Biography
Of a Divinely Chosen Vessel
EARLY YEARS (House help, education &
sight problem)
Rt. Rev. Apostle (Dr.)
Samuel Enoragbon Ogbonmwan JP, was born in 1930, to the great
Ogbonmwan-Oghodu dynasty.
His father was Ogbonmwan Okunwague and his mother was
Deaconess Ruemwinyogho
Ogbonmwan, both of blessed memory. He was born at Emodu Village,
otherwise known as Ogunmwenyin
Village, in Ovia North East L.G.A. of Edo State. He married his
heartthrob, Deaconess Grace
Ogbonmwan (Nee Obasuyi) in 1965. They are blessed with five children.
His upbringing in a polygamous
setting pushed him into a difficult beginning like others of his time, but
his own situation was peculiar.
He cried for survival.
"Children do cry ordinarily
to attract parental attention but little Samuel's cry, as a child, was much more than that. He cried because he felt society
was unkind to him. He cried because he thought there was no more hope. He cried, like Robinson Crusoe, ship-wrecked on a lonely
Island. He cried for Divine Succour as if, at that early age, he had come to terms with the message of Psalm 50:15. The story
of his childhood was a satire on society". That is a glimpse of the picture painted of Papa Ogbonmwan's difficult beginning,
in his biography (The MAN, 1995: pg.14). Reprinted in 2007.
He pleaded to be sent to
school whereas, today, children are entreated to go to school. At that time, by reason of the number of children and the lean
resources available, only the eldest son (not daughter) of each wife was entitled to be sent to school. His own lot, therefore,
was to be sent out as house-help. Education was even not considered important for young Samuel. The name "Enoragbon"
(meaning: only the person who stays alive can ......) given to him at birth, was to tell discernible minds that, being alive,
was more important than anything else. His being sent out as house-help, which delayed his education was, therefore, a flight
to safety.
The use of the pejorative
term "my servant" to describe young Samuel by the two uncles he stayed with, on two different occasions, made him to run away
to his parents. Back home, he still insisted on going to school. His parents yielded to his pleadings. He was sent to school
at the advanced age of fourteen years.
At school, he was brilliant.
He had an accelerated promotion to standard II and a double promotion to move to standard III. He was equally good in sporting
activities; he represented Ahmaddiya Primary School (now called Idah Prim. School) at "Empire Days", a colonial conception.
However, his quest and
interest for education became short-lived. Between 1948 and 1949, he had lost his sight. Unable to see, without any means
of livelihood, conscious of his parents' agony, which was made worse by the despicable behaviour of the juju priests and traditional
doctors contracted to heal him, he collapsed into self pity. He felt society was unkind to him; he lost all hope. On three
occasions, he attempted suicide. The survival instinct, that influenced his being sent away from home as house-help, could
now be appreciated. His situation had been made worse with the death, in 1958, of his elder brother, Mr. Clifford Idehen Ogbonmwan.
under mysterious circumstances. He was his main source of livelihood. It was during one of such journeys to bring foodstuff
to the Apostle in Benin, where he (Apostle) was living in an 8' by 6' bed-room that, while on Asoro hill, Clifford was hit
on the chest with an unseen axe and by an unseen hand
HIS CONVERSION
However, the Lord came
to his rescue. He was converted to the Christian Faith in 1954. On ,. occasions, God opened his eyes but would close them
back again-. The Lord said He wanted the Apostle to know He had the power to restore his sight, but that if He did, Ogbonmwan
would not serve Him, as a vessel He had planned to use. This reminds us of the thorn that Satan (the enemy) planted in Apostle
Paul's body, in order to torment him and for which he sought God's solution. However, God told him that His grace was sufficient
for him. II Cor. 12:7-9.
ESTABLISHMENT
OF CACGM
He joined Christ Apostolic
Church (CAC) Ofunmwegbe Street, Oliha Quarters, Benin City, until God told him to move away to found a different Mission.
So, on 3rd January, 1974, he founded Christ Apostolic Church of God Mission, over which he was the General Superintendent/Head
of Mission, until his glorious Home-call on 3rd July, 2007.
On 17th August 1970, he
was ordained a Prophet. Five days after, he had his first son, Pastor Emmanuel Ogbonmwan. In 1980, he was ordained an Apostle.
EVANGELICAL
THRUSTS
He led crusade teams to
all parts of Edo and Delta States (then known as Bendel) and many souls were converted in the process. Between 1981 and December
2006, he went round Europe, Canada and the U.S. to plant churches and to strengthen existing ones. Through his evangelical
capacity, the gift of prayer and counselling, he was able to win thousands of souls to the Lord. Through him, majority of
Edo people are now converted and have abandoned idol worshipping. There are presently more than 300 Branches of this Mission,
both within and outside Nigeria. God told him to make The Fear of God, Love, Obedience and Patience the kernel of his messages.
With these four pillars, he was able to build a formidable and successful pastoral image, church administration and mass followership.
GOSPEL MUSIC
Another potent weapon which
he used to convert souls is music, most of which he composed from the Holy Bible. His musical outfit is the "Glad Tidings
Singers". His Gospel Music is contained in fourteen music Albums. His Christian music is a booster to his gospel ministry.
He could be compared to Beethoven who, though completely deaf at the prime age of 31 years, was a great German Composer and
an exponent of choral music (1770-1827) and, more importantly, to biblical David, who was a poet and music maestro (1012-972BC).
TELEVISION MINISTRY.
His television ministry
added pep to his evangelical exploits. Like the harmattan bush fire, the ministry is rapidly spreading its tentacles beyond
the confines of this country. Each of his messages was always embellished with rich and soul-soothing Bini lyrics, for effect.
AWARDS
- On 9th Nov. 1991, he
was awarded an Honorary Doctoral Degree in Practical Theology, by Oral Roberts University, U.S.A.
- Edo State Government
awarded him Justice of Peace (JP) on 12th Sept. 2001
- In 1999, the Pentecostal
Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) gave him an award in appreciation of his Gospel work.
- In 2000, the Merit Media
Network of Nigeria honoured him with a Certificate of Merit,
- In 2005, he was honoured
by Vie Group as the best Edo Gospel Christian Singer in the Federation.
- In 2006, the Christian
Gospel Artistes Association of Nigeria honoured him with the Year's best Edo Gospel Music Producer, after making
him their Grand Patron.
- To crown it all, our
Royal Father, the Oba of Benin, gave him an award of "Benin Achiever", in January 2007.
His life is a perfect marriage
of the lives of great men of God. He was like Moses the leader and Intercessor, Paul the Preacher, David the Singer, Nehemiah
the builder, Hezekiah the Reformer, Apollos the Orator, Job the Faithful and perseverant, Peter the Rock and Samuel the Prophet.
He was like the biblical Joseph, through whose life story came into effect the truism that human spoiling cannot stop God's
work (Gen. 50:20). The scar inflicted on him metamorphosed into a star, to guide men to God. It is the Lord's doing.
Papa Ogbonmwan's full Biography
is contained in the books titled "THE MAN APOSTLE OGBONMWAN" (1995) and "YOU CAN MAKE IT OGBONMWAN'S WAY" (2007).
Yes, Rt. Rev. Apostle (Dr.)
S. E. Ogbonmwan lived a fulfilled life and placed CACGM on a sound footing before he left us. His work will not die, because
he selflessly laid a solid foundation for us to build upon.
LESSON
A very invaluable lesson
learnt from the life history of the Apostle is that Christianity does not necessarily remove us from the world and its problems;
it makes us fit to live in it triumphantly and usefully.
Adieu, Adieu, Papa
Ogbonmwan, the people's Prophet. May your soul rest in perfect peace. Amen"
