Bishop Tom Samson is the General Overseer of Christ Royal International Family Church with headquaters in Lagos. In a recent chat with selected Editors, the man of many parts revealed what people do not really know about him, his monumental achievements over the years, his programme which sees people all over the world in attendance, IT’S WAR, and many more. Hi People Magazine Acting Editor, JULIUS AKPOVIRE was there. Read on.
Can we meet you sir?
Well, my name is Bishop Tom Samson. I hail from Ogbagu-Ogume, a town in Ndokwa Local Government Area of Delta State, but I was born in Ile-Ife, Osun State, on December 13, 1965. I attended St. Murumba Primary School, Ile-Ife, 1972-1977 and Modakeke Islamic Grammar School Modakeke IIe-Ife 1978-1982, for my primary and secondary education respectively. From here, I proceeded to the then Bendel State University, Abraka Campus, where I graduated with B.sc. in 199. I came from an extremely poor background. A family of eight but presently in my family, we have three great prophets and all have their various ministries.
Well, my name is Bishop Tom Samson. I hail from Ogbagu-Ogume, a town in Ndokwa Local Government Area of Delta State, but I was born in Ile-Ife, Osun State, on December 13, 1965. I attended St. Murumba Primary School, Ile-Ife, 1972-1977 and Modakeke Islamic Grammar School Modakeke IIe-Ife 1978-1982, for my primary and secondary education respectively. From here, I proceeded to the then Bendel State University, Abraka Campus, where I graduated with B.sc. in 199. I came from an extremely poor background. A family of eight but presently in my family, we have three great prophets and all have their various ministries.
In Ife we were born into a single room without normal family basics.
Going through school was so difficult, I remember my primary school days I was
almost stopped from going to school. From my primary to the University, I never
bought a text book. I was always disgraced in the assembly because of One
hundred or fifty naira for Government development levy, not even school fees.
Because I could not afford that, on the assembly they would flog me. You know
public school mockery; I almost got discouraged going to school. When I was
through with my primary school in Ife, I found myself in Modakeke, an Islamic
school which I had to trek two hours distance everyday. I had to hawk, it was
unbelievably rough. I remember how my father died because of two thousand
naira to buy drugs. But today I have one of the best state-of-the-art hospitals
in the country. I give free medical services to communities in Ota. I give out
eye glasses, mosquito nets, drugs etc for free.
All these are reflections of my dream I worked to get. I watched my
father die because of just two thousand naira. I could not pay or buy books.
But today, I have a foundation, eight primary schools, eight secondary schools,
I have a college of Education and a modern day university called Monarchs,
under construction and a lot more. I have given out lots of scholarship to
people from all works of life. My life is a reflection of what I suffer today,
I made a vow to God that, if I went to school without text books, I couldn't
afford to pay school fees, in the University I had to borrow handouts because
of maybe five hundred naira, and I am ever lift me up, I will make sure that I
pass the same grace to others. But it is not about the hardship one goes
through. The ultimate is salvation.
So, how did it all
start?
When I got to Ekpoma for my University, I gave my life to Christ. That
was my turning point. In my turning point at campus, I met with the folks like
Chris Oyakilome who was also a force to reckon with. That was where the
spiritual force in me came out. Chris Oyakilome was ahead of me, he was in his
third year and I was just a jambite, I was following them and I mixed up with
them during campus fellowship. I was highly gifted. While I was in school in
Ekpoma, I visited Iruepken, Ekpochrie, Essan, Irua and some of those villages.
There is one thing about Essan, there are places you can connect to witchcraft,
shrines, witches and wizard, for example, marine people coming from delta
areas. As a student in Ekpoma, God used me in all these environments. Right
there in the campus, many who were highly possessed would vomit into my hands.
I did not go to bible school, the University was my bible school because that
was where I got trained. That was how I continued preaching in the University
amongst Buccaneers, Black axe, Vikings amongst others. They called me
"violent talk” that I like to believe in power. You know as a young man,
when somebody is vomiting, somebody moving like a snake and all that, it is
exciting.
It was like, Waoh! So when you come into a fellowship meeting to share
your experience, it happened like an adventure. It was real fun. I started
Christ Royal Family Church on campus as a fellowship, and from there I
travelled to many campuses like UNILAG, UI, Ife, Sapele, Warri , Eku and all
those places preaching on campuses as a student.
Some say it is all about money not knowing that we used our pocket money to print hand bills, people like Chris Oyakilome used their school fees for evangelism, we are talking about radical evangelists. It was when I started in Abraka Campus that students from Ife, Nnsuka, Port harcourt and the ones within my campus were supporting little by little financially. Still as students we will hold crusades in and outside campus. My campus members, made up of Boys and Girls were a treasure store of support, it is still the same fire that I caught in the campus with the likes of Chris Oyakilome that is still burning.
Finally in 1991, I came out of the University. My NYSC wasn't on my lips. Ministry was my calling. Ministry is my life. In 1991 when I entered Lagos, I started here in Egbeda Akowanjo, in a road side beer parlour. I was moving from house to house, People that I gathered that December were the same people God used to turn my life around. I never knew anybody. I came with one shirt, one trouser but 22 years after, we are all over the world. We have our branches planted in major cities around the globe. It's amazing. We have succeeded in touching lives. That is the story in a nutshell.
Some say it is all about money not knowing that we used our pocket money to print hand bills, people like Chris Oyakilome used their school fees for evangelism, we are talking about radical evangelists. It was when I started in Abraka Campus that students from Ife, Nnsuka, Port harcourt and the ones within my campus were supporting little by little financially. Still as students we will hold crusades in and outside campus. My campus members, made up of Boys and Girls were a treasure store of support, it is still the same fire that I caught in the campus with the likes of Chris Oyakilome that is still burning.
Finally in 1991, I came out of the University. My NYSC wasn't on my lips. Ministry was my calling. Ministry is my life. In 1991 when I entered Lagos, I started here in Egbeda Akowanjo, in a road side beer parlour. I was moving from house to house, People that I gathered that December were the same people God used to turn my life around. I never knew anybody. I came with one shirt, one trouser but 22 years after, we are all over the world. We have our branches planted in major cities around the globe. It's amazing. We have succeeded in touching lives. That is the story in a nutshell.
Was your calling through a revelation or how?
The only thing I can remember is that in those days in Ile-Ife, there was this prophet with dreadlocks and each time he comes around our house, he would always point at me that I would be great and that I am a star, the glory of the family. I could remember that my parents would call everybody and say that my siblings should take care of me because I am a star. Even some of my sisters used to beat me for that prophecy. But my life then was under demonic attack. I had to write WAEC five times; all my mates were far ahead of me, until 1985 when I came on campus.
We have seen your
ceaseless moments and you never withhold the might of the gift. Are you saying
you are called into the deliverance ministry and why?
I came from a poor family, poverty reigned, ancestral curses, demonic attack, I was the first to marry, nothing ever worked, the first to the university. My father built an uncompleted house for 20yrs. My brother built for 12yrs, he could not complete it. But here and behold, when the jinx was broken, I built a mansion 17yrs ago in less than eight months. The Ikeja cathedral was built in five months and many more. Today, I have a comfortable family filled with graduates. I broke the jinx. An average riverine man has a challenge and all of us have to contend with it. And God in HIS infinite mercy gave me power to liberate. In my programme at Airport hotel Ikeja, I showed it in my TV programme about 6-7years ago, a lady vomited 36 golden rings. So, God has chosen me for deliverance right from my days on campus. I was so popular in the Christian community on campus and because of my deliverance prowess and boldness, some called me Desmond Tutu and all that. I have a loud voice, I can speak, I am an orator. I was simply unstoppable. I was an activist.
I came from a poor family, poverty reigned, ancestral curses, demonic attack, I was the first to marry, nothing ever worked, the first to the university. My father built an uncompleted house for 20yrs. My brother built for 12yrs, he could not complete it. But here and behold, when the jinx was broken, I built a mansion 17yrs ago in less than eight months. The Ikeja cathedral was built in five months and many more. Today, I have a comfortable family filled with graduates. I broke the jinx. An average riverine man has a challenge and all of us have to contend with it. And God in HIS infinite mercy gave me power to liberate. In my programme at Airport hotel Ikeja, I showed it in my TV programme about 6-7years ago, a lady vomited 36 golden rings. So, God has chosen me for deliverance right from my days on campus. I was so popular in the Christian community on campus and because of my deliverance prowess and boldness, some called me Desmond Tutu and all that. I have a loud voice, I can speak, I am an orator. I was simply unstoppable. I was an activist.
You are from a poor
family, how were you able to transform that experience to what you are today?
What I suffer drew me nearer to God. I became a minister; many times I give people who have one challenge or the other hope. Instead of you thinking it is all over I give you hope, I always preach message of hope that you can do it. Back then, I do tell them that a time will come when we will be parking cars everywhere around the church Today I come in with MOPOL and all that. The same place we started so poor, we have built so many places but I chose to be here because it reminded me how I started. Some people would have moved out. Here wind blew our canopy, we rented chairs and equipments. From the same place we touched all over the world, a story of God's grace. So, anyone suffering, your suffering will become a message, when you overcome your suffering somebody will listen to your story.
What I suffer drew me nearer to God. I became a minister; many times I give people who have one challenge or the other hope. Instead of you thinking it is all over I give you hope, I always preach message of hope that you can do it. Back then, I do tell them that a time will come when we will be parking cars everywhere around the church Today I come in with MOPOL and all that. The same place we started so poor, we have built so many places but I chose to be here because it reminded me how I started. Some people would have moved out. Here wind blew our canopy, we rented chairs and equipments. From the same place we touched all over the world, a story of God's grace. So, anyone suffering, your suffering will become a message, when you overcome your suffering somebody will listen to your story.
With your encounter
in the deliverance ministry and as a church, what is the real asset and how can
it transform our society?
The situations need urgent attention in this country; many young men out
there are very talented but face disappointments. Our young men with first
class are all over the places, counting their toes. Many do contract and they
are not paid, they become indebted. We Africans have foundational problems. The
bible say if the foundation be destroyed what can the righteous do. If God did
not deliver me I would end up not going to school, not married, I would end up
not having a home, because that is what happens to everybody in my family. The
reason why mine was different is because God stepped in. All my elderly ones
that were suffering then, may be if they had made salvation, their story would
have been different. Those that turned my life around were nobody, but when
they came they were delivered and are now helping others. Nigeria as a country
is under demonic attack. There is a lot of mystery going on. The church is
praying, if not Nigeria would have been no more. Nigeria is a prophecy, every
great man that comes to Nigeria prophecy about Nigeria. There is revival in the
land. Look at a young man like me, the facilities I have on ground, few
Americans have it. Today I travel around the world. Nigerian pastors are doing
great all over the world. Look at the likes of Adeboye and Kumuyi, they don't
have them in other parts of Africa. We are the largest and because of that we
will have more troubles. Look at the population too. The rate of crime here is
quite different from Togo. Nigeria is being packaged for end time revival if
not for the prayer of the church it would have been different, It would have
been worse than this. But there's hope. God has given Nigeria so much blessing
like resources to turn the country around.
Look at what these generals in the Lord are doing, you were in my church
service today, look at the people out there; some have no job, food, shelter
and means of survival. When government frustrates them, they come to church. We
try to help them, I give out scholarship. Do you know the number of people I
have given out money to this morning after the church service? We pay their
house rents; they don't have senators to run to, they don't even know their
legislators. Church is still the only place that is close to the people.
Imagine these people come and they were not given hope like what happened today,
what will they turn out to be? The economy is bad. Most of them, why they come
to church is to ask for help.
You have a lot of
investments you oversee. How do you manage all these and still run church
service?
I have mangers. There are managers in all the companies, all they need to do is to forward their reports. I have over two hundred staffers, imagine paying them every month. If senators, legislators, local government chairmen and councillors are doing the same thing Nigeria would have been a better place. I have professors, engineers, pastors, principals, and teachers etc to pay. Look at the oil sector, how many people can they employ? God will help us.
I have mangers. There are managers in all the companies, all they need to do is to forward their reports. I have over two hundred staffers, imagine paying them every month. If senators, legislators, local government chairmen and councillors are doing the same thing Nigeria would have been a better place. I have professors, engineers, pastors, principals, and teachers etc to pay. Look at the oil sector, how many people can they employ? God will help us.
Your annual
programme "IT IS WAR" is behind door. How are you preparing for this?
“IT IS WAR”, from the onset is a deliverance programme. The Lord said to
me, that he wants me to be more proactive in demonic situations. The Lord told
me if I want to declare war in the mind of the people, I should not just put on
anyhow clothes, I have to put on military camouflage. It was from that point
the concept of "IT IS WAR"
came about. We pray and fight through prayers against poverty, diseases,
demonic attack and so on. No retreat, no surrender. It has been a wonderful
programme at the Airport hotel, if you see me on camouflage you will know what
you are coming for, I have taken it all over the world.
Most churches now invest
schools, but the irony is that they are very expensive, many people cannot
afford it. What is your take on this?
Yes, you are right but teachers and many workers will become rebellious if they cannot meet up with their bills. Most of them are asking for eighty thousand naira a month, you have to get good hands to keep the students. Parents don't like it when teachers leave. Good schools in this country pay more. But look at their colleagues working in banks, they earn more money. They want to earn money too. Qualitative education requires money. You have to think of your staff, provide accommodation for them. Presently, I am building a place for my staffers. I give my lovely wife regard for her support because she has been at the helm of affairs in running our education system.
Yes, you are right but teachers and many workers will become rebellious if they cannot meet up with their bills. Most of them are asking for eighty thousand naira a month, you have to get good hands to keep the students. Parents don't like it when teachers leave. Good schools in this country pay more. But look at their colleagues working in banks, they earn more money. They want to earn money too. Qualitative education requires money. You have to think of your staff, provide accommodation for them. Presently, I am building a place for my staffers. I give my lovely wife regard for her support because she has been at the helm of affairs in running our education system.
The signal we are
getting from Aso-rock is that President Jonathan is going to re-contest come
2015. Do you think he deserves a second term?
I don't go to Abuja. I don't parade myself at the corridor of power,
this is where I sit and get reports. I get reports from the masses. The report
is nothing to write home about. The church deal with masses. They are giving us
weight. I am appealing to them to do something that will make us happy. All of
us are meeting at the airport, most of us travel abroad, and we see the
standard there. Can't they give us steady electricity supply? We are not saying
you should not eat but for God's sake give us a legacy that will go down well
in the memory lane in sands of time. That is why I like Arch Bishop Idahosa, he
is my role model because of the legacy he left behind.
It’s been nice
talking to you sir?
Its , my pleasure.
