Conversion and Early Evangelism
Benson Idahosa’s Christian experience began in 1959 when he was converted and joined the Assemblies of God. He became a leader there and was very committed to evangelism. In 1962, he enrolled for the correspondence course of a Bible college in Ilorin. He organized his first crusade in 1961; in 1962 he held his second crusade in Abraka; and in 1963, he organized another public meeting in Ogharaki.
Divine Visitation and Call to Special Assignment
Around 1968, Idahosa had a visitation from God where he heard these words: “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 seemed charged with the presence of God as Idahosa fell to his knees beside his bed and cried to God. The next night, he had another visionary experience, in which he was told he had been called to fulfil a special assignment.
Growing Evangelistic Influence
After this experience, Idahosa intensified his evangelism efforts and began seeing a greater response to his ministry as he travelled from village to village. Instead of groups of a dozen or fifteen people, the crowds began numbering from thirty-five to one hundred and sometimes more. When he called on a chief to ask permission to preach in a village, he found a more willing response than he had seen before. He also found that he was preaching with greater power. More people confessed Christ as their Saviour and more cases of healings were recorded. He held crusades in Warri in June 1969 and in Benin in September 1969.
Establishment of a Church in Benin City
Around this period, he started a church at Forestry Road, in Benin City, to cater for his converts. It started with seven adults and five children, and within a year people were crowding into the little storefront building for Bible Study and often spilling into the walkway and street. As the church grew, Idahosa felt the need for a mentor who would understand the vision and advise him appropriately. Up until this time, Udo Okpo, his pastor in the Assemblies of God Church, had been his adviser, but Idahosa didn’t want the work to come under any denominational influence and therefore sought an independent leader.
Mentorship and Partnerships for Ministry Growth
As he prayed about this, he was directed to approach Sydney Elton in Ilesa. When he got to Ilesa, Elton told Idahosa that he had heard about him and had wanted to meet him. Idahosa shared the vision of his ministry and explained the need for funds to roof the church’s new building. Elton offered to help secure funds from Gordon Lindsay’s organization, Christ for the Nations. The relationship with Elton and Lindsay ushered Idahosa into a new phase of his ministry and was also significant for the budding charismatic movement.
Ordination and International Training
In 1971, Idahosa met Lindsay, who had come to Nigeria to visit some of the churches his organization was supporting through Elton. Since Elton had also got the funding for the roofing of Idahosa’s church from Lindsay, Benin City was a part of his itinerary. At a well-publicised meeting attended by about 250 people, Elton and Lindsay ordained Idahosa into the ministry on March 21, 1971. Lindsay afterwards offered Idahosa a scholarship to study at his Christ for the Nation’s Bible Institute in Dallas, which he accepted.
Tale Tuesday 019
Date: 29th November 2022
Title: BENSON IDAHOSA- Part 1
Source: A Heritage of Faith: A History of Christianity in Nigeria
Author: Ayodeji Abodunde
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