The "Church of God Mission International" was founded by Archbishop Benson Idahosa (Theweek 30 Mar. 1998; AFP 21 Mar. 2000; Post Express 17 Mar. 1998). He was born in Benin City in 1938 and "from a small prayer group, he founded the Church of God Mission International Incorporated, which blossomed to become one of the largest Pentecostal churches in the world" (ibid.; Theweek 30 Mar. 1998). According to Post Express the church is "now reputed to be one of the sixth largest churches in the world with about seven million members" (15 Mar. 1998a). The church is based in Benin City (ibid.17 Mar. 1998; AFP 21 Mar. 2000; Theweek 30 Mar. 1998;). Theweek reported that the church was "officially inaugurated" in October 1968 and became incorporated in September 1974; it estimated the church's membership at six million (ibid.). The National Council of Ministers is the church's "highest decision making body" (Post Express 15 Mar. 1998a).

Idahosa was also president of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, "the umbrella organisation of 'born again churches' in the country" (Theweek 3 Mar. 1997). An author profile of Benson Idahosa on the Website of The Destiny Image Catalog Store, says that he

pioneered the establishment of nearly 6,000 churches with a total membership of almost 6 million [and held] positions in numerous organizations, including Idahosa World Outreach, All Nations for Christ Bible Institute, College of Bishops of the International Communion of Christian Churches, and Oral Roberts University. He ... also established a TV ministry that has impacted deeply into Moslem territories (n.d.).

The Website of the Church of God Mission International provides little information on the church's activities. There is mention of the "Faith Mediaplex" in Benin whose mission is "to provide a center of excellence in medical care, research, and education as a service to the community, using these avenues to raise the health status of needy areas and to share the gospel of Jesus Christ and His power to heal spirit, mind and body" (n.d.). There is also an "All Nations For Christ Bible Institute," a "World of Faith Group of Schools," and the "Benson Idahosa University" which provides "university and adult continuing education in a Christian environment" (ibid.). Notices of a number of conferences and conventions are provided. Contact details are care of Idahosa World Outreach in Temple Hills, MD.

Idahosa died in March 1998 (Theweek 30 Mar. 1998; Post Express 15 Mar. 1998b). Post Express reported that he had a mansion in Lagos and that there was a regional headquarters in a Lagos suburb, "one of Idahosa's numerous outreach churches scattered all over the world" (ibid.). On the day of his death he received "members of an educational foundation team from the U.S.-based Oral Roberts University" at the Christian Faith University on the day of his death and died later at home while entertaining the visitors at lunch (ibid. 17 Mar. 1998; Theweek 30 Mar. 1998). Faith Miracle Centre is the "international headquarters" of the church (ibid.). In an article about his death Post Express described him as "controversial" and "charismatic" and reported:

One of his many controversial actions was his advocacy that clergymen were free to carry guns.

Said he: "I support any pastor carrying gun, and if any pastor wants to carry gun, why not. I am not carrying a gun but I believe that any Christian who thinks his life is not safe should protect himself. The Bible established it that men of god are watchmen, they should equip themselves with all the necessary things that would make their work easy." (15 Mar. 1998b).

Theweek reported that at the time of Idahosa's death the church's board had been reorganized and that new members were to include J.O.S. Imafidon, J.I. Ojo (both bishops) and Idahosa's first son Feb Idahosa (30 Mar. 1998). The newspaper reported concerns among the membership as to who would assume leadership of the church:

The fear is informed by the fact that in past, many churches in Nigeria had split into factions at the death of their founders or overseers. ...

In October, the archbishop promulgated a new constitution for the church which outlines procedure for succession. According to that constitution, Margaret Idahosa, his widow, has no power to assume the functions of her late husband. This leaves the duel for the many bishops that make up the College of Bishops of the ministry. She would however continue to play an influential role in the ministry. She is said to be in support of Lagos-based Joseph Ojo to become Idahosa's successor as next Archbishop, most probably because he hails from Benin like Idahosa.

If this is true, many faithfuls fear that the church might head for a breakup. Some of the Lagos pastors of the church who spoke to Theweek are averse to Ojo's leadership. "If Ojo becomes the next archbishop, I will resign," one frankly said. A woman in one of the Lagos churches feared that if Ojo is made to become "papa's successor, he is going to take a lot of revenge."

No further information on Joseph Ojo could be found in the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

AFP reported that critics of pentecostal churches allege that many church leaders are more interested in "cashing in financially ... than healing the problems of society":

The late Archbishop Benson Idahosa, founder and pastor of the Church of God Mission International in Benin City, in southern Nigeria's Edo State, admitted prosperity was a large part of his religion.

"The God I am worshipping is not a poor God," he used to tell his congregation. His wife, Margaret, took over the running of the church and financial empire after his death two years ago and has kept his financial interests growing since (21 Mar. 2000).

Post Express published responses by Idahosa to such claims and identified him as "the originator of the prosperity and miracle evangelism in Nigeria as far back as in 80's":

In a press statement, Idahosa lampooned the critics of Pentecostal or Born Again churches in the country that: "The Born Again churches have been the target of what appears to be a campaign of calumny, snide remarks and insidious attacks in the press designed to intimidate us, destroy our credibility, slow us down and finally to halt the determined march of the true redemptive Gospel of Jesus Christ in Nigeria."

Therefore, he stoutly argued that the born again churches are out to destroy the evil forces and thus solve the problems militating against the country. "We recognise that the church of Jesus Christ has a social responsibility, and we are determined, by the grace of God, to contribute our positive quota to the search for the solutions to the problems of our society.

"We know where the problems are, and we are attacking them at their roots. We have taken many practical steps to address them. For example, we have intervened to save tens of thousands of families at the point of breaking up. We address their business and career problems; their problems of demonic attack; of sickness and disease; of poverty and bad luck, etc.

"The pentecostals do battle with the scourge of drugs, sexual permissiveness that is destroying homes, sexually transmitted diseases, drunkenness, waywardness, etc. In these and other areas we have succeeded where even the authorities have failed. This is because we, more than others, understand the true nature of these attacks. They are part of the war that is raging in the realm of the spirit, and, because we are competent in spiritual warfare, we are winning this war, to the glory of God, and for the inestimable benefit of Nigeria," he further argued (18 Oct. 1997).

In other information about the church, a 17 September 1997 Post Express report states that Idahosa, during a sermon, "took a swipe at the nation's leadership attributing the suffering of Nigerians to their hypocrisy and iniquities."

Since Idahosa's death there have been other news articles mentioning the Church of God Mission. The "National Presbyter and Northern Coordinator of the Church" claimed that "Nigeria's unconfirmed membership of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC)" was due to the death of Idahosa (Post Express 1 June 1998). He said:

the vocal Idahosa, who constantly was a thorn in the flesh of government by outright condemnation of some sensitive policy issues would not have taken it lightly if the announcement was made while he was still alive. ... Archbishop Benson Idahosa has constantly warned government against joining the OIC. His uncompromising stand against it, which is known by the government, coupled with the respect they had for what he stood for, restrained government all this while from joining (ibid.).

A 29 December 1998 AFP report stated that "youths suspected to be Moslems destroyed a branch of the Church of God Mission building in Ilorin on December 6 because of its proximity to a mosque." On 25 December 1998 Post Express reported:

The presiding Bishop of the Church of God Mission International, Bishop Magareth Idahosa has accused the Kwara State Police Command and the Emir of Ilorin of complicity in the recent burning of the Ilorin branch of the church. Bishop Magareth Idahosa who made the allegation at a crowded press conference in Benin on Wednesday said the incident which was fomented on December 6, this year by moslem fanatics who claimed that the clapping and singing in the church was disturbing them in their mosque.

P.M. News reported on 17 July 2000 that the Church of God Mission was one of several churches in Abuja serving as "places of abode for the prospective youth corpers" who were being relocated from "Sharia states."

Post Express reported on 20 September 2000 that Margaret Idahosa, the church's "presiding Bishop," had "urged the Church to be fully engaged in partisan politics and issues of national interest." She said that the church would no longer just merely advise the government, but would "aspire to have her member also elected into Houses of Assembly, Representatives and Senate" (ibid.).

No information as to whether the Church of God Mission has a church in Kaduna could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

There are also references to other "Church of God" Christian faiths that are active in Nigeria. There is the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCD), with a world headquarters in Lagos, as well as offices in London, U.K. and Dallas, Texas (n.d.). The Website of the United Church of God states that it has churches in Benin City, Lagos, and Owerri (12 Sept. 2000). The Website of The Church of God indicates that its "National Overseer 1998-99" for Nigeria was Ade Ojo" (n.d.). The Website of the Ministry of the General Conference of the Church of God (Seventh Day) indicates that it has international contacts, missions, and/or conferences in Nigeria (n.d.).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Agence France Presse (AFP). 21 March 2000. Ade Obeisan. "In a Land of Gods, Pastors Reap Dividends on Earth." (NEXIS)

_____. 29 December 1998. "Moslems Protest Church's Proximity to Mosque in Nigeria." (NEXIS)

The Church of God, Charleston, TN. n.d. "Appointments by Robert J. Pruitt, General Overseer The Church of God for Assembly Year 1998-99." http://www.thechurchofgod.org/98assembly/appointments.html [Accessed 21 Sept. 2000]

The Church of God Mission, Temple Hills, MD. n.d. Website. http://www.cogm.org [Accessed 19 Sept. 2000]

Destiny Image Catalog Store. "Author Profile: Benson Idahosa." http://www.reapernet.com/di/catalog/a_bensonidahosa.html [Accessed 19 Sept. 2000]

Ministry of the General Conference of the Church of God (Seventh Day). n.d. "Missions Abroad." http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/COG7miss/index.htm [Accessed 21 Sept. 2000]

P.M. News [Lagos]. 17 July 2000. Tony Orilade. "Corps Members Take Over Churches in Abuja." (Africa News/NEXIS)

Post Express [Lagos]. 20 September 2000. Lucky Imafidon. "Engage in Politics, Bishop Tells Church Members." http://www.postexpresswired.com [Accessed 21 Sept. 2000]

_____. 25 December 1998. Ehimen Imafidon. "Police, Emir Accused of Complicity in Church Inferno." http://www.postexpresswired.com [Accessed 19 Sept. 2000]

_____. 1 June 1998. Chinyere Opara. "Nigeria's Alleged Membership of OIC Blamed on Idahosa's Death." http://www.postexpresswired.com [Accessed 19 Sept. 2000]

_____. 17 March 1998. Frank Oshanugor. "Pastors, Ministers Converge in Benin Over Idahosa's death to Make Burial Arrangement." http://www.postexpresswired.com [Accessed 19 Sept. 2000]

_____. 15 March 1998a. Muyiwa Akintunde, Ehimen Imafidon, and Bukola Olatunji. "Idahosa Dies at 59." http://www.postexpresswired.com [Accessed 21 Sept. 2000]

_____. 15 March 1998b. Adeleke Adeseri. "... Church Leaders React." http://www.postexpresswired.com [Accessed 19 Sept. 2000]

_____. 18 October 1997. "In the Name of God Plc." http://www.postexpresswired.com [Accessed 21 Sept. 2000]

_____. 17 September 1997. Ifeka Ukadike. "Poor Living Standards in Nigeria Linked to Leadership Iniquities." http://www.postexpresswired.com [Accessed 19 Sept. 2000]

The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Lagos. n.d. "Parish Directory." http://www.rccg.org/Directory/directory.html [Accessed 19 Sept. 2000]

Theweek. 30 March 1998. Chris Anu. "Mighty Tree Fallen." (Ethnic NewsWatch/NEXIS)

_____. 3 March 1997. Isaac Umunna. "Gun Against the Cross ... " (Ethnic NewsWatch/NEXIS)

United Church of God, An International Association, Cincinnati, OH. 12 September 2000. "Congregation Listing." http://www.ucg.org/churlist.htm [Accessed 21 Sept. 2000]

_____. 15 March 1999. Vol. 5, No. 2.

Additional Sources Consulted

IRB databases

LEXIS-NEXIS

REFWORLD

World News Connection (WNC)

Five non-documentary sources contacted did not provide information on the requested subject.

Internet sites including:

The Church of God

Church of God in Christ

Church of God in Prophecy

Church of God Ministries

Church of God Mission International

Church of God World Missions

General Confrence of the Church of God (Seventh Day)

Net Ministries

Redeemed Christian Church of God

United Church of God

Search engines including:

HotBot