Towards the end of last year, businesswoman-turned-evangelist, Elishama Ideh, had a captivating Christian movie premiere at a highbrow galleria in Victoria Island, where she hosted the creme de la creme of society. The movie, which is called Captivated, is a true life story that touches hearts. A high flying businesswoman, who was dealing in real estate, Elishama’s story is that of one who God ‘arrested’ and compelled to take the cross and evangelise the world. Called out from a worldly life, she still radiates beauty even in the Christian messages she preaches. If the flamboyant men ministers of God are called ‘yuppie,’ then Elishama is the female version. Though upscale and flamboyant, she is down to earth and ready to serve, even as far as going to prisons, brothels to minister God’s word. It’s a total change for 51-year-old Elisama Ideh. She tells Paul Ukpabio her story:
How has your new life in Christ changed the person that you used to be?
My life in Christ has made me to be walking in everything God has created me to be, even before I was formed in my mother’s womb. I am still an ongoing project daily in the hands of the Lord.
What is the feeling like about the gender difference in ministry work? are the male counterparts receptive to the women in ministry?
The gender difference in ministry still has a wide gap to be fully accepted, especially in our part of the world. But it’s beginning to take its place. There is no gender in the things of the Spirit. In the book of Genesis 1:26-28, God created both male and female, blessed them together, gave the earth to them to subdue together. It was a joint assignment, but with different roles as the occasion permits.
You are the Founder and President of Ctem Christ the Ever Present Ministries, how did that all start?
Christ The Ever Present Ministry was founded in the year 2000. I was a full-time business woman before then, a strong, committed member and a worker of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (Dominion Sanctuary) Acme Ikeja. From RCCG Acme, our set of graduating workers was required to birth another Parish, which we birthed in Ikoyi off Awolowo way (RCCG Mercy land parish)before we got our permanent property on Odunlami street Lagos. The foundation of my Christian life is firmly rooted with the Redeemed Christian Church of God where I first received the Lord Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and saviour.
My late husband and I were workers for many years and he was a deacon with RCCG Mercyland Parish before he was called home by the Lord. I began to receive the nudging to ministry from the year 1994. I had to go through series of encounters with the Lord before I finally caved in in the year 2000. I was not one of the people that God called and submitted immediately. I had a lot of struggles with the Lord because at that time, I thought people that looked like me cannot be called to ministry and it must be the down and out frustrated people that end up saying they were called to be pastors.
So at what point did you accept?
And even when the Lord first told me the level I was to start my ministry, submitting was doubly difficult. He wanted me to go out on the streets and begin to minister the saving grace of Jesus to the downtrodden; that is, abandoned destitute persons, homeless orphans, the lame, the blind, the lunatic, prostitutes, drug addicts. I was a pioneer of the street ministry; not too many people were called to such ministry at that time. I didn’t find it funny. though by year 1999 I had finally agreed to ministry, but when I realised the categories of people God wanted me to start with, I resisted him for another one year. Anyway, God prevailed on me by somethings which he allowed me to suffer and I finally yielded to the call. I was finally consecrated and released into ministry by God through the hand of Apostle Wole Oladiyun of CLAM (Christ Living Springs Apostolic Ministry). Christ The Ever Present Ministry started in March 2000.
Are the male pastors receptive to female pastors?
Our male counterparts are becoming receptive in ministry, especially when the fruits of your ministry begin to speak.
What are the blessings that you are now enjoying in the Lord?
The blessings I am now enjoying in the Lord are unquantifiable. Most importantly Christ is my anchor, my peace, my joy and the source of everything in my life. The greatest blessing I am enjoying from the Lord is the gift of the salvation of my soul
You seem to have been well blessed with projects last year, can you share one or two of those moments with us?
The year 2015 was a bitter-sweet year for me but by the closing of the year in December, God gave me unspeakable Joy. My first child, my daughter Vanessa Ideh graduated from the University (North Texas University) Dallas USA with a first class honors. She made a 3.9 points grade from a 4.0 GPA grade. That was an outstanding feat. She has five honours to her credit. She had been a 4.0 perfect score student throughout her semesters. She’s been on the dean’s list, president’s list and so on. I am really grateful to God and very proud of her and all my children. She had three major conglomerates, three of the five giants rooting and waiting to grab her immediately. She is already doing her internship with one of them as the first black in the whole state of Texas. As a single mother bringing up three children this means a lot to me. A major blessing from the Lord.
What were you doing before becoming an anointed servant of God?
I was fully into business, buying, selling, doing contracts, and a developer in real estate.
How has the journey in his vineyard been so far?
The work of God is always full of unexpected suspense. It has been a great supernatural experience for me.
What about the controversy about women being on the pulpit to preach?
I generally do not let controversy about women in pulpit bother me because Jesus Christ’s ministry was surrounded and activated by women. He was the one that sent forth the first female evangelist (the woman at the well in Samaria) who was even a six times divorcee (laughs). If that’s in our generation, that woman won’t be allowed to be a church member, not to talk of being a preacher. But God looks beyond our weaknesses to focus on who we really are, then draws out our strength and urges us on in that new dimension.
Every servant of God has a special calling, some they pray and women get pregnant, some healing, some others teaching, what can you say is yours?
I am a called evangelist but I operate with a distinct prophetic apostolic grace. But the major core area of my calling is the ‘helps ministry’ which has given birth to other bodies of my ministry like ‘PFANN (Partnership For A New Nigeria) and Elishama Ideh Ministries (mentoring women/raising leaders).
And as a called evangelist, I have a strong manifestation of the operations of the gift of healing/deliverance. I am also called as a revivalist to point people to the direction of God’s mind per season and also a strong voice to the plight of the downtrodden, a distinct voice concerning the affairs of the nations. All these latter parts are part of the operations of the apostolic work in my calling.
What is your advice to ladies who are looking forward to working in a Christian ministry?
For ladies who are looking forward to working in ministry, you must first have served in various capacities under other ministries or churches, then surrender yourself for mentorship. And make sure you have a go ahead from the Lord in which direction He is leading you to serve.
Your educational background?
My primary education was at Mayflower Junior School Ikenne, then part of my secondary education up to form three was with Federal government girls college Onitsha. But then I finished up at Brooklyn high school Brooklyn New york. My university education was at Bowie State College, Now Bowie State University Bowie, Maryland USA. I studied Mass Communications.
What is your view about fashion and how do you describe fashion?
For me, fashion is your personal style and the clothings that flatter you in a very decent and classy way, clothings that project your image positively and describe your occasion or office at any given time.
My style is uniquely me. My style has changed a lot because of age and the mature role I now play in ministry. I wear what enhances what I want to project each season. I dress with what suits me as the occasion demands.
What do I value most?
My relationship and walk with God is the very essence of my being. Then my family, most importantly my three lovely children that God blessed me with.
Any regrets so far?
I miss nothing about my past and I have no regrets whatsoever because as a child of God, I believe whatever God permits in our lives, good or bad, will all work together for our good.
How was your love life?
My husband is late. He has been called home to be with the Lord since 12 years ago. No, ours then was not marriage at first sight, it was more of friendship that veered into marriage. We met in the most unusual way. He knocked on the door of my house after I just finished fasting for seven days, telling God that was exactly how I wanted my husband to appear to me. I didn’t want anyone to take the glory of the introduction. It’s a long story. My marriage was unique and also as typical as can be like any other marriage.
My late husband loved me with his life but we were also plagued with many challenges that come with marriage. For moments, we were full of love for each other; at other times, we had down moments. but all in all, my late husband, John Ideh, was the man that was ordained for me in that season of my life, and no other man would have been able to fit that role then.
As a woman, do you think a woman can combine a career with family life successfully?
Yes, a woman can juggle the role of a career woman and wife successfully if she sets her priorities in order, especially in this age. There are so many gadgets to make life easier; you can pre-cook all your meals and put in the freezer, then have the house help just warm up in the micro-wave when not around; you can put up CCTV camera to monitor what your house help is doing at home and with your children when you are away. Make sure you make out enough time after work to spend with your husband and children for them to receive your warmth and affection as a mother and wife.
What do you consider the secret of marriage success?
The secret of a successful marriage is to be naked with each other and not be ashamed. That is telling each other the naked truth at all times. There must be constant and open communication and both of you must be God-fearing and have a good walk with the Lord. Then, the area of intimacy must be very healthy; all these helps for a successful marriage.
If you were not what you are now, what else would you have loved to be?
I love who I am now wholeheartedly but otherwise I would still have been fully committed to business.
Tell us a few things you remember about your childhood and a few you remember about your parents?
My late father was a police officer and my mum was a business woman. I came from an idolatry background but my mum received Jesus Christ along the line and prayed us all in. My mum is still alive.
I was born into a family of five children, four brothers; I am the only daughter of my parents. I now have three surviving brothers. I am the second in line of my brothers. I am from Ewohimi village from Edo state of Nigeria. I was born and bred here in Lagos.
What do you do at leisure? Do you dance?
Yes, I dance with my children at leisure time when they are around, they try to teach me the latest dance steps and we have a lot of laughs doing that because of my awkwardness in learning. I read and watch movies. I love action movies.
How do you spend your holiday?
For my holidays, I travel sometimes when I can or just lock up myself for a retreat.
Do you have memories of a particular holiday you enjoyed?
Yes, the last holiday my late husband and I had with the children in the USA a year before his death, that remains one of my most memorable holidays for many reasons.
What accesories do you not do without?
I am a very typical woman that loves all the girlie stuffs. There is no fashion accessory I can’t do without if I have to. There was a season in the first 13 years of my being born again, I didn’t wear any kind of jewellery (an ‘SU’ kind of appearance) until I was matured in the word to understand that’s not what makes me holy but the adornment of my heart before God. I grew out of that season. But I am a very typical woman, like I said, I love all the girlie stuffs that suit me, my personality and the office I represent. Except I absolutely have to for reasons very important, the above mentioned accesorries are part of my dress make-up depending on what I am wearing and for what occasion.
As a widow, how do you handle men’s advances?
I am a woman who fears the Lord and His dictates, so I am very matured both physically and spiritually to handle such matters. I am a very focused person, totally aware of who I am in the Lord and the truth of the matter is, no man can make advances to me except God gives such a man the grace. I am saying this in the most humble way. I am very busy in ministry; you won’t find me in the normal places where you will be able to reach me easily for such advances. I am totally aware that any such move will be divinely orchestrated. I am a very private person outside ministry, so I have not had to deal with men much at that level (laughs).
