Looking for Bishop Dr. Mike Okonkwo Biography (2021)? Bishop Dr. Mike Okonkwo is a dynamic preacher of God’s word, crusade evangelist, a spiritual mentor to many pastors, a loving husband and father, an author and the Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM) with it’s headquarters in Lagos, Nigeria.
TREM is a mega-church with over 180 branches in Nigeria and a handful of them internationally.
Bishop Mike Okonkwo is by far and arguably the most revered, most notable and most prosperous gospel voice of the Igbo extraction from the eastern region of Nigeria.
With over 30 years of experience in ministry, Dr. Mike Okonkwo has made a name for himself and as far as the gospel is concerned this side of Africa, he is one of the fathers to be reckoned with.
His profile is typical of an easterner, full of numerous endeavors and characterized by unsteady locations, which all makes it very much interesting.
It starts with this brief summary of the profile of one of Nigeria’s most seasoned gospel ministers.
Full Name: Chukwuweinke Michael Okonkwo
Birth Date: 6th September 1945
Nationality: Nigerian
Occupation: Pastor
Spouse: Bishop Peace Okonkwo
Below is Bishop Dr. Mike Okonkwo Biography (2021)
Birth & Education
Bishop Mike Okonkwo was birthed on September 6th, 1945 to the family PA Okonkwo in his hometown of Ogbunike, Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria.
His educational tale isn’t one of a localized nature.
First, his primary education started at the Salvation Army Primary School in Enugu State, Nigeria.
This was truncated and reconnected back at Ijero Baptist Primary School, Ebutte Metta, Lagos, Nigeria.
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His primary education would live out its full span at St. Mark Primary School, Offa, Kwara State.
His secondary education followed suit with the dynamic style but was only one location and school short of the primary.
He started his secondary education at Mayflower College, Ikenne, Ogun State and completed it at Merchants of Light Grammar School, Oba Anambra State in 1963.
We are certain Mike couldn’t keep track of all his classmates in the course of his educational journey which seemed more like a tourism experience.
Working Experience Prior to Ministry
Armed with only his secondary education which seemed like a degree back then, he joined the Nigerian Ports Authority in 1964 and after four months he ditched the job for banking and worked at African Continental Bank (ACB).
His banking career almost became history after the Nigerian civil war said so, subsequently, he joined the Nigerian Army probably to compensate for the loss of his banking career.
Things went really funny for that move when the war ended the same day he was deployed to the war front which then forced him back to the bank.
Joining The Lord’s Army & TREM
Since the war ended the day he was deployed, little did he know another army was waiting for him and so in late 1970, an encounter with God resulted in him joining the United Church of Christ (UCC) where he has ordained a pastor one year after?
He worked his exuberant self out with the UCC establishing branches around Lagos until God decided it was time for him to work on something else, hence The Redeemed Evangelical Church came into existence through him in January of 1981.
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TREM has since grown into 180 branches across the massive expanse of Nigeria’s land.
Bishop Dr. Mike has also continued to stay relevant in the Christian community as seen in his major leadership roles in the body of Christ which has its own separate sub-heading.
Personal Life
Bishop Mike Okonkwo is happily married to Bishop Peace Okonkwo and the union is blessed with a daughter.
The family is among the very few where the couple are bishopric in a portfolio.
Leadership Positions Held (Past & Present)
The Chief Executive Officer, God’s Army Bible Training College
President, Communion of Covenant Ministers’ International (CCMI)
Inaugural National General Secretary, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) 1986 – 1995
Deputy National President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) 1995 – 1998
National President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) 1998 – 2007
Member of Trustees Council Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) 1998
Trustee, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN)
Member, Nigerian Interreligious Council (NIREC) 1998
National Vice President, Christian Association of Nigeria, 2003 – 2008
Trustee, Women of Global Impact Initiative
Awards & Recognitions
National merit awards, Member of the Federal Republic (MFR) by the federal government of Nigeria.
Award of Honour – Salvation Broadcasting Network
Meritorious Achievement Award: International Affairs Leadership Golden State University, University of Honolulu, Ephraim Moore University, International Theological Seminary, Spiritual Life Ministries. Trinity College of Ministerial Arts (1987)
Name inscription on Jerusalem 3000 Scroll with Number 6571 (1997)
Award of Excellence – Ifite Welfare Association
Distinguished Platinum Award – Ogbunike
National PFN Women Wing Leadership Award
Grand Defender of the Christian Faith Award
Daughters of Dominion Merit Award
Award for Divine Honour
Distinguished Role Model Award – University of Lagos Joint Christian Fellowship.
Bishop Genie J. Evans Memorial Leadership Award
Kingdom Promoters Award
Distinguished Christian Leaders Merit Award
Kwame Nkrumah African Leadership Award
Literature
Leadership Publications
Kings on Earth
Faith Publications
Faith is Now or Never
Jesus and Now
The Mystery of the seed
Christian Living Publications
Wisdom for the Day (Annual Publication)
Kingdom Prosperity (1993)
Breakthrough on Your Knees (1995)
From Zero to Hero (1997)
Obedience: The Key to Divine Destiny (1998)
Controlling Wealth God’s Way (2005)
Living Aggressively (2007)
Overcoming the Siege (2010)
It’s Time for a Paradigm Shift (2010)
Are there Believers in the Church Today? (1997)
Daily Seed for Greatness (2011)
Philatronphy & Other Endeavors
Founder, Mike Okonkwo Scholarship Fund
Founder, Empowerment for the Less Privileged (ELP) Foundation, formerly Mike Okonkwo Foundation, A non-governmental humanitarian organization.
Founder, Mike Okonkwo Educational and Youth Initiative (MOEYI)
Founder, Mike Okonkwo Football Tournament
Founder, Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition for Secondary Schools
Founder, Mike Okonkwo Annual Lecture
Project Forte – A channel for discovering and encouraging creativity in young talents.
Chief Host of Breeding Leaders for Empowerment and National Transformation (BLENT).