Bishop Isaac Idahosa is the General Overseer of the God First Ministry, Illumination Assembly, Lekki, Ajah. In this interview with VICTOR UDOH, he speaks about national issues and life after 53. Excerpts:
As one of the clerics that are much concern about the affairs of the country, could you share your take on the current state of the country?
I believe that there is light after the tunnel; any good thing takes time to mature. I want to assure Nigerians that we are on the right path. I know that a lot of people have been clamouring for a whole lot, because their patient had been exhausted. I urge Nigerians to hold unto God and believe in the normal tenacity as a nation, because we have no other country than Nigeria. The Bible says support the authority; pray for the peace and uncommon wisdom of those who are in the authority so that we might have peaceful and quite life. We cannot do without challenges; it is no news that the country had been faced with several challenges in the last few months. There are traumas everywhere. People are complaining about the current hardship, but we must look beyond that and see what is about to happen. He must all hope for the best and have faith in God that the country will become better. If we believe in the common good of this country and disallow what disunite us and always be interested to the things that will bring us together in order to move forward.
Do you think the church is playing its role enough for the peace of the nation?
We are not just the light of the church, but the light of the world. The Bible says: “…and the life was the light of men and the light shine in darkness and darkness could not comprehend it” the church is the light; the more the light shines the brightest it would be from the base. We are not only the salt of the church, but the salt of the earth. For preservation and sweetness, so the church in her proper place should bring about the prayers of preservation and fulfillment of Nigeria’s prophetic destiny.
Congratulations on your 53rd birthday. Could you recall your greatest challenge in life?
The journey of life and that of the ministry has been interesting. So far challenges has make us more thick and brought us this far. Problems are attitudinal. Anyone that wants to be successful in life must have some challenges, but these challenges are not meant to mar you, rather make you depending on how one see the challenges. Personally, I thank for God for everything that has happened to me in life. It has not been easy, but God has been faithful in all ramifications. This is one of the reasons I gathered family, friends and associate to celebrate God with me on my 53rdbirthday thanksgiving service last Sunday. I cannot thank God enough for my life, because His works are unquantifiable. It is a great privilege to 53 and His grace and faithfulness endears me to return all the glory back to Him.
The next national election is gathering momentum, as a cleric, what is your perception of Christians in active politics?
Things are changing; Christians are getting more involved because of the sensitization. The awareness has increased and we clerics have been advising members to get involved. The truth is that evil will thrive when good men do nothing. If you think you are good to change the system; you cannot do that from a distance, you have to be involved in the system. Light doesn’t fight, it dominates. The involvement is tied to the awareness. It is a good thing that the awareness has increased and the impact will be found and felt in the 2019 election.
You hinted that you will pay a condolence visit to the Benue State soon over the death people killed by herdsmen recently, why?
We will connect with the authority of the state very soon informing them on our intention to come and render our prayers and gesture to assist the bereaved. I am so glad for some State governors who taken a point of duty to visit the state. For me, it doesn’t matter who gets down our hurt. Once one is down we are all down. Not minding where we come from; we must all come together and ensure Benue State stands on her feet. Nigeria will move faster if we don’t mind who takes the credit. We must be our brother’s keeper. So, once we connect with the government we will go and pay a condolence visit to the state.
How have you been able to impact lives through the Isaac Idaosha Foundation?
The initiative is targeted at impacting lives positively and we have been doing this for quite some time. It is also a platform raise the hopes of the voiceless. God has manifested Himself though the foundation, because we have been able to assist people in different capacity, such as scholarships to people and ensuring widows and widowers find their feet. We thank God that the light we have been able to show through the foundation has become a brighter light for people.
Aside being a cleric you are also into music. How have you been able to combine the two without clash?
I am a crude oil and you can use it for anything. I am a man who is so endowed with so many abilities. Meanwhile, the two are intertwined. I love music and it has really inspired my life.
Would you say that you have achieved your dream at 53?
I would have been raptured if I have achieved my dreams. Nobody achieves his dreams. We can only be progressive, because doesn’t show one everything; He shows one step by step and one of the keys to my success is attaining to hearing voice of God and doing His will. So, I have not achieved my dream yet. What I do is to forget about the past and move ahead and believing God for improvement. I am still learning, because you die the day you stop learning.
What is your greatest challenge?
It is when I couldn’t believe God for certain situations in my life and each time I disobeyed God I paid dearly for it. My life is galvanised by ministry. When God is involved the devil can only revolve, but not dissolve it. Ministry has been fun, because I have allowed the Holy Spirit to paddle the course. Also, the challenges make us. If you are not called by God you pay your bills, but if it is God’s project then it His budget. Personally, I am enjoying early satisfaction in life, because I am a product of grace and mercy of God. I feel humble for where I am today, because God brought me from nothing.