By Our Reporter
These are men ordained by God to preach the gospel, win souls and deliver people from the wrath of Satan. They have continually and consistently done these with the help of the Holy Spirit. Their source of power is divinely from God, as some of them were doing well in their chosen careers before they were called by God to set up their respective ministries.
NATIONAL WAVES tells you more about these spiritually filled men of God who have confessed Jesus as their Lord and Saviour and whose only mission is to win souls for God.
PASTOR ENOCH ADEBOYE
Daddy GO, as fondly called was born on March 2, 1942 in a village called Ifewara in Osun State, Nigeria. His parents were very poor and he was one of their four children. An illiterate farmer, his father did not believe in educating any of his children. In fact, the family was so poor that they could not afford to pay the school fees.
Enoch was however very particular about receiving a formal education and when his requests to be sent to school were dismissed by his father, he went on a hunger-strike in a bid to persuade him.
His father eventually gave in and sold his goat in order to pay for his school fees. He was enrolled at the only missionary school in their village.
Even though he started school quite late, he soon realized that he loved to read. He was admitted into the Ilesha Grammar School, Ilesha, Osun State, Western Nigeria in 1956 where he discovered his passion for science and mathematics.
He badly wanted to pursue a higher education but the ongoing Nigerian Civil War and his family’s dire financial condition threatened to thwart his ambitions. Yet he chased his dream relentlessly and ultimately obtained not only a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Mathematics from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria in 1967, but also a Masters (M.Sc.) Degree in Hydrodynamics and a Doctorate Degree (PhD) in Applied Mathematics, both from the University of Lagos, in 1969 and 1975 respectively. As a young man, he had one great ambition —t o become the youngest Vice Chancellor of any one of the frontline universities in Nigeria. Given his brilliant academic records, it seemed like he would achieve this dream soon.
He began his career as a lecturer in mathematics at the universities of Lagos and Ilorin, and looked poised to establish himself in a successful career in academics.
He married Foluke Adenike Adeboye at the age of 25 in 1968; he and his wife were facing some problems in having children. They had two children through caesarean surgeries and the doctors had advised them against having more. But the couple desperately wanted more children and thus embarked on a spiritual journey to seek a solution.
They came to the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in 1973 which was then headed by the General Superintendent, Pastor Josiah Oluwafemi Akindayomi. He became a born-again Christian on 29th of July, 1973, and decided to dedicate his life to the service of religion.
He became actively involved with the church and began propagating the gospel. In 1975 he was formally ordained a pastor.
Initially his duty at the church was to translate Akindayomi’s sermons from the pastor’s native language Yoruba into English. Eventually he started organizing Bible study meetings, crusades, revivals, outreaches and the evangelistic programmes known as the congress which proved to be very successful.
Impressed by the young man’s dedication towards religion Akindayomi decided that Adeboye was the man meant to succeed him. In 1981, Akindayomi died and Adeboye took over the leadership as the church’s General Overseer based on an instruction left by Akindayomi prior to his death. As the leader of the church he worked hard to expand the organization’s outreach and today the church has branches in 110 countries all over the world from Haiti to Germany, from India to the UK, and also in the US.
Pastor Adeboye is today considered to be one of the most influential pastors in Nigeria. As the General overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), he was instrumental in its vast expansion. The church, which was practically unknown when he took over, now has its branches in over a 100 countries all over the world including more than 14,000 in Nigeria. He was awarded the Order of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by the Nigerian President in 2008.
In 2009 he was named one of ‘The World’s Fifty Most Powerful People’ by Newsweek Magazine (USA).
He is the recipient of several honorary degrees including an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Lagos and an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He has four children, all of whom also became pastors later on. He is also a proud grandfather to several grandchildren.
BISHOP DAVID OYEDEPO
Spiritually filled Bishop David Oyedepo was born on September 27, 1954 in Osogbo, a native of Omu-Aran, Kwara State, Nigeria. He was raised in a mixed religious family, His father, Ibrahim, was a Muslim healer. His mother, Dorcas, was a member of the Eternal Order of the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement (C&S), a branch of the Aladura movement in Nigeria. He was raised by his grandmother in Osogbo, who introduced him to the virtues of Christian life via early morning prayers which she attended with him. She also taught him the importance of tithing.
Oyedepo was born again in 1969, through the influence of his teacher, Betty Lasher, who took special interest in him during his high school days. He studied architecture at the former Kwara State Polytechnic, now Kwara State University and worked briefly with the Federal Ministry of Housing in Ilorin before resigning to concentrate on missionary work. Oyedepo received a Ph.D. in Human Development from Honolulu University, Hawaii, United States. In 1982, he married Florence Abiola Akano (now known as Faith). They have four children together (David Jr, Isaac, Love and Joyce). David Jr and Isaac Oyedepo were ordained as pastors in May 2007 by Kenneth Copeland.
Oyedepo received a mandate from God through an 18-hour vision in May 1981, to liberate the world from all oppression of the devil through the preaching of the word of faith. This is the inaugural vision that led to the founding of the Living Faith Church World Wide (LFCWW), first called Liberation Faith Hour Ministries, in 1981. Two years later, on September 17, 1983, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, ordained David and his wife, Florence Abiola Akano (known as Faith Abiola Oyedepo) to become pastors and officially commissioned the new church. Five years later, Oyedepo was ordained as Bishop.
Living Faith Church (AKA Winners Chapel) started in Kaduna but moved to Lagos, the former capital of Nigeria in July 1989, to start a new branch of the church after Oyedepo received instructions from God to reach out to the people of Lagos.
- Oyedepo is the wealthiest preacher in Nigeria with a net worth of over USD $150 million. The church owns private jets and several buildings around the world, including London and the United States. He has written over 70 titles apart from periodicals. He is the Chairman/Publisher of Dominion Publishing House (DPH), a publishing arm of the ministry. DPH has over four million prints in circulation to date. Covenant University, Faith Academy and Kingdom Heritage Schools have been established to equip the youth for global impact. The construction of a third university named Crown University is already underway, located in Calabar, Cross Rivers, Nigeria.
- Bishop Oyedepo was instructed by God to build a new base for the Commission to accommodate the increasing number of worshippers. This resulted in Bishop Oyedepo’s church’s acquisition of the initial 530-acre (2.1 km2) facility, known as Canaanland, which serves as the headquarters. It is the home of the 50,000-seat capacity auditorium, the ‘Faith Tabernacle’, which is reputed to be the largest church auditorium in the world. This was a feat also recorded by the Guinness Book of Records.
- Faith Tabernacle was reported as the Worlds’ Largest Church Auditorium in December 2005 Construction was completed within 12 months. Reports also claimed that this building was built debt free. This 50,000-seat edifice was dedicated on September 18, 1999 under the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
- Canaanland is in Ota, Ogun State and is the 5,000-acre (20 km2) estate and campus, that houses the 50,000 church building, the church secretariat, the church’s youth chapel, a primary school called Kingdom heritage model school, a full boarding mission secondary school called Faith Academy, with over 1,500 students and the Covenant University facilities, which accommodates over 7,000 students, fully resident in ultra-modern hostel facilities, with fully equipped faculty buildings and numerous staff housing facilities.
- Canaanland campus also has for profit establishments operated by the church such as a bakery, a bottled water processing plant, a petrol station, various restaurants and shopping stores, several residential houses that provide for the over 2,000 church employees, and guest houses. Four banks are also present on this estate, three of which are branches of external commercial banks and one which is a community and micro-finance bank and operated by the Church.
- The whole of Canaanland which includes a proposed 15,000 housing estate known as Canaan City had increased to 17,000 acres as at 2012.
- The teachings of Oyedepo have put him in the category of what is commonly called the Word of Faith Movement. He has referred to principal exponents of the Faith Movement such as Kenneth Copeland, Gloria Copeland, the late Kenneth Hagin, E. W. Kenyon, T. L. Osborn, Smith Wigglesworth as well as renowned Nigerian preachers Enoch Adeboye and the late Benson Idahosa as mentors.
His Winners Chapel operates a Bible training programme known as Word of Faith Bible Institute for members and non-members alike to develop knowledge of Christian principles and to develop leaders and future pastors. This institute is run in major branches of the Church. - Oyedepo is the President of David Oyedepo Ministries International (DOMI). DOMI is the umbrella organisation comprising Living Faith Church World Wide (a global network of churches), World Mission Agency (WMA); the global missionary arm of the church’s operations, Dominion Publishing House; the publishing arm of the church, Covenant University, and the Social Development Missions projects (made up of hospitals, maternity homes, schools, etc.
Oyedepo has criticised corruption in Africa as a whole and poor leadership in government.
DANIEL OLUKOYA
Dr. Daniel Kolawole Olukoya was born in Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria to Mr. Olukoya, a Police officer and Mrs. Olukoya, a trader. While registered at St. John’s CAC Primary School, Akure, he was recognized as an exceptionally intelligent child coming tops throughout his stay at the school. Later when his family moved to Lagos, he was enrolled at St. Jude’s Primary school, Ebute-netta, where he graduated with excellent results.
He proceeded to Methodist Boys’ High School Lagos, Incidentally, this was where he became born again. It was also at MBHS that he encountered an Indian teacher who once said in class “Boys, if you want to escape poverty, READ YOUR BOOK!” he doggedly followed this advice, studying from 9pm to 3am daily. By the time he finished from MBHS, he was the best graduating student of his set.
In 1976, he was admitted into the University of Lagos to study Microbiology. He graduated in 1980 with a first-class degree in Microbiology. He was the first person to have achieved a first-class in the course at the university and his G.P.A is still the highest recorded so far (as at February 2010) in that course.
Soon after graduation, he won a scholarship to study for a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Molecular Genetics at the University of Reading, United Kingdom. Despite the natural difficulty of the programme, he earned his PhD in three years and returned to Nigeria.
Upon his return to Nigeria, he joined the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Yaba, where his reputation as an exceptional Geneticist of African origin became established. He emerged as an authority in the study of genetics, publishing over 70 scientific papers in a short span (a remarkable feat by any standard). He also taught Genetics and was external examiner in a number of universities. Moreover, he attended and presented papers at scientific conferences in almost all continents of the world. Even today, he continues to contribute to the field of genetics and biotechnology via the Daniel & Fola Biotechnology Foundation, a registered NGO established to empower Nigerian citizens with modern and contemporary laboratory skills in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology.
Olukoya’s father, apart from being a policeman, was also a pastor at the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC). Thus, he was raised in a Christian home with Christian beliefs. Throughout all his years in school, Daniel Olukoya was committed to the service of the Lord Jesus Christ. His passion for Jesus and his spiritual fire increased tremendously during his doctorate degree in the United Kingdom.
Olukoya’s ministry is heavily influenced by the work of the late Apostle Joseph Ayodele Babalola, the founder of the CAC church. In the dedication pages of the Prayer Rain and Prayer Passport books,:
The works of Dr. Daniel Olukoya are published by the Battle Cry Christian Ministries. These published works include over 250 life-changing Christian books (as at July 2015), audio tapes and CDs, video discs and many more.
CHRIS OYAKHILOME
He is commonly referred to as Pastor Chris and was born on December 7, 1961. He was the eldest son of the family of Tim Oyakhilome.
In 1991, Oyakhilome married Anita Ebhodaghe. They had two daughters (Sharon and Charlene) Anita Ebodaghe filed for divorce on April 9, 2014 at the Central Family Court in London. After the separation, they also decided to share custody of their two children. They divorced in February 2016 after 25 years of marriage on the basis of “Unreasonable Behaviour.”
Oyakhilome’s first daughter Sharron Oyakhilome, was married to a Ghanaian man on the October 6, 2018, and her mother was reportedly absent.
He is the founder and president of Believers’ Love World Incorporated, also known as Christ Embassy based in Lagos.
Oyakhilome’s ministry holds meetings in the United Kingdom, the United States and has healing school sessions in South Africa and Canada. Oyakhilome also hosts Higher Life conferences in Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, UK, US and Canada.
He organized the Night of Bliss South Africa event at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg. Oyakhilome also operates an International School of Ministry which held one of its Ministers’ Network Conferences in 2016 with 5,000 ministers in attendance from 145 countries, in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Oyakhilome runs an online prayer network using social media to send messages to Christians in several countries. He had over 1.2 million followers on Twitter in 2013, over 1.9 million followers on Facebook and operates a smartphone messenger called KingsChat. Oyakhilome is also the author of the daily devotional “Rhapsody of Realities” On Rhapsody website the “Rhapsody of Realities” devotional is only available for download in over 143 languages either on Apple or Android. Oyakhilome also hosts Higher Life conferences in Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, UK, US and Canada. In 2015, Oyakhilome was given an honorary doctorate from Ambrose Alli University, and Benson Idahosa University.
Oyakhilome is known for his philanthropic works, which include aiding the poor, the sick, and the dispossessed, both materially and spiritually. Pastor Chris’s Inner City Mission Project declares that “every child is your child”; this project saves and assists orphaned and indigent children in inner cities across the globe.
Pastor Chris has an honorary doctorate degree in divinity from Benson Idahosa University.
Pastor Chris is a graduate of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, where he obtained a degree in Architecture.
MATTHEW ASHIMOLOWO
Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo is the Senior Pastor of Kingsway International Christian Centre. He was born to a Muslim parents in Kaduna on the 17th of March 1952; he is the fourth in a family five children. As the son of a military officer, his father was constantly transferred on official duties and this meant his family was also on the move. His Muslim name was Ahmed, his father died in the Biafra war.
At the age of 22, he got saved in a drunken state, after which he went to Bible school in Lagos to further his career as a minister of the gospel.
After Bible school, he began as an assistant pastor in Foursquare Gospel church, he travelled to the UK, where he started his own ministry. Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo’s Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC) is said to have started in the year 1992 with just 1 members in a school hall in the North London.
Over time, the membership of the church grew and the church had to move to Hackney town cenrer after which it acquired a building at Mare Street. The building later became too small for the community. KICC is currently housed by another building which situates at 57, Waterden Road.
Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo is a dynamic preacher, having preached for over 30 years, he is a successful leader and a prolific author having written more than 20 books. He has received numerous awards for his outstanding books and selfless service; he is the author of over 60 books.
A strong advocate and a voice in the Pentecostal Christian community in United Kingdom. He is a constant feature on God Channel TV, TBN, Daystar and various TV networks. Pastor Matthew serves on the board of Premier Radio station which is UK’s premier Christian radio station. He is a motivational speaker and a successful businessman.
As an author, he has received accolades for his outstanding books. He is the winner of the Nigerian Booksellers Award for Tongues of Fire and many more. He currently hosts “Winning Ways” which is shown on TBN Daystar, God channel and aired on Premier Christian Radio. He also hosts 24 Hour Miracle which comes up on OBE TV
Ayo Oritsejafor
Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor is the founder and Senior Pastor of Word of Life Bible Church, located in Warri, Nigeria. He became the National President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) on February 7, 2005. A position he held diligently for five years.
In July 2010, Oritsejafor was elected as the President of the Christian Association of Nigerian (CAN), the apex body of all Christians in the country. Based on this, he became the first Pentecostal leader to hold the position.
Ayodele Joseph Oritbemi Oritsejafor was born on November 10, into the family of Mr. Joseph Monday Oritsejafor and Mrs. Roli Durojaiye Oritsejafor in Lagos. Desperately in need of a male child, his mother had prayed earnestly, believing God for the blessing of a male child. She would say to God, “if you give me a child, I will give him back to you”. His parents, both of blessed memory, felt fulfilled with the birth of their son and named him, Ayodele: joy has come to our home.
Little Ayo could not utter a word until he was five years old. The doctors said nothing was wrong with him; yet he couldn’t speak. The miracle of his speaking occurred on his fifth birthday. Not a few were amazed when eventually he started talking; not as one learning to speak, but fluently and maturely like any normal child. Ayo’s mother, a staunch member of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), then used to lay baby Ayo on the church altar for hours praying that God would heal, bless and use him.
This love and affection was short-lived as tragedy struck rather too early in young Ayo’s life – his father, whom he was so fond of, died. His father’s death ushered in a new era to his life’s journey. It was an era marked with confusion, uncertainty, sorrow and much pain. Young Ayo was left at the mercy of relatives that made his life miserable while his mother remarried and moved to the UK with her new husband to start life afresh in her new home. So he grew up on his own and got involved with all kinds of drugs. He was rough and utterly violent.
In 1972, Ayo went out to visit his relative who lives in Sapele, Nigeria. On that memorable day he had stopped by a local store to purchase some “crack/wrap” of Indian hemp, there came a young man who handed him a flyer inviting him over to a crusade to hold on the 2nd of November.
The day finally came and he was half drunk, but he still managed to get to the crusade ground in the company of a friend. Ayo heard the word of God with much clarity and precision which reached into the depth of his soul like never before.
It was like God was directly talking to him, and when the call to receive Jesus was made, he reached out for the opportunity he had silently waited for all his life. He struggled with tears as he rose to step forward, shrugging off his friend who was trying to stop him.
At that moment, he observed that he immediately felt joy, peace and so much love. Something dramatic happened to him that couldn’t be put into words.
On their way home from the crusade, his friend accosted him “a fool” for allowing his emotions to overcome him. Today, the one that was once called a fool has become the envy of many. Some said then: “It will not last”, but he is still winning souls and working for God.
With his life totally transformed, Ayo made a commitment to serve the Lord Jesus for the rest of his life. Though he was offered a free Bible, young Ayo refused the offer saying that he would rather buy himself a Bible with his money. He actually bought one the next day and from that moment onward, he began sharing the love of God with everyone he came across.
Oritsejafor decided after the remarkable experience of being born again, which ushered in another phase when God began to re-fix his life, to go to Bible school. He enrolled at the All Nations For Christ Bible Institute, Benin City, Nigeria.
While in Bible school, Ayo could not preach and could not do anything as far as ministering the word of God is concerned. He got to a point where he felt he had made a mistake in attending Bible school. His inadequacy was so obvious at that time, he began to question why a person like him should go to Bible school to become a preacher.
He had the zeal of attending a Bible school to be a preacher, and here he was in Bible school and couldn’t preach. He would escape classes, because he could not preach and he couldn’t do anything. He could not even stand before people. After a while, Ayo decided to pack his luggage and leave. ::“It is better to correct your mistake early than to get stuck later”, he told himself.
On a certain day, while in the bathroom, Ayo said he saw a vision. It was a quick thing. He saw himself wearing a suit; it was a jacket with a tie. He was preaching to thousands of people and he heard a voice: “This is what you are going to be doing the rest of your life” and the voice said, “Take my word to the world”. Instantly he came to himself, got out of the bathroom, unpacked quickly and remained in the Bible school.
Due to his unending determination to please God, he enrolled with the Nigerian Baptist Seminary, Ogbomosho in Oyo State, Nigeria and later proceeded in 1979 to the United States for further studies at Morris Cerullo’s School of Ministry (El Cortez), San Diego, California.
Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor is the Founder and Senior Pastor of Word of Life Bible Church, located in Warri, Nigeria. In July 2010.
Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor’s Ministries was the first to launch a Miracle crusade (Lagos Miracle Crusade) from Africa to world audience, via satellite, in 1987 with Evangelist Joe Martins.
Pastor Ayo got married to Helen Oritsejafor in 1997 at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Lagos, Nigeria. Their union is blessed with beautiful triplets: sons Ayodele Joseph, Ayodeji and daughter Ayodeta Helen. The family resides in Warri, Nigeria.
REV. CHRIS OKOTIE
Rev. Chris Okotie is the pastor of the Household of God Church International Ministries, a Pentecostal congregation founded February 1987 in Lagos State Nigeria.
Rev. Chris Okotie is a celebrity pastor, lawyer, politician, fashion icon, author, political activist, columnist, role model, world-class theologian, quintessential news-maker, erudite teacher.
Christopher Oghenebrorie Okotie was born on the 16th of June 1958 to Mr. Francis Idje and Mrs. Cecilia Okotie, in Ethiope-West, Delta State (then Bendel State).
As a growing child, he always loved to sing. While in secondary school at Edo College, Benin City, he belonged to the school’s Music Club and usually entertained groups of people. He never considered commercialising his talent until his first year at university, when his father died.
He attended secondary school at Edo College, Benin City. In 1984, he graduated with a degree in law from the University of Nigeria at Nsukka. Okotie abandoned his schooling for a while to pursue a pop music career. He returned to school to complete his education and graduated with a law degree. Whilst undergoing law school, he interrupted his schooling again to begin his religious ministries. Okotie attended the Grace Fellowship Bible School in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and, soon after, established the Household of God Ministry.
In 1990, Okotie established the annual Karis Awards, hosted by his church, to recognize and financially reward Nigerian citizens. In 2011, Forbes estimated his net worth at US$3-10 million.
Okotie’s spatial relevance in stardom spans over four decades. This has endeared him to reporters as a delight. His impeccable communication of the gospel reaches the very depth of its profundity.
His theological treatise penetrates the extending depth of the unrivaled eternal Word with a progressive and an unmatchable clarity.One never seems to get enough of his apocalyptic depths. He is an audience favourite any day.
Okotie’s expanse depth on eschatology, a revelation of the end times; a very complex subject few preachers have the knowledge and understanding to deal with, comes with some earth-shaking revelations.
In his book, “The Last Outcast,” published several years ago, he clearly foretold the unfolding events in the church and the fulfillment of the ministry of the antichrist in this last days.Rev. Chris Okotie has married twice and announced he has separated from his second wife on June 24, 2012.
Pastor Okotie first ran for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, under the banner of the Justice Party (JP), led by Ralph Obiorah after he was schemed out of the National Democratic Party (NDP) primaries elections; he lost to Olusegun Obasanjo in the May 2003 elections. He ran again in 2007 on the platform of a party he founded, Fresh Democratic party, FRESH and lost to Umaru Yar’Adua in the May 2007 elections. Then in 2011, he ran and lost to the President Goodluck Jonathan.
Mike Okonkwo
Dr. Mike Okonkwo is the Presiding Bishop of TREM was born on September 6, 1945 to the family of Pa and Ma Okonkwo of Ogbunike in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State. He started his primary education at Salvation Army Primary School Enugu, but later moved to Ijero Baptist Primary School in Ebute Metta, Lagos. He however completed his primary education at St. Marks Primary School, Offa in Kwara State. He started his secondary education at Mayflower College, Ikenne and completed it at Merchants of Light Grammar School, Oba Anambra State in 1963.
Dr. Mike Okonkwo joined the Nigerian Ports Authority in 1964 where he worked only for three months before crossing over to the banking industry with African Continental Bank (ACB) with the mind of making a career in banking. He was a pioneer member of staff of the Martins street branch, Lagos from 1964 to 1966. Dr. Okonkwo was deployed to the eastern branch of ACB during the civil war, which eventually interrupted his banking career.
During the war, he underwent the military training but had no opportunity to practice what he had learnt because the war ended the very night he was deployed to the warfront. After the war, he continued with his banking career at the Ogbete road branch of ACB where he was a pioneer staff.
Dr. Okonkwo had an encounter with Jesus in November 1970 and for the 1st time, he started attending Church services regularly in the United Church of Christ, (UCC) which has her headquarters in Enugu. The call of God upon his life was evident and so he was ordained into the ministry in 1971. He took up his first pastoral responsibility in Lagos in November 1972 with UCC. He was released as an Evangelist on the 20th of June 1976 and was instrumental in establishing most branches of the Church in Lagos.
He served faithfully in UCC under the leadership of Apostle Egbo from 1971 to 1980. It became obvious due to circumstances beyond his control that he had to leave UCC, because God has a plan for his life. The Redeemed Evangelical Mission, TREM was founded on the 4th of January, 1981.
In 1980, Dr. Mike Okonkwo received a certificate of license from International Deliverance Churches, Dallas, Texas. In 1981, he graduated with a diploma degree from the Morris Cerullo School of Ministry, San Diego, California, USA. By 1982, he earned diploma with International Bible Institute and Seminary, Orlando, Florida. The same year, he bagged a Bachelor of Bible Theology in the same university. The Covington Theological Seminary, Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, USA gave him a waiver for Masters Degree and he went in for a Doctorate degree program in Divinity which he successfully completed and was conferred with Doctor of Divinity degree with all rights and privileges pertaining thereto. In 1984, the Board of Directors of International Bible Institute, Orlando, Florida, USA, upon recommendation by the Faculty conferred on him a Doctor of Letters Degree. In 1987, the United Christian International Bible Institute, Cleveland, Tennessee, USA awarded him a Doctor of Divinity certificate.
He is a holder of the ordination certificate and the certificate of fellowship of World Ministry Fellowship Shreveport, Louisiana, USA. He is also a holder of ordination certificate from the National Christian Fellowship Conference, (NCFC) USA, the Church of God Mission International Nigeria, United Christian Church & Ministerial Association, USA.
He was awarded Attestation of Pilgrimage by the Government of Israel, thereby authorising him to bear the title Jerusalem Pilgrim.
He is a holder of Meritorious Achievement Award from the International Affairs Leadership Parliament, by the Golden State University, University of Honolulu, Ephraim Moore University, International Theological Seminary, Spiritual Life Ministries, all in USA and the Trinity College of Ministerial Arts in Nigeria.
Dr. Mike Okonkwo was awarded the prestigious Scenic Center of the South Certificate by the City of Chattanooga, Tennessee USA, in 1989. The Faith Christian Fellowship International Church Incorporated, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA, through his able leadership extended the right hand of fellowship by awarding an Associate Church Certificate to TREM.
In 1997, Bishop Mike and Dr. Peace Okonkwo had the honour of having their names inscribed on the Jerusalem 3000 scroll number 6571 and is thus recorded in the history of Jerusalem with a certificate awarded thereby.
Dr. Mike Okonkwo was consecrated the Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM) on the 7th of May 1988.
On the home front, Dr. Mike Okonkwo is a member of the founding fathers of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), the 1st National Secretary General and former President of PFN. He is the convener of the Communion of Covenant Ministers International (CCMI), past National Vice President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).
He is a speaker in great demand around the world for Seminars, Conferences, Crusades, Conventions and ministers’ training. He is a member of the Board of Directors of Arlington Church, Arlington, USA. He is the Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM). He is the Chief Host of the popular Television and Radio network, Power in the Word. He is a father of fathers, a Pastor of Pastors, an Apostle of our time.
He is the Patron and Founder of the Empowerment for the Less Privileged Foundation, a non-governmental organisation committed to alleviating the plight of the less-privileged in the society through donations to hospitals, establishment of free vocational training centres, running free preparatory schools for students in the secondary schools, and facilitating regular public enlightenment campaigns on health issues amongst others. He also pioneers a scholarship fund for talented students.
Dr. Mike Okonkwo has authored several books in English and two translated to French. He is a widely travelled man, who has gone far and wide for the spread of the gospel.
He is married to Dr. Peace Okonkwo and they are blessed with a daughter, Uche
LAZARUS MUOKA
He is a healing minister, evangelist and author. He leads one of Nigeria’s largest Christian congregations known as the Lords Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministries.From his orthodox catholic background, Pastor Lazarus was instructed by God to start up his own ministry with the purpose of liberating souls massively for Christ.
His church is a young one but boasts of an army of congregation recording about 30,000 persons in a single service.His calling is quite a unique one which led him to becoming a public religious figure when he started the Lords Choosen Church.
His rare healing powers and periodical healing crusades both in Lagos and his home state of Imo always comes as a healing and miracle galore, where hundreds of souls are being healed and delivered. Miracles are obnoxious in such gatherings and the number increases with each new meeting.Pastor Lazarus is a household name in the Nigerian Christian community.
The bulk of his popularity is linked to his church and the members who have made it a point of duty to showcase how much they love God in very incredible and dramatic ways.
They are known for their signature traffic attire in their slew of numbers occupying the major streets across cities in Nigeria while they rally with uncommon acrobatics as they go gaga for Christ.
You have to give it to them, the most dramatic church Nigeria has ever seen.
Lazarus Muoka. was born in his hometown of Mgbidi in Oru West, Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria.He was birthed into a Catholic family and was brought up in that parochial background.
After his primary and secondary education in Mgbidi his birth place and clan, he went in search of greener pastures in Lagos in 1975 where he learnt the vehicle spare parts business and was steadfast in it which paid off handsomely in helping him set up his own spare part business before God interrupted his works and demanded for his services in the Kingdom.
Pastor Lazarus Muoka’s first encounter with God wasn’t like the average testimonies of such encounters. He first heard of the good news of the gospel while on transit.
As the preacher continued his messages in the bus, he was touched immensely and made a resolution to give his life to Christ.Subsequently, he joined the church of the bus preacher which was a catholic one and became faithful with them till he was made a pastor in same church.
When God wants to use men distinctly for a specific purpose, he sorts them out while they are busy already because God hates the slothful.
This was the case for Lazarus who was actively involved in his former church as a pastor but in 1994 had his dream characterized by incessant calls from God to go set up his own.
When he finally obeyed that call amidst making a tough decision to leave the church he was serving, The Lord’s Choosen Charismatic Revival Ministries (TLCCRM) came alive in Illasamaja, Lagos, Nigeria.
The year was 2002 and the young church experienced a cataysed record growth that awed it’s onlookers when in 2003 it recorded a whopping 25, 000 attendance in a single service.
This membership population upsurge forced the church to acquire 10 plots at the Amuwo-odofin area of Lagos which was really not enough because they had to acquire more totalling about 60 plots where they began building in earnest same 2003 while they were yet to celebrate an anniversary.
Pastor Lazarus obviously had the call evident in his ministry when his congregation population exploded to 30,000, that’s about the highest in such a very minute time frame.His church headquarters has since transformed into a haven for miracles, signs and wonders.
The church attracts individuals from across the world weekly and has its branches littered across the nation with almost every major city having numerous branches of the Lord’s Choosen.
When asked how he was able to attract such a massive membership within a short time frame, Pastor Lazarus said “The truth remains that If God calls you; He will establish you, no matter the situation.
He will attract the people. Though, you cannot see God, but if you do His will, you will prosper and that is what we preach here.Our credo at the Lord’s Choosen is “Do the will of God and prosper.”.
He is happily married to Joy Muoka and they are blessed with children.Pastor Lazarus has authored only a handful of books.
PAUL ENENCHE
Dr. Paul Enenche is the founder and senior pastor at Dunamis International Gospel Centre in Abuja. A church he founded in 1996 Enenche was born in the city of Orokam in Benue State.
Pastor Paul Eneche was formerly a practicing Medical doctor before he got called into establishing the ministry. He is also married to a doctor, Dr. Becky Eneche and they are blessed with Four Children. She is the proprietress of Dunamis International Schools.The man of God oversees a church with over 30,000 congregation in five services every Sunday.
More than 20 years in ministry, with the power and presence of the living Christ; demonstrating Jesus Christ as the loving, living, saving, healing son of God.Pastor Paul Eneche is the publisher of the monthly daily devotional called ‘The Seeds of Destiny’ and also the host of the popular television and Radio series titled ‘Destiny Encounter’. He has also written many inspirational books.
Pastor Eneche and his wife have touched many lives through their life changing sermons, talks and seminars.Endowed with the double edged gift of scientific knowledge as a medical doctor and anointed of God, by a heavy power to save, heal and deliver. Thus, bringing hope to the hopeless and giving them a reason to fulfill destiny.
He has passion for youths, and is a well sought-after speaker by government and various organizations. Dr. Paul is known for ruggedness in the delivery of raw, undiluted word of truth. His compassion for the sick and oppressed is evident in the manner which leads him; setting people free through the power of God.
His ministry is wrapped with the passion for restoring Human Destiny and dignity. He is blessed with four lovely children resident in Abuja, the federal capital territory.
Dunamis International Gospel Centre already has outreaches established around the African continent, UK and USA.,
Dunamis International Gospel Centre was established on the 10th of November 1996. And the first Sunday service was held at Abuja Centre for Arts and Culture (First Floor) Area 10.
Church service was held there for 2weeks and the church later moved to Abuja Sheraton Hotel & Towers, where the church worshipped for about 6 months. The church moved to her present site in June, 1997, less than a year after the ministry started
DAVID IBIYEOME
Pastor David Ibiyeomie is a televangelist, author, and educationist. He is the founder and senior pastor of Salvation Ministries with headquarter in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Ibiyeomie was born on October 21, 1962, in Bonny Island, Rivers State. His parents were natives of Bolo Town, a place situated in the Ogu/Bolo LGA of Rivers State.
After completing his Bible School training at Bishop David Oyedepo‘s Word of Faith Bible Institute (WOFBI), Ibiyeomie started a house fellowship with his family in Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria. He later relocated to Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where he started Salvation Ministries (Glorious Chapel) on April 13, 1997, with a little over twenty members in attendance.
In July 1997, the church relocated to a larger plot of land on Birabi Street in G.R.A. Phase 1, Port Harcourt. As of 2017, Salvation Ministries averages about 50,000 attendees every Sunday at its headquarters. The church also has numerous branches all over Nigeria and the United States.
Pastor David Ibiyeomie is married to Pastor (Mrs.) Peace Ibiyeomie, and they both have a son David Ibiyeomie Jr
DAYO OLUTAYO
Dayo Olutayo is the Senior Pastor of Good Tidings Bible Church International (GTBCI). Over the tears, he has displayed traits and action which qualifies him to be addresses as possessing an apostolic dimension of divine favour.
Dayo Olutayo is the in-law to Bishop David Oyedepo, being the younger brother to Faith Oyedepo, wife of Nigeria’s richest pastor. He is a mechanical engineer by training. Dayo Olutayo and her elder sister Faith Oyedepo came from a family where good Christian ideals are highly espoused, such that even their father, who died at ripe old age, was still very spiritually sound till death.
Dayo was introduced to ministry work by Bishop Oyedepo where he served as a church assistant and actually lived with the Oyedepos for a few years, until his boss felt he was matured enough to pastor a branch. His first official posting as a Resident Pastor was the Maiduguri Branch of Winners Chapel. He showed ministerial grace and excellence which earned him another foreign posting to Nairobi Kenya in 1995. It was on record that within three years, a church started from the scratch was able to erect a 3500 seater auditorium, built debt free and dedicated in 1998, a feat never experienced in the history of church building projects of any other church, in the entire nation of Kenya.
The Grace of God upon his life earned him another posting to Abuja to supervise the transition from Area1 to Durumi District and subsequently he was consecrated a Bishop.
The normal wind of transfer associated with Living Faith Church came calling in 2004 and Bishop Dayo Olutayo was transferred to Port Harcourt. This decision of his boss and in-law to remove him from the Abuja Diocese to make way for a hierarchically senior colleague, Bishop David Abioye, to replace him, did not go down well with him. He introduced Bishop Abioye to his flock, jetted down to Port Harcourt, took over from the man there, returned back to Abuja, ostensibly to prepare to relocate finally to the new territory, and he ended up relocating finally out of Winners Chapel.
Dayo Olutayo shortly after his return from Port Harcourt circulated a leaflet where he denounced his Bishopric Office and described it as a title under ‘Living Faith Church’, resigned from the church and started Good Tidings Bible Church. The controversy generated by his resignation almost tore the former church apart and many disappeared from the Abuja church such that the halls were half empty. It took the special grace upon Bishop Abioye for Durumi Church, depleted by his exit, to gather back multitudes.
.However, one cannot prophetically deny that Dayo Olutayo has the calling of God upon his life. His followers have also attested to unusual favor they get whenever people flock round him. In Good Tidings Bible Church, testimonies of favor have become so common that it is no more celebrated. Persons have been astronomically promoted, businesses suddenly turned around, miracle jobs, miracle marriages, and mega contracts through processes that show only a magnetic influence of delight associated with God’s favor.
Dayo Olutayo also gets involved in feeding the poor and helping the less privileged in the society irrespective of religious leanings. Muslims, Christians and Pagans have all benefited from his ministry of rehabilitating the poor and needy in Abuja in dimensions never exhibited by any other church in the city. What he introduced years back as a process of feeding the poor has metamorphosed into a Lifegate Care Centres located around Abuja where the poor are fed occasionally. In addition, a quarterly programme of feeding, clothing and rehabilitating the poor and needy called Kingdom Welfare Day (KWD)has become a regular feature in the church. Diverse categories of scholarships are also given out to the less privileged, in dimensions not witnessed around the city.
The massive and architecturally crafted cozy church auditorium which runs two Sunday services is situated at Utako Area of Abuja also has a primary and secondary school.
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