Isaac Idahosa’s biography & his Illumination Assembly story

Quick facts about Bishop Isaac Idahosa 

He was born into the family of six children and he is the third
He is married to Christie Idahosa

He has two children, Christabell and Osagie
He is the presiding Bishop, Illumination Assembly, Lekki Light Centre(LLC)
He is one of the few LASTMA Mayors decorated by the Lagos State Government
He started his ministry with 50kobo
He is from Edo, South-South Nigeria

He is the Spiritual Father of Chris Okafor

He is a popularly Nigerian televangelist

His name Idahosa means hearing from God
His ministry is rumoured to be worth over three billion naira
He received a United Nations Peace Ambassadorial award
He is also a gospel musician and has three albums to his credit.

Bishop Isaac Idahosa' biography

Bishop Isaac Idahosa is the presiding Bishop and the seniour pastor of God First Ministry, popularly known as Illumination Assembly, Lekki Light Centre (LLC), Ajah, Lagos. A church he started more than 25 years ago with few members at the City of Minna in Niger State. He has been married to his wife, for 22years and they are both blessed with two lovely children, Christabel and Apostle. He is a Preacher, Gospel Singer with three albums to his credit, Writer, Inspirational Speaker among many others.

Bishop Isaac Idahosa, who is called 'Prophet Talk Na Do' by his admirers, was decorated by the Lagos State Government as one of the few Mayors of the Lagos State Traffic Management (LASTMA). He also received a United Nations Peace Ambassadorial award, for his immense contributions to the growth of humanity and peaceful co-existence through evangelism and Pentecostalism.

Isaac Idahosa, who gave his life to Jesus Christ in 1979, was born in the predominantly Muslim north, precisely in Minna, Niger State, where he and his siblings and me grew up. He had his formal education there and enjoyed scholarship up to the university level in Niger State.

Young Isaac Idahosa, who said he was influenced by those great men of God who were then coming to the north to preach the gospel of salvation to the people in crusades and seminars, began serving God at a very tender age and in 1985, he went to Soul Clear Bible College 'to acquire deep knowledge of God'.

Idahosa is a well qualified Mechanical Engineer with all it requires for him to secure a lucrative job, however, after his graduation, according to him, he lost his peace because that wasn’t what he was destined to do. The Lord spoke to him about pioneering a work for him, after which he went into fasting and praying to get more instructions from God.

The story behind Illumination Assembly

He started out his ministry, God First Ministry at Minna with just 50kobo. "I remembered approaching one of our family friends then called Idowu Maya, said in an interview. "I shared my vision with him and he offered to give me his boys-quarters to start my ministry. I was there with my guitar and I was playing this guitar everyday to the point where I started attracting the attention of neighbours and students in the neighbourhood."

"After a while, the boys-quarters could no longer contain the congregation and the Maya’s family decided to give me their living room. But despite the gesture, our population was increasing by the day. At that point, I told Mr Idowu Maya that I was going to rent a two-bedroom apartment. I found one for N6,000, and remember, I had only 50kobo,so I left disappointed. However, on my way, I saw an abandoned building with an inscription on the wall that read: 'Gods own house'. Immediately, the Lord told me this is where I want you to start your ministry.

"I made enquiries about the owner of the abandoned property, I was told that it was owned by one Barrister Shadare who died mysteriously in connection with a case he handled in court. He ran mad and thereafter died mysteriously. I also learnt that the next and last person that occupied the said house died in the same manner. So, when I indicated my interest in moving into the apartment, the people were full of fairs but I was not in doubt of the words of God because my name Idahosa implies hearing from God. Thus, I was directed to see the then former Chief Justice of Niger State who was in charge of the property. I met him, and he obliged me the request to move into the building FREE-OF-CHARGE!

"I immediately gathered my student-members and neighbours who helped me to clear the area. I moved into the building with a single-spring-bed given to me by Mr Maya in 1989. While living in the house, I would go into the bush to take my bath and to ease myself.

"Today, I preach loudly and faster because of the way I started. Then, I had no money to procure a microphone or a speaker. I used to preach, using a microphone that was connected to a stereo-cassette."

The first time he was invited to preach:
"The first time I got an invitation to come and preach in Cotonou, the capital of Republic of Benin, it was like an open door for me. I came from Minna to Lagos, with the intention of boarding a flight to Cotonou. I didn’t know I could travel to Cotonou by road. A tithe which was paid by one of my members then, who is now a pastor in one of the churches in Minna, actually helped in setting up my ministry. Even though, God later told me that the money was not meant for me. Also, during that period, I was invited to come and preach in Zaria where many souls were saved."

Relocation to Lagos:
"After some years, God directed me to move the church to the South-West. That’s how I came to establish my church in Lagos. I first established my church in Surulere, before moving it to Ajah area of Lagos, where the church is now headquartered."

The first time he was invited to preach overseas
"The first overseas country I travelled to, as a minster of God, was Jamaica. It was sponsored by one of the daughters. Today however, I have travelled far and wide, spreading the gospel of salvation to so many major countries of the world."

His watch words
"In God’s words, he gave me anointing, grace and favour, but he warned me to beware of love of money, opposite sex and pride. According to him, these three things can destroy a man any day. It has been my watchwords, and I thank God for his mercies and grace upon my life. My father used to say to us, “you can control nature but you can cheat nature.” If I decide to go to the beach today with my family, people will raise eyebrow. They forget that I’m also a human being like them. There was a time I visited one of the fast foods in Ikeja, with my family. Instead of enjoying myself there, I ended up praying for people who gathered round me.

Serving God comes with a lot of challenges and denials. I’m also a musician. I have three albums to my credit. I released my debut album titled “Don’t give Up” in 1998, in Germany, followed by second and third albums. I didn’t attend any school of music. Music runs in the blood of my family.

Bishop Isaac Idahosa's net worth

Bishop Isaac Idahosa is arguably one of the most classy and richest pastors in Nigeria. And with his over N1.5 billion 10,000-seater magnificient church auditorium along Addo-Langbasa Road, Ajah, Lagos, Isaac Idahosa's ministry, which has been tagged a 'Celebrity Church,' Isaac Idahosa's Ministry is believed to be worth well over N3 billion.