From “King Tonto” To Evangelist – Tonto Dikeh Officially Launches Her Own Ministry, New Wine Prophetic Tabernacle
The transformation Nigerians have been watching unfold for over a year just reached its biggest milestone yet. Tonto Dikeh, now going by Evangelist Tonto Dikeh, has officially launched her own ministry New Wine Prophetic Tabernacle (NWPT) in Abuja, marking a full step from Nollywood headline-maker to church founder.
What Exactly Is NWPT?
Announcing the launch on her Instagram page, Dikeh described NWPT as an interdenominational altar and a global movement of consecrated believers called to experience the raw power, purity, and presence of God — anchored on the biblical verse in Mark 2:22 about not putting new wine into old wineskins, which inspired the ministry’s name. The announcement stated that NWPT exists as a dwelling place for those who refuse to settle for lukewarm Christianity and are hungry for genuine revival, fire, and transformation, with its stated vision aimed at global spiritual awakening and its mission centred on building an interdenominational altar of prayer, revival, and apostolic training. According to the announcement, the ministry holds weekly fellowship every Friday at 6:00pm.
How She Got Here: A Very Public Spiritual Journey
For anyone who’s followed Tonto Dikeh’s career, this ministry launch is the culmination of a transformation that’s been unfolding publicly and steadily for well over a year. Her spiritual journey gained real momentum through her involvement with Pastor Jerry Eze’s Streams of Joy International and the New Season Prophetic Prayers and Declarations (NSPPD) online prayer movement, where she became an increasingly active and visible member of the community.
In December 2025, she delivered a raw, emotional testimony at Streams of Joy International, opening up about being delivered from smoking (which she said started at age 13), alcohol addiction, and prolonged struggles with anger and other personal battles a moment that resonated widely and marked a turning point in how the public began viewing her transformation.
By March 2026, she’d taken things further, announcing she had completed a discipleship class at the church and shortly after conducting what was reported to be her first deliverance service. That same month, she made headlines for officially dropping the “King” from her long-standing “King Tonto” moniker, explaining that the decision came directly from obedience to the Holy Spirit and marked God taking her away from old things into a new dawn — asking to be addressed as Evangelist Tonto, Woman of God, or simply Big T going forward.
Not Without Its Critics
Her transformation hasn’t been entirely free of controversy. Around the same time she announced her name change, former friend Doris Ogala publicly accused Tonto of living a “fake” Christian life and alleged she had been the secret force behind Ogala’s own widely publicized troubles with a controversial pastor claims that added a layer of scepticism to an otherwise widely celebrated faith journey. Still, Tonto has largely stayed the course publicly, continuing to lean further into ministry work, humanitarian outreach through her foundation, and now, official church leadership.
Wahala Network Take
Whatever side of the skepticism you land on, there’s no denying the scale of this transformation from one of Nollywood’s most talked-about controversial figures to now standing at the pulpit of her own ministry. Whether NWPT becomes a lasting institution or simply another chapter in a very public evolution, Evangelist Tonto Dikeh has certainly given Nigerians a redemption arc worth watching closely.
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