Benson Idahosa: A Life Marked by Miracles, Fire, and Power

 

Benson Idahosa was one of the great evangelists who shaped the foundation of modern Christianity in Nigeria. His ministry demonstrated the very power of God through miracles, healings, and deliverances, igniting a Pentecostal fire that would spread across continents, transforming lives in their millions.

Evil forces were terrified of him, as he posed a stumbling block to their meetings and gatherings. He was born in Benin City on September 11, 1938. Shortly after his birth, he began to suffer various diseases, one after the other. He was always fainting. As a result of his constant illness, his father lost hope in him and ordered his mother to abandon him at a rubbish heap to die at 18 months old. His mother obeyed his father and dropped him at a rubbish heap, but God saved his life.

He was rejected by his father and was sent to work on a farm as a servant. His father also denied him education until he was fourteen years old. Despite starting school late, his education was irregular due to the poor financial status of his parents.

While growing up, he was converted to Christianity by a pastor known as Okpo. One Sunday afternoon while playing football with his teammates at a football field, Pastor Okpo approached them and preached to them. Idahosa accepted his preaching wholeheartedly, and he was converted. He joined Pastor Okpo's congregation and became one of its first members. As a young convert, he became very zealous in winning souls and conducting outreaches in villages around Benin City.

He was called into ministry in a night vision from the Lord. One night, a voice from heaven spoke to him and said: "I have called you that you might take the gospel around the world in my name, preach the gospel, and I will confirm my word with signs following." The room was filled with the presence of God, and Idahosa fell to his knees beside his bed and said: "Lord, wherever you want me to go, I will." He prayed all through the night, renewing his vows to God and interceding for people who were yet to hear the gospel.

After this experience, he launched into full-time ministry, preaching from village to village the gospel of Jesus Christ with great power and anointing. More people confessed Christ as their Saviour, and more healings occurred as he prayed for the sick.

In 1962, he formed a small prayer group known as Calvary Fellowship. By 1968, the prayer group had grown so large, and he converted it into a church, renaming it Church of God Mission.

While leading the church, he met Sydney Granville Elton, an Apostolic Faith evangelist from Wales who was sent to Nigeria as a missionary. Elton became his friend and coach, and in turn introduced him to American healing evangelists Gordon and Freda Lindsay. Gordon Lindsay was impressed with his passion and offered him a scholarship to study at his Bible college—Christ for the Nations Institute (CFNI) in Dallas, Texas.

Idahosa accepted the scholarship and left Nigeria for the United States to study for a diploma in divinity at the institute. While at the school, he got connected with top evangelists, preachers, and missionaries.

He read T.L. Osborn's book on evangelism and became extremely burdened about evangelizing Benin, his hometown. He asked for authorization from Gordon Lindsay to return to Nigeria. Consent was given, and he returned in 1971. Upon his return, both Elton and Lindsay officially ordained him as a pastor that same year.

Idahosa then embarked on large-scale gospel evangelism. His bold messages of faith, power, and miracles captivated the hearts of thousands, and they began to worship at the church.

By the mid-1980s, the church's branches had grown across Nigeria and Ghana. His messages were always accompanied by quotes such as "My God is not a poor God," "Your attitude determines your altitude," "It is more risky not to take a risk," "A big head without a big brain is a big load to the neck," and many others.

Idahosa had strong links with international gospel ministers like Billy Graham, T.L. Osborn, Kenneth Hagin, Benny Hinn, Reinhard Bonnke, Oral Roberts, and many others. Alongside Gordon Lindsay and Sydney Elton, he evangelized his hometown of Benin City through various crusades, and thousands were drawn to Christ.

He raised several people from death on different occasions and healed thousands of sick people. He halted a gathering of witches that was to be held in Benin, Nigeria.

Benson Idahosa worked towards the goal of reaching the unreached in Nigeria, Africa, and the rest of the world with the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Soul-winning was his primary concern, and he was known by the motto: "Evangelism, our Supreme Task." He took the gospel to over 145 nations, and millions of people converted to Christ under his powerful messages.

He was involved in at least one crusade per month. A record crowd of nearly one million people per night attended his Lagos crusade in April 1985. He established the Redemption Television Ministry with a potential viewing audience of 50 million people.

Mrs. Freda Lindsay, while describing Idahosa's ministry, made the following remark:
"I know of no young black in all of Africa who is reaching millions as Benson is—in crusades with hundreds of thousands in attendance, in his weekly nationwide telecast, in his Bible school training eager students from several nations. He also conducts campaigns in Sweden, Singapore, Malaysia, Korea, Australia, and the United States, where he often appeared on national religious telecasts. His burden for souls, his ministry of healing and miracles—even to the raising of several dead—demonstrates he is especially called of the Lord in these end times."

Apart from churches, Idahosa also established several other arms of ministry, including the Faith Mediplex, All Nations for Christ Institute, Word of Faith Group of Schools, and Benson Idahosa University, which is currently under the leadership of his son, Rev. F.E.B. Idahosa.

Benson Idahosa was married to Margaret Idahosa. They had four children—three girls and a boy. His wife, Margaret, is the current Archbishop of Church of God Mission.

Idahosa died of heart disease on March 12, 1998, at the age of 59.