Benson Idahosa

Benson Idahosa (1938-1998) was a Charismatic Pentecostal Preacher, and founder of the Church of God Mission International. Incorporated with headquarters in Benin City, Nigeria ⁽¹⁾.

Born to non-Christian parents in a predominantly idolatrous community, he was abandoned in a dustbin by his father for being sickly. He was however picked up by his mother who could not resist the cries of her child⁽²⁾.

As a youth, he got converted to Christianity, and received the call of God, consequent upon which he established the church in a store in Benin City; and went on to become the first Pentecostal Archbishop in Nigeria.

Known for his boldness, power and prosperity-based preaching, as well as an enormous faith in the supernatural, he was instrumental to the strong wave of revival in Christianity and marked conversions from animism that occurred between the 1970s and 1990s in Nigeria. He is regarded as the father of Pentecostalism in Nigeria, and was the founding President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN). Many prominent Nigerian pastors like Ayo Oritsejafor (Current PFN President), Felix Omobude, Fred Addo and Chris Oyakhilome were his proteges.

He is reported to have performed so many miracles, including healing the blind, and raising up to twenty-eight people from the dead at different times in his ministry ⁽¹⁾.

He was known for many notable quotes including "my God is not a poor God", "your attitude determines your altitude", "it is more risky, not to take a risk", "I am a possibilitarian", "If your faith says yes, God cannot say no", amongst others.

He had strong links with international gospel ministers like Billy Graham, T.L. Osborn, Kenneth Hagin, Benny Hinn, amongst others; and took the gospel to 143 nations in his lifetime ⁽¹⁾. At the time of his death in 1998, he was reputed as having preached to more whites than any black man, and to more blacks than any white man.

He is the founder of Benson Idahosa University which is currently under the leadership of his son, Rev. FEB Idahosa. His wife, Margaret Idahosa is the current presiding bishop of the church.

References

* Founders of Church of God Mission, Worldwide. Available at http://www.cgm-usa.org/founders.html
* Garlock, Ruthane (1982). Fire in his bones: The story of Benson Idahosa - A leader of the Christian awakening in Africa. Logos Associates, [ISBN-10:0882704516]