Dr. Mike Okonkwo MFR the Presiding Bishop of TREM was born on September 6, 1945 to the family of Pa and Ma Okonkwo of Ogbunike in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State.
He started his primary education at Salvation Army Primary School Enugu, but later moved to Ijero Baptist Primary School in Ebute Metta, Lagos. He however completed his primary education at St. Marks Primary School, Offa in Kwara State. He started his secondary education at Mayflower College, Ikenne and completed it at Merchants of Light Grammar School, Oba Anambra State in 1963.
Dr. Mike Okonkwo joined the Nigerian
Ports Authority in 1964 where he worked only for 3 months before
crossing over to the banking industry with African Continental Bank
(ACB) with the mind of making a career in banking. He was a pioneer
member of staff of the Martins street branch, Lagos from 1964 to 1966.
Dr. Mike Okonkwo was deployed to the eastern branch of ACB during the
civil war, which eventually interrupted his banking career.
During the war, he underwent the
military training but had no opportunity to practice what he had learnt
because the war ended the very night he was deployed to the warfront.
After the war, he continued with his banking career at the Ogbete road
branch of ACB where he was a pioneer staff.
Dr. Mike Okonkwo had an encounter with
Jesus in November 1970 and for the 1st time, he started attending Church
services regularly in the United Church of Christ, (UCC) which has her
headquarters in Enugu. The call of God upon his life was evident and so
he was ordained into the ministry in 1971. He took up his first pastoral
responsibility in Lagos in November 1972 with UCC. He was released as
an Evangelist on the 20th of June 1976 and was instrumental in
establishing most branches of the Church in Lagos.
He served faithfully in UCC under the
leadership of Apostle Egbo from 1971 to 1980. It became obvious due to
circumstances beyond his control that he had to leave UCC, because God
has a plan for his life. The Redeemed Evangelical Mission, TREM was
founded on the 4th of January, 1981.
In 1980, Dr. Mike Okonkwo received a
certificate of license from International Deliverance Churches, Dallas,
Texas. In 1981, he graduated with a diploma degree from the Morris
Cerullo School of Ministry, San Diego, California, USA. By 1982, he
earned diploma with International Bible Institute and Seminary, Orlando,
Florida. The same year, he bagged a Bachelor of Bible Theology in the
same university. The Covington Theological Seminary, Fort Oglethorpe,
Georgia, USA gave him a waiver for Masters Degree and he went in for a
Doctorate degree program in Divinity which he successfully completed and
was conferred with Doctor of Divinity degree with all rights and
privileges pertaining thereto. In 1984, the Board of Directors of
International Bible Institute, Orlando, Florida, USA, upon
recommendation by the Faculty conferred on him a Doctor of Letters
Degree. In 1987, the United Christian International Bible Institute,
Cleveland, Tennessee, USA awarded him a Doctor of Divinity certificate.
Dr. Mike Okonkwo is a holder of the
ordination certificate and the certificate of fellowship of World
Ministry Fellowship Shreveport, Louisiana, USA. He is also a holder of
ordination certificate from the National Christian Fellowship
Conference, (NCFC) USA, the Church of God Mission International Nigeria,
United Christian Church & Ministerial Association, USA.
Dr. Mike Okonkwo was awarded Attestation
of Pilgrimage by the Government of Israel, thereby authorising him to
bear the title Jerusalem Pilgrim.
Dr. Mike Okonkwo is a holder of
Meritorious Achievement Award from the International Affairs Leadership
Parliament, by the Golden State University, University of Honolulu,
Ephraim Moore University, International Theological Seminary, Spiritual
Life Ministries, all in USA and the Trinity College of Ministerial Arts
in Nigeria.
Dr. Mike Okonkwo was awarded the
prestigious Scenic Center of the South Certificate by the City of
Chattanooga, Tennessee USA, in 1989. The Faith Christian Fellowship
International Church Incorporated, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA, through his
able leadership extended the right hand of fellowship by awarding an
Associate Church Certificate to TREM.
In 1997, Bishop Mike and Dr. Peace
Okonkwo had the honour of having their names inscribed on the Jerusalem
3000 scroll number 6571 and is thus recorded in the history of Jerusalem
with a certificate awarded thereby.
Dr. Mike Okonkwo was consecrated the Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM) on the 7th of May 1988.
On the home front, Dr. Mike Okonkwo is a
member of the founding fathers of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria
(PFN), the 1st National Secretary General and former President of PFN.
He is the convener of the Communion of Covenant Ministers International
(CCMI), past National Vice President of the Christian Association of
Nigeria (CAN).
He is a speaker in great demand around
the world for Seminars, Conferences, Crusades, Conventions and
ministers’ training. He is a member of the Board of Directors of
Arlington Church, Arlington, USA. He is the Bishop of The Redeemed
Evangelical Mission (TREM). He is the Chief Host of the popular
Television and Radio network, Power in the Word. He is a father of
fathers, a Pastor of Pastors, an Apostle of our time.
Dr. Mike Okonkwo is a man who believes
in the integrity of the Word of God. But not only that, he believes in
integrity as a man of God and has lived a life of integrity before the
multitudes that God has drawn into his ministry. He is a man easily
touched by the feeling of the people and thus has become a man of
prayer. He spends hours on his knees praying for the flock over which
God has made him the Overseer. His long hours of prayer and fasting have
brought forth testimonies that have beaten the imagination of the
learned.
He is the Patron and Founder of the
Empowerment for the Less Privileged Foundation, a non-governmental
organisation committed to alleviating the plight of the less-privileged
in the society through donations to hospitals, establishment of free
vocational training centres, running free preparatory schools for
students in the secondary schools, and facilitating regular public
enlightenment campaigns on health issues amongst others. He also
pioneers a scholarship fund for talented students.
Dr. Mike Okonkwo has authored several
books in English and two translated to French. He is a widely travelled
man, who has gone far and wide for the spread of the gospel.
He is married to Dr. Peace Okonkwo and they are blessed with a daughter, Uche.
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