begun to understand that prayer grows, the way a seed grows, and that if they plant and water and stay with it, they will see their garden in time.
Those simple, sincere responses have been my greatest joy — to see a child rediscover hope, or return to prayer with confidence, or believe again that God hears them. It has reminded me why I wrote the book in the first place.
What’s ahead? Do you have plans for more books or projects?
Yes — more books. Many more.
Gracie has so much growing to do, and I’m excited to follow her into more faith-filled adventures. She’ll continue taking children by the hand and helping them discover all the things she’s learning as a little girl. I’m already working on the next outline, and it’s been such a joy to watch the story take shape.
What makes this next chapter even sweeter is that my daughter and I are working on another book together. The idea was hers — I’m simply putting words to her imagination. It’s playful and full of wonder, and I believe children around the world will fall in love with it just as we have.
I’m also walking alongside other authors, especially those who need the kind of guidance I needed at the beginning. The journey doesn’t end at publishing; in many ways, that’s where it truly begins. I find myself helping writers navigate life after the book is published — how to keep momentum, reach families, use social media well, get books into stores, and stay visible. There’s a growing need for this, especially among self-published authors, and I can see a training, course, or guide emerging from this work.
I want to encourage more believers — writers, creatives, storytellers — to share their light boldly. We have so much to offer the world, and sometimes we simply need someone to say, “Your voice matters. Keep going.” I want to be that person.
And perhaps my favourite part of this journey is that it’s come full circle in ways I couldn’t have planned.
When I first arrived in Canada, the very first creative opportunity I was given — my first job in this country — was offered through Andrew Kooman. He saw something in me early on and made space for it. To now sit here and answer these questions for his newsletter feels like a gentle wink from God. A reminder that every step — even the first one — was ordered.
About Rayo Adegoke
Rayo Adegoke is a Nigerian-Canadian writer, creative, and children’s author whose work centres on faith, storytelling, and nurturing the next generation. She is the author of Prayers Are Seeds That Become a Garden, a gentle, hope-filled book that helps children understand prayer through the metaphor of seeds, growth, and faith.
With a background in publishing and over a decade of experience writing for organizations and ministries, Rayo is passionate about helping both children and adults discover the beauty of prayer and the power of God’s Word.
She lives in London, Ontario with her husband and daughter, where she continues to write, teach, and create resources that inspire faith in everyday life. Rayo is currently working on several new children’s books as well as an exciting collaborative project with her daughter.
Visit her website or follow on Instagram.
You can purchase Rayo’s book on Indigo, Barnes and Noble, rayoadegoke.myshopify.comor Amazon (or Amazon Canada). Leave a review on Goodreads.
