On September 11th, the Church of God Mission International began a weeklong celebration to honor the life and legacy of the late Archbishop Benson Idahosa, a pioneer of Pentecostalism in Nigeria and a man whose ministry reshaped the landscape of Christianity in the country.
Born on September 11, 1938, Archbishop Idahosa was known for his evangelistic zeal, miraculous healings, and strong societal impact, leaving an indelible mark on Nigeria’s Christian landscape. His ministry focused on soul-winning, societal transformation, and the empowerment of believers, drawing in large crowds and changing countless lives.
‘Papa’, as he was fondly called by all who knew him was known for his evangelistic zeal, miraculous healings, and groundbreaking leadership leaving an enduring impact on the Nigerian society and beyond.
Archbishop Idahosa was not only a charismatic preacher but also an advocate for societal transformation through the gospel. He emphasized the importance of the church as a powerful force in society, championing personal responsibility and community development. His ministry, which grew to include over 6,000 branches of the Church of God Mission International, transformed countless lives and led to profound spiritual and social change with many contemporary Christian leaders in Nigeria tracing their roots back to his ministry.
Today, as the Nigerian church navigates criticism over its focus on prosperity and commercialization, many are reflecting on how Idahosa would respond if he were alive. His legacy as a firm believer in evangelism and spiritual integrity suggests he would challenge the church to return to its core mission of soul-winning and societal impact. He would likely voice concerns about the dilution of the church’s spiritual mission, calling for a balance between structural growth and deep spiritual integrity.
Idahosa’s vision for the church went beyond the walls of the sanctuary, influencing politics and societal reform. He worked to ensure respect for the church within government circles, something he might see as lacking today. In his time, the church played a pivotal role in transforming society, and he would likely urge today’s leaders to maintain that influence while steering clear of excessive entanglement with wealth and prosperity teachings.
In honoring his memory, the Church of God Mission’s celebration serves as a reminder of the values Archbishop Idahosa embodied—bold preaching, supernatural demonstrations of God’s power, and a focus on evangelism. As Nigeria faces economic and social challenges, the church must return to its spiritual roots, inspiring the kind of transformative change Idahosa championed throughout his life.
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