In 1983, after leaving secondary school, I began seeking God’s direction for my life. Many people had spoken to me about becoming a pastor, but I wanted to be sure of God’s calling. In 1985, I traveled to Owerri for fasting and prayer, seeking clarity. Before this, the Lord had given me a vision in a dream where I was walking along a road and met two men who told me they had been waiting for me. When I asked who they were, they responded that they were ministers from different nations and that God had sent them to find me. However, God had not yet spoken to me directly.
During our conversation, Dr. Umpai, a well-known evangelist from Eastern Nigeria and a minister of the Assemblies of God Church, appeared. He called me by name and said, “Victor, follow us. God wants you to speak to us.” Because I knew Dr. Umpai well, I followed him. When we arrived, I found myself speaking before an audience of pastors and church leaders of various ranks and nationalities. After delivering my message, I stepped onto the balcony of the venue, and then I woke up from the dream.
As a young man eager to be used by God, I was surprised and wondered how I could be the one speaking to men whose books I had been reading to find my path. In my pondering, the Lord spoke to me, saying, “That’s why I called you.” God also told me He would send me to a man who would train me for the work ahead.
In 1986, while serving as a student leader at the NIFEST Owerri Zone during a prayer conference, I met my spiritual mentor. As he spoke, the Lord confirmed to me that he was the man He had sent to train me. After the meeting, I approached him and shared what God had revealed to me. We agreed that I would move to Aba for my industrial attachment for one year, which eventually extended to two years. During this time, I lived in his house and was mentored alongside others, including Dr. David Dimoji. This period marked the beginning of my journey.
Around this time, Intercessors for Africa had already begun. Later, I traveled to Warri to speak on Christian missions. The impact of my message led pastors to express their desire to learn from me. Shortly after my wedding in August, in October, a pastor and his wife visited my home for a weekend of training. The experience was transformative. Upon returning to their church, the senior pastor, now with the Lord, requested that I come and train the entire congregation. This led to the first National Ministers Conference, which was a great joy for me. Each time I met with my spiritual mentor, he provided counsel, advice, and prayer support.
After the Warri meeting, a close friend arranged for me to speak to ministers in Kano. He also coordinated a trip for us to Switzerland to minister there. By 1987, we traveled to Switzerland, spending six weeks teaching and praying. While there, pastors approached me, expressing the need for continuity after my departure. This led to the establishment of a pastoral network. However, as a man under authority, I first returned to my mentor, shared the testimonies, and sought his guidance. He advised me to document our plans. I drafted a six-page document outlining the vision, its awareness, implementation strategies, and objectives. I also expressed my desire for it to be independent, rather than under any existing structure.
As we continued hosting national conferences, I observed that the way people spoke about pastors often felt like arrows piercing my heart. I sensed God calling me to address this issue. In 1998, the Lord clearly instructed me to begin organizing pastors’ conferences. After sharing this revelation with my mentor, he affirmed it and agreed to inaugurate the initiative. To the glory of God, from 1998 onward, Pastor and Mrs. Ben have been actively involved in this work. Initially, the event was called the National Ministers Conference Nigeria. Surprisingly, by the second year, participants from Benin Republic and Togo joined, and soon, twelve nations were in attendance. The conference continued growing in grace and impact.
As we expanded, the Lord led us to establish a formal training program for pastors. This is how our journey of ministerial training and equipping leaders began. To this day, we remain committed to the mission of empowering pastors, strengthening the church, and fulfilling God’s divine mandate.
