It was a spectacle that was better witnessed than imagined. The grand-finale of a 3-day service to mark Grace Nation Church’s 21st anniversary last Sunday was already in full swing with the church’s founder and senior pastor, Dr Chris Okafor, actively discharging his task of ministering to the needs of the congregation when a familiar figure walked in, unnoticed.
But the congregation would soon find out who their mystery guest was. It turned out that he was a friend of the house — a well known minister of God, and only recently, Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso’s running mate on the platform of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in the 2023 presidential election.
Yes, it soon became clear that Bishop Isaac Idahosa of the Illumination Assembly, Lagos was in the house!
He was welcomed with a standing ovation as his host allowed him to take the microphone to minister a few words of exultation to the congregation.
But what was meant to be a few words of encouragement soon turned out a fiery display of theatrical wit as the Bishop deployed oratory, songs and wisecracks to ignite the crowd which lapped up his renditions with equal fervour.
Then, as he was rounding off his preaching, he did the unexpected. Like the legendary Houdini, the magician, the Bishop pulled out a cheque — opened, signed and confirmed — from his pocket and went ahead to present it to his host, Dr Okafor.
The congregation did not wait long to know the amount that was written on it. N10 million, it said!
“I know the money is small, but please accept it as my token of support for your ongoing church building in Lekki,” he said as he handed the cheque to his host.
This was the stage at which things took a dramatic twist with five other distinguished personalities within the crowd, including Dr Chris Okafor himself, all coming out to match what Bishop Idahosa donated. The atmosphere was already getting charged as they all made their donations right there and then.
Then, as if on cue, and not wanting to be left out, several others joined the donations spree, dropping their widows mite with amounts ranging from N5million down to the least.
Although, there hasn’t yet been an official confirmation of the total sum raised on that occasion which held at the church’s headquarters in Ojodu-Berger, Lagos, keen watchers can wager that it could have exceeded N100 million.
Bishop Idahosa was not done with his cameo on this particular Sunday morning. He had one more ace up his sleeves. Just when the congregation was getting used to seeing him steer the proceedings of a very exciting service, he did another disappearing act!
And so it came to pass that by the time the church’s patriarch oversaw the distribution of food items to widows and the less privileged members of the church, Bishop Idahosa was long gone.
It was clear he felt he had no more need to stay on after doing what he was divinely led to do for a fellow minister and his ministry on that occasion.
