Bishop Benson Chidiebere Eze is the Senior Pastor of Bible Faith Deliverance City Church, Mazamaza, Mile 2, Lagos. The Church marked its 15th anniversary on August 9, 2023 with guests, including ministers from other denominations felicitating with him. In this interview with journalists, the Senior Pastor shares his thoughts, especially his transition from Catholicism to Pentecostalism, his tutelage at the Foursquare Gospel Church; Victorious Army Church; Mountain of Fire and Miracles (MFM) and the late Archbishop Benson Idahosa’s impact on his spiritual growth. CHRIS IREKAMBA was there.
How did you come into ministry?
Firstly, I gave my life to Jesus Christ in 1995. I served at the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM), Zonal Headquarters, Orile, Lagos, before God gave me this present work as the Senior Pastor of Bible Faith Deliverance City Church, Mazamaza, Mile 2, Lagos. But before then, I was raised in a very religious Catholic family. In fact, I was a mass server at a tender age in the Catholic Church. My father was a catechist in the Catholic Church, but around 1986/87, I no longer found fulfillment in the church and I began to turn away from the church.
How I embraced the Pentecostal faith. I saw a Foursquare Gospel Church at Ogba, Lagos in 1995. I entered the church, and prayed before the church altar. After I finished praying, one of the church pastors invited me to join the worship service the next Sunday. When I attended the worship, I was impressed with the service and I gave my life to Jesus Christ.
After that I developed a greater zeal for God’s work. I already had zeal for the Lord since I was six years old albeit in the Catholic way. Then, I used to cry to follow my father to early morning mass. Leaving Foursquare Gospel Church, I moved to Victorious Army Ministries, Ogba, Lagos, where I joined the prayer warriors. Before a new member is admitted into the prayer warriors he has to observe 30 days prayer vigil. I observed that joyfully. It was while I was with Victorious Army Ministries that I had a memorable encounter with the late Archbishop Benson Idahosa when he ministered at the church in 1996.
How did your encounter with the late Archbishop Benson Idahosa affect your life?
When the archbishop entered the church I touched his garment, and said: “Lord, I want to be like this man.” So, I started serving the Lord the more. I served in the prayer warriors until 1998 when the Lord led me to Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM) where I served for 10 years before my current work started.
What were you doing before coming into ministry?
I was a successful businessman; selling motorbikes. I told God to allow me to work to bring money to fund church activities. My business was flourishing to the extent that I bought cars and built my own house. Gradually, my mind went off God’s work in spite of the ministerial training I had at MFM. Despite my success at a very young age, I was restless when God reminded me of my promise to work for Him if He makes me a successful businessman. I was busy motivating sinners through my seminars and books, including the “12 Principles of Success.”
However, one day, I heard a voice that said to me: “You are leading sinners to hell through your motivational books and seminar.” I became uncomfortable and began to wonder how I have been motivating sinners? Finally, on November 22, 2007, I said: “Lord, I’m ready to work for you as a pastor.” And today I am the Senior Pastor of Bible Faith Deliverance City Church, Mazamaza, Mile 2, Lagos.
