Part 1
The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM) is a Word-based Church that was officially launched on the 4th January 1981. The Church founded by Bishop (Dr.) Mike Okonkwo took off from a humble beginning in an uncompleted building with few members at 14 Afolabi Brown Street, Akoka, Lagos State Nigeria.
Chukwunweike Michael Okonkwo (Mike Okonkwo) was born on 6th September 1945 to the family of Pa and Ma Okonkwo of Ogbunike in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State Nigeria. He started his primary education at Salvation Army Primary School in Enugu State Nigeria, but later moved to Ijero Baptist Primary School in Ebute Metta, Lagos State Nigeria. Church Gist. He completed his primary education at St. Marks Primary School, Offa in Kwara State Nigeria and started his secondary education at Mayflower College, Ikenne which he completed at Merchants of Light Grammar School, Oba Anambra State in 1963.
He 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 intention of making a career in banking. He was a pioneer member of staff of the Martins Street branch, Lagos State from 1964 to 1966. Church Gist. He was deployed to the eastern branch of ACB during the civil war, which eventually interrupted his banking career. During the war, he underwent military training but had no opportunity to practice what he had learnt because the war ended the very night he was deployed to the war front. After the war, he continued with his banking career at the Ogbete Road branch of ACB where he was a pioneer staff.
In 1970, Mike Okonkwo had an encounter with Jesus in November 1970 and for the first time, he started attending Church services regularly in the United Church of Christ, (UCC) with its headquarters in Enugu State Nigeria. 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 State in November 1972 with UCC. Church Gist. He was released as an Evangelist on the 20th of June 1976 and was instrumental in establishing most branches of the Church in Lagos State. He served faithfully in UCC under the leadership of Apostle Samuel Egbo (of blessed memory) from 1972 to 1980. In 1980, Dr. Mike Okonkwo received a certificate of license from International Deliverance Churches, Dallas, Texas. It became obvious due to circumstances beyond his control that he had to leave UCC because God had a plan for his life. This led to the establishment of the Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM) on 4th January 1981.
In 1981, he graduated with a diploma degree from the Morris Cerullo School of Ministry, San Diego, California, USA. By 1982, he earned a diploma from International Bible Institute and Seminary, Orlando, Florida. The same year, he bagged a Bachelor of Bible Theology in the same Institute. Church Gist. 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. Church Gist. 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 and Ministerial Association, USA. He was consecrated Bishop by a team from NCFC in Philadelphia, USA led by Bishop James McNeal Jr. on 7th May 1988.
SOURCES:
TREM Website
Church Gist Archives
Newman.org.ng
Believers’ Portal
ResearchGate
Pauline Missiology in relation missions in The Redeemed Evangelical Mission.
African Pentecostalism and mission in Nigeria and in the diaspora: The Redeemed Evangelical Mission.
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#TREM
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