GOD’S GENERALS
A LIFE OF FAITH, POWER, AND REVIVAL
“The name ‘I AM’ is like a blank cheque. Our faith can fill in whatever the Lord is to us personally.”
— Archbishop B. A. Idahosa
A LIVING LEGACY
The name Archbishop Benson Andrew Idahosa is one that cannot be forgotten in any generation that desires to worship a living God. Though he has gone to be with the Lord, his message about faith, power, and the reality of God continues to inspire countless men and women today. His life and ministry still ignite faith in believers, empowering many to stand boldly against evil and to live victoriously in Christ.
HIS LIFE OF FAITH
Born on September 11, 1938, Benson Andrew Idahosa was a charismatic Pentecostal preacher and the founding father of the Church of God Mission International, headquartered in Benin City, Nigeria. As the first Pentecostal Archbishop in Nigeria, he became a towering figure in the spread of Christianity across Africa.
The renowned evangelist T. L. Osborn once called him “the greatest African ambassador of the Apostolic Christian Faith to the world.”
Born to non-Christian parents in a community steeped in traditional religion, Idahosa’s early life was marked by rejection and frailty. His father, John, disowned him due to his frequent fainting spells, and at one point, his mother was told to abandon him on a rubbish heap—thinking him dead. Miraculously, he was later rescued by her, a foreshadowing of the divine destiny that awaited him.
ENCOUNTER WITH CHRIST
As a youth, Idahosa was converted to Christianity through the ministry of Pastor Okpo and soon became one of his most zealous members. He passionately evangelized, moving from village to village with the message of Christ. Having read the Gospel of John, his heart burned for souls, and after a divine revelation, he dedicated himself to full-time ministry.
He purchased a motorcycle to travel and preach, later founding his first church in a small store in Benin City. By 1971, he had planted churches throughout Nigeria and Ghana.
Renowned for his boldness, miracles, and faith-filled preaching, Idahosa played a key role in the great wave of revival that swept through Nigeria during the 1970s and 1980s. He is often regarded as the Father of Pentecostalism in Nigeria, and many of today’s prominent Nigerian pastors trace their spiritual roots to his mentorship.
MINISTRY GROWTH
Driven by a passion for evangelism, Archbishop Idahosa launched the Idahosa World Outreach Television Ministry (IWO TV)—Nigeria’s first Christian TV broadcast—which reached over 50 million viewers. His television ministry made the gospel a household presence across Nigeria.
He was mightily used by God to perform numerous miracles, healing the sick, opening blind eyes, and raising as many as twenty-eight people from the dead.
Idahosa maintained strong international relationships with global evangelists such as Billy Graham, T. L. Osborn, Kenneth Hagin, Benny Hinn, Reinhard Bonnke, Morris Cerullo, and Oral Roberts. Over his lifetime, he preached in 145 nations, demonstrating the power of God wherever he went.
At his death in 1998, he had preached to more black and white audiences than any other African evangelist of his time. His vision extended beyond preaching—he founded the Faith Mediplex Hospital, All Nations for Christ Bible Institute, Word of Faith Group of Schools, and Benson Idahosa University, raising leaders who continue to influence the world today.
CRITICISM COULD NOT STOP HIM
Idahosa faced fierce criticism for his bold innovations in ministry. He was excommunicated early on for buying a motorcycle—only to be welcomed back after that same motorcycle saved a pastor’s wife in childbirth.
He was accused of turning church services into “discos” when he introduced drums and instruments for praise worship, and later condemned for preaching on television. Yet, undeterred, he pioneered what has now become standard practice in churches worldwide.
He also championed the idea that churches could own universities, and established Nigeria’s largest Bible school—where foreign lecturers taught biblical truths that shaped generations of ministers.
BREAKING NEW GROUNDS
In 1989, Archbishop Idahosa made history by leading a one-million-person crusade at Tafawa Balewa Square in Lagos. He boldly demonstrated the gospel’s power—raising the dead, healing the sick, and setting captives free.
In a time when many churches lacked understanding of God’s power and prosperity, he fearlessly declared that God is alive and powerful today! His ministry was marked by miracles, prophetic authority, and revival fire. He was known to confront witchcraft and demonic powers directly—casting out demons, healing the paralyzed, and breaking chains of oppression in the name of Jesus.
Idahosa was a prophet, preacher, and pioneer—a one-in-a-thousand man. His anointing, grace, and authority continue to impact lives globally through those he mentored and the institutions he established.
“God still seeks men and women like Archbishop Idahosa—those willing to follow Christ completely and walk in supernatural dimensions never seen before.”