The General Superintendent, Holy Spirit Missions (Happy Family Centre), Bishop Charles Ighele, turned 70 recently. Ighele, who is known for his boldness in exposing injustices and corruptions right from his days at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife) where he was the Editor, King Cobra, the campus newspaper, is also an author. The books he has written include Where Is My Daddy?; Understanding The Quarrelling Of Your Spouse; and Handling Quarrels In Marriage. He spoke with ISAAC TAIWO on his ministry and other issues in commemoration of his birthday.
How do you feel at 70?
I feel so satisfied and motivated. I’m so happy. I’ve never felt as happy as this in my life. I feel fulfilled seeing people getting out of poverty and into the kingdom of God, which is my vision. I’m so happy and excited.
Your journey to the post of General Superintendent
Let me start this way. The adage says that behind a successful man is a woman. I am blessed with the bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh and the residue of my spirit, Rev. Carol Ighele, who happened to be the daughter of the first General Superintendent, Bishop Michael Marioghae. We tied the knot in 1986. I can boldly say that I am blessed with an ever smiling wife whose smile is deep down to her heart. She is neither covetous nor hungry for fame or riches. We follow each other. Her role in my life is what I actually need. She has never made me feel inadequate.
We co-founded the Institute for Marriage and Family Intimacy in 1995 that has blessed millions and millions of people. She is the Convener of the programme, ‘When Mama Prays’ that has blessed countless number of homes.
I answered the first call as a pastor in the ministry. At that time, I was still combining my pastoral duties with my printing business until I came into the full ministry in 1994. Our radio programme was a boost to our calling due to its geographical spread with blessings to many homes and our branch church (to the Glory of God) even became more popular than the headquarters with its teeming congregation.
I was later chosen as the successor to the General Superintendent and consecrated as a Bishop on December 4, 1998.
Your message to the body of Christ
My message to Christians is that the church should begin to take its rightful position as the light of the nation. Christians should begin to live as believers that are crucified with Christ.
The old man in the life of everyone professing to be a Christian should be crucified. He must also have the experience of the second work of grace, which is heart circumcision or sanctification. Every believer who has experienced heart circumcision would not think, talk or tell lies like an unbeliever. The darkness is gone completely and light has come into the believer’s life. I counsel every professing Christian to have the two experiences and be quite different. I wouldn’t want to be part of the crowd that are Christians by mouth only without the experience of heart circumcision no matter the population.
Your message to the nation
My message to the nation is directed at the leaders because if we get it right at the top, it will definitely trickle down to the bottom. At the early days of independence, the government employed the right people and Nigerians enjoyed good governance. However, corruption soon set in in the 60s with bad people without vision or sense of direction for the country hijacking power. This is the truth.
Today, an average Nigerian cannot behave better than the average Ghanaian. About three or four weeks ago, we went to Benin Republic by road through Idiroko border. It was my first time visiting a neighbouring country by car.
After scaling through at the border, we started seeing motorcycle riders with helmets on their heads, a culture that was once imbibed in Nigeria but today, an anathema.
There is rivalry among the leaders not to enthrone good governance in favour of the governed but to loot. They have turned Nigerians to beggars. Leaders should wake up and restore human dignity and develop the people and not just roads, bridges, airports among others.
The cheapest prostitutes in Libya are Nigerians while in remote villages in Ghana, Nigerian youths are found pushing trucks. In Ghana, there is constant light. I won’t talk about Singapore and other developed nations. It is a shame that Nigeria is still in this state.
Politicians are mainly concerned about getting to power to loot and not for development or to build the nation. I am not criticising any leader. But politicians, such as President Trump, venture into power to effect change and make America great.
How do you see the future of the ministry?
Very, very bright and great! I can see all my dreams being fulfilled. I can see lives being turned around for the better through this ministry with our Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs) in place and commencing this year such as: New Life for Teenage Mothers – a safe haven for young mothers facing rejection and shame; African Children Village – a shelter providing comprehensive care for abandoned children; Bank of Hope – an interest free microfinance scheme empowering the poor; King David School of Poverty Alleviation and Skills Development – an institute where the very poor are equipped with skills of their choice to break free from poverty; Sharon University of Agriculture and Rural Development – a tuition-free institution offering quality education to the underserved.
How would you like to be remembered?
I would like to be simply remembered as a humble, holy man of God, an achiever by the Grace of God, who dedicated his life to impacting lives.
