Transformation through World Evangelism Vision
While in Dallas Idahosa read a book on world evangelism by T. L. Osborn and was profoundly affected. For three days, he wept, prayed, and fasted over the message of the book. His soul was burdened with the need to reach the millions of souls in Nigeria that had not known Christ, and he immediately applied to return to Nigeria even though he had not completed his programme. Lindsay accepted, and Idahosa quickly returned to Nigeria. Idahosa was a changed man – he now burned with the passion to see the world saved he was being transformed from the Benin evangelist to a national and global crusader.
Formation of a National Evangelistic Vision His first major move upon returning to Nigeria was to start an organization with the same name as Lindsay’s Christ for the Nations International Evangelistic Association. He invited all the pastors in Benin to a meeting to discuss the formation of a fellowship of evangelists to reach Benin and all of Nigeria. They received the message with indifference, and Idahosa concluded he would have to forge ahead alone. He called his elders and his mentor, Elton, to discuss a plan to reach all of Nigeria. They took a map of Nigeria, divided the country into four sections and decided to schedule an evangelistic crusade in each section.
The Ogbe Stadium Crusade and Nationwide Expansion The first target was the mid-western region. Ogbe Stadium, with a seating capacity of 60,000, was booked for five days, February 25-29, 1972. The crusade was widely publicized: adverts were run on the radio, a sound truck drove through the city and posters and handbills were distributed. No one knew what the response of the community would be, but to Idahosa’s thrill, 5,000 people gathered in the stadium on the first night. The crowds steadily grew, reaching about 10,000 on the closing night. Hundreds were saved and many miracles were recorded. In the following months, crusades were held in the other three regions with similar results. From this point on, there was no stopping Idahosa.
A New Model of Church and Vision Partnership In a radical departure from older Pentecostal practice, his church, which had been named “Church of God Mission International,” regarded Idahosa as the carrier of the vision and saw themselves as partners with him. In essence the preacher had become the icon of the message and the church the support base of the vision. Perhaps this unalloyed support for the “man sent by God” was one of the most important factors in Idahosa’s rise to global influence.
Crusades as the Gold Standard of Charismatic Evangelism Idahosa’s crusades became the gold standard of charismatic evangelism. He followed the pattern of T. L. Osborn, who was then the most successful international Pentecostal evangelist. Idahosa was re-enacting Osborn’s feats on a national scale. Miracles, healings, the manifestation of the gift of faith, deliverance and an open challenge to occult powers were major features of the crusades. Idahosa also began to explore initiatives that would define charismatic Christianity in Nigeria and Africa for decades. He boldly rallied people around his vision.
Rapid Church Growth and National Impact By 1973, the church’s headquarters in Benin was regularly recording an attendance of about 2,000. Three other branches had also been opened in the city and more than 100 branches throughout the country. The crusades continued on a massive scale in Warri, Agbor, Sapele, Auchi, Owerri, Ilorin, Owo and in major towns and cities. The whole nation watched in awe as Idahosa’s programmes shook towns and cities and reshaped the Pentecostal landscape.
Tale Tuesday 020
Date: 6th December, 2022
Title: BENSON IDAHOSA- Part 2
Source: A Heritage of Faith: A History of Christianity in Nigeria
Author: Ayodeji Abodunde
Previous post
Next post
