Dating way back to the early days of Christianity in Nigeria, there arose such a great and terrifying instrument of GOD’S righteousness in the land, in the person of Bishop Benson Idahosa.
He so mingled with the true essence and meaning of Christianity, that beyond every reasonable point of doubt, all who saw him, believed and knew for sure that GOD was with Him.
Through this mighty vessel, revival swept across territories like wide fire, as all nations of the world couldn’t contain the fiery flames exuding from the life of Bishop Benson Idahosa.
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He was 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 of Christianity that swept across the borders and shores of Nigeria and Africa at large, between the 1970s and 1990s.
Little wonder, in the Chronicles of African Generals, his name and impact was not left without recognition. Even from a global stand point, all that he did and represented speaks volumes of the manner of man he was. Nigeria, Africa, and the world at large appreciates all that his coming brought about.
Papa Benson, as he was fondly called is believed to be the father of Pentecostalism in Nigeria, and was the founding President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN). This is true as touching the fact that through his life, Pentecostalism began to gain much ground. He never lived under the constraints of the religious fanatics of his day, he rather believed GOD’S word, and acted accordingly, this explains his prominence and popularity in his days, as the prosperity he preached reflected in his life.
Full Details of Where he started, when he started and how he started!
Family Background / Personal Life of Bishop Benson Idahosa
Bishop Benson Andrew Idahosa was born in Benin City in present day, Edo state, Nigeria, on the 11th of September, 1938. He scarcely enjoyed the best of his childhood days, as there was no comeliness worth talking about associated with his background. But, inspite of all of this, he still rose to such levels where his impact couldn’t be denied.
On the account of this he asserted this during one of his many sermons, “your background should not be the reason, your back should be on the ground”. True to his words he is a living testimony to that all powerful timeless truth.
Education was not even named close to his abode as his family was a really poor one, striving endlessly for survival.
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His cradle days, were also characterised by incessant sessions of fainting, due to a certain kind of ailment, which left him fighting desperately for life. There got to a time, his immediate family couldn’t put up any longer, that they had to resort to getting rid of the young lad indefinitely, but little did they know GOD had such beautiful arrangements for his life and future.
How it all started
Through a dramatic turn of events, Papa Benson Idahosa got saved in 1952, by one pastor Okpo. That singular decision was the reference point of greater and much more greater things to come.
After his conversion to the light, he was filled with the Holy spirit and such a deep hunger and passion for scriptures burned in him, that he read through the pages of scriptures over and over again until he began to apprehend deep spiritual mysteries. This hunger and passion also translated to his seeking out for the lost around him, after he had devoured T.L Osborn’s book on evangelism.
In many of the villages and little hamlets, he gathered people, sat them down and taught them GOD’S ways.
When it came to the time of his divine ordination, it happened as dramatically and experientially as his conversion has followed. It was such a huge moment, where GOD spelt out to him in bold letters all that He desired to do with his life.
Later on in his life and ministry, Papa Benson Idahosa met one of the Apostolic Church missionaries, in the person of Pa. S.G. Elton and they became very good friends. Pa. Elton became Idahosa’s mentor and it was him that introduced Papa Benson Idahosa to Gordon and Freda Lindsey (one of the healing evangelist of the Latter Rain Movement). Both Elton and Lindsey ordained Idahosa into ministry in 1971.
Benson Idahosa’s Marital Life
Papa Benson Idahosa got married to his lovely and ever supportive wife, Mrs Margret Idahosa by whom both have 4 children.
Ministerial Growth and Expansion
It has always been the desire of Papa Benson Idahosa to meet the needs of the total man. This passion led him to establish several other arms of the ministry apart from the church, that could carter for those other needs. This ministry expressions include, the Faith Mediplex, All Nations for Christ Bible Institute, Word of Faith Group of Schools and Benson Idahosa University which is currently under the supervision of his son, Rev. Faith Emmanuel Benson Idahosa Jr. Also, Papa Benson’s wife, Mrs. Margaret Idahosa is the current Archbishop of the church.
By 1971, he had already established churches all over Nigeria and Ghana, and preached in almost 200 nations of the world. Currently, in Nigeria, many of the prominent pastors that grace our screens today are all protégés and offshoots of the life and lifestyle of Papa Benson Idahosa, talking of men like Papa Ayo Oritsejafor, Bishop David Oyedepo, Felix Omobude, Fred Addo, Bishop Mike Okonkwo and Pastor Chris Oyakhilome.
As mentioned earlier, he had strong links with international gospel ministers, the likes of Billy Graham, T. L. Osborn, Kenneth E. Hagin, Benny Hinn, Reinhard Bonnke, Morris Cerullo, Oral Roberts, amongst many others.
The Departure of Bishop Benson Idahosa
It was with great shock, that the whole world greeted the news of Papa Benson’s death on the 12th day of March 1998. However abrupt it looked, his life and impact still speaks expressly till tomorrow, because of the kind of man he was. His messages are still classics today, as there is always this freshness whenever hia voice comes on air.
Up until his departure, Papa Benson remains the only black man, to have preached to more whites and also to more blacks than any other white man has ever done, having taken the gospel to more than 145 nations during his lifetime.