Rev. (Dr.) Mrs. Peace Okonkwo is an ordained minister of the gospel and the coordinating pastor at the headquarters of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM), Lagos Nigeria . She is also the founder and visionary leader of the International Women Prayer Conference (IWPC) formerly known as Women Prayer School. Blessed with an internationally acclaimed healing ministry, which is specially geared towards women (especially those who are hurt), Peace Okonkwo is the affable wife of Bishop Mike Okonkwo of TREM family and former President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN). He recently added another feather to his cap as the Vice-President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

What do you have to say about yourself, your background and education?
I am Rev. Peace Okonkwo, the wife of the Bishop of TREM, Bishop Mike Okonkwo. I come from Obosi in Idemili Local Government of Anambra State. I got married to the Bishop about 22 years ago. I have a daughter. My school days started from the East. I did a little bit of my secondary school education in Lagos. I then studied Secretariat Studies. My studies was interrupted by the civil war. After the war, I left for London where I attended Kirkby College in Liverpool. I was working at a time until God called me into full time ministry.

When did you become a Christian?
In the early 70s after the war. You know, everyone decided to seek God having lost everything. There was no hope for anything then. So, people started looking up to God. And that's how I went to the church. My background is Anglican. But, I had to go to a Pentecostal church. First of all, I love the way they play their music and I wanted to be nearer to God. So that's how I got to know the Lord. Then, from there I got into Scripture Union. So it's like after the war, everybody wanted to get closer to God and really hear from Him so as to know the next line of action. We lost everything and wanted consolation.

How did you meet the Bishop?
After the war, we were all in the Scripture Union youth fellowship. That was where I met him.

What attracted you to him?
He was a bossy kind of person. I thought he was proud because he came from a fairly well-to-do family. So, in the youth fellowship, you know, he talks. His oratory didn't start today. He's always had this habit of always talking and dictating to us in the fellowship then. And I was always at the opposing end. I used to ask then, "why should we do things this way because you said we should? So, that's how we met. We didn't get married immediately because he was still in the bank and I was still furthering my education. But he made his intentions known. And I said, "well, if it's God, it will come to pass" That was where we left it.

He was a bossy kind of person. I thought he was proud because he came from a fairly well-to-do family. His oratory didn't start today. He's always had this habit of always talking and dictating to us in the fellowship then. And I was always at the opposing end.

Being the first son, when his parents felt he was ripe for marriage, they asked him “aren't you going to get married? He told his father about me. So, after I came back, we met and the relationship began. We got married on July 5, 1980. So, I was in the ministry with him from the onset, although I was still busy in secular employment then.

And how has it been like?
(Laughs) Somebody was saying yesterday that, "for you to have been with the Bishop all these years, we must congratulate you". The fact is, the Bishop naturally is a focused person. His face deceives a lot of people. He is very soft-hearted. A very kind person and sympathetic person.

What challenges have you both gone through?
Challenges as in what are his expectations, which at times do not come the way he expected then. And, maybe doesn't come at the time he expected them. There was a time he lost his immediate younger brother, who was very dose to him. That was a really challenging time. It really took him time to overcome it. He lost his gait. It was also a trying time. Then I lost my first daughter. It was really a challenging time.

Now, talking as husband and wife, how has it been like living together, resolving conflicts and keeping the flame of love?
You know the bible says: "Don't allow the sun to set on q your wrath." Sometimes what you're even thinking might not be what your partner is thinking" So you must talk about your differences. Communication is very, very important in the family. You must talk things over and know what each other is thinking so that you don't assume the wrong thing.

I understand that your function in this church is dual. You are both the resident pastor at the headquarters and the leader of the women. Is it that you were already a pastor before you met your husband or after you met him?
No, I wasn't a pastor. I became a pastor when 1 got married to him. All along, I've always known that the hand of God was upon my life, but I didn't know how. When I got married to him, like I said earlier on, I was still working. But after a while, God spoke to him that I should come into full time ministry. Even then, he didn't want to tell me.

God spoke to some members of the Board of Advisers too. They went to the Bishop. He said that God had already spoken to him. But he's waiting for me to say something. He didn't tell me. So when I had my first baby, I asked him, particularly in the area of my extended family. I had some difficulties. Being the first daughter, I had a lot of responsibilities over my younger ones. One of the fleeces I put before God was that my mother, who is a widow, should consent. And when I told her, she said it is the best thing that can happen in anyone's life. She was all for it.

Being the first daughter, I had a lot of responsibilities over my younger ones. One of the fleeces I put before God was that my mother, who is a widow, should consent. And when I told her, she said it is the best thing that can happen in anyone's life.

And what are some of the challenges of the ministry?
Now, when the Bishop was the president of Pentecostal fellowship of Nigeria and the vice president of CAN, he did not have much time for TREM as a family because he is now a father to the Pentecostals. So, much of the work is left to us here. I have several pastors in the headquarter church. We put our heads together and God helped us. The Bishop still lends a helping hand now and then. At times, he comes to say one or two things. Any time he has the opportunity, he ministers too.

How do you combine the two functions, I mean, as resident pastor and leader of women? How do you cope with the demands of both offices?
Like I said, I have very good pastors. When the responsibilities became very large I had to step into the headquarter church as a pastor, because it was as if every group - men, women, everyone - wanted me around, having been in the ministry for quite a while. But the good thing is that you don't do it alone. We have pastors that oversee different departments. And I have leaders - very good leaders, ­men and women.

Some people are averse to the idea of women leading a church. What is your view? How do you do it here?
Yes, the Bishop is still the overall head of the TREM church. Even here, we see him as the senior pastor, as the Bishop. You see, it's so funny. I remember when I wasn't going to the men because I know that there is the natural tendency in men to despise a woman's leadership. They asked me to come and help them in one location and I went. Gradually, all sections began to call for me to come and minister to them, considering the miracles and testimonies that attended my ministration. So, it's like everyone accepted myleadership. It wasn't an overnight thing; it was many years of pastoring. Even now, I allow the men to do most of the preaching. But sometimes, if there is, for example, an announcement to make, they will say "please give it to Mummy, because when she makes it people will respond to it."

So, you mean you're able to manage the men without opposition?
Like I said, first of all, when I came I started pastoring, helping the Bishop in the work at the church. I avoided that area until they requested for me. I just stayed with the women, and they (men) kept complaining: "Why is it that you are always with the women? You always stay with the women. We also have our own challenges, come and talk to us as a mother." So everyone just accepted my leadership.

So there is no competition between you and the male pastors?
No. I allow the younger ones, pastors under me, to preach when the Bishop is not there. I give them free hand to minister. They are the ones coming up. They are the ones to take over from us. I hardly preach, except maybe when they say, "Ah-ah Mummy you haven't preached to us in a long time. We want you to be used in your area, come and conduct miracle service for us." They all know that this is my area of ministry. Apart from that, I just sit down and watch them preach. And if there's any correction, I make it one on one.

So much is being said about your women's programme. Would you tell us something about the International Women Prayer Conference?
The International Women Prayer Conference came as a burden. As a woman, you know, women go through a lot. These are not the days when women stay at home doing nothing. They go to work. They go into the society. They are housewives and they are compelled to do this and that. So, I noticed that a lot of women get into a lot of depression from time to time.

If you read our praise report, you'll see the testimonies ­unbelievable testimonies. People who never thought they were going to have children, after many years of barrenness, they had triplets.

And, having been behind the counselling desk for several years, I noticed that oftentimes when counselling, somebody might come in and cry for over an hour before she's able to utter what she came for. So, I started praying. I said: "God, how would, this thing be taken off women? What do you want me to do?" So, the Lord spoke to my heart and said, "Let them pray unto me, and I will show myself strong in their midst." That was long ago, over seven or eight years ago. And, you can't believe the kind of things God has been doing. It's simply marvellous. He has wiped away so many tears, turned many sorrows into joy... It's always once a month. Every last Thursday of the month, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon.

When you come here you will be surprised. Over 4,000 women from all walks of life. They come in by air, they come in from the states. Some years ago, the Lord told me to extend it to the states. So, I've been to so many states in Nigeria . I've been to Abuja so many times. I've been to Port Harcourt , Asaba, Enugu , even outside the country. We've held the meeting in some African countries like Cote d'Ivoire , Gabon , Libreville , Congo Kinshasa etc.

And the results?
If you read our praise report, you'll see the testimonies ­unbelievable testimonies. People who never thought they were going to have children, after many years of barrenness, they had triplets. One woman, after 30 years now has a child. There was this lady. She's a doctorate degree holder. She said she thought that marriage was not for her until she came and heard the word. Today, she's married. Broken homes, 20 years of separation, coming together, so many healings. The first and second volume of praise report contains these testimonies. We also put the pictures of those recipients so that people will know that the testimonies are real.

How consistent is this programme?
It's been very consistent. No matter where I am in any part of the world, I must be here for the prayer conference because that is a commitment to God. You can't commit something to God and not keep it. And God has been faithful. Sometimes, I will miss a flight, but because God knows my heart, He will connect it for me. I've never missed any since we started seven years ago. It's like God has peculiar interest in women, considering the way He attends to their cries and prayers.

In what ways would women in leadership positions, will benefit from this prayer conference?
Maybe that could come later. But in Port Harcourt , for instance, I've had First Ladies and eminent women coming to the programme.

If you organise something for those in the category of first ladies, don't you think it will help, especially when you make it an interdenominational thing?
May be that will come later. But I will think about it. I have not really thought about it. I am going to pray about it. As much as possible, I try to make it an interdenominational thing. Onyeka Onwenu was at the programme last month. For this reason, when I go outside Lagos , I do not go to church. I use the Women Centre when I go to Abuja . And you see all the categories of women in the society coming there. They do come because you do not know who is who. When l go to Port Harcourt , I do not use the church. I use the Cultural Centre. When I was in Asaba, I used Grand Hotel. And a lady Judge was there. Now, she wants me to come to Owerri. She has given herself to be my coordinator for Owerri next year. That is why I do not go to churches outside here.

I have gone to Muson Centre several times. And you cannot believe it, we had to hold two sessions, the place was packed, filled to the brim.

Women sometimes get so petty and difficult to lead. How do you get them to Cooperate with you?
I oversee many women with different character and different background in this place. The point is that you keep on focusing on God and praying saying: "God, give me the grace ‘ And when they see the glory of God in you, they will be compelled to oblige. Moreover, I pray for them.

As a wife, mother, homemaker and pastor, how do you strike a balance between church and home duties?
I have days I do not come out at all. This is because I need also refilling from the Holy Ghost. So, I have days when I stay at home. I just go before God, read my Bible, pray and rest. I take two days off in a week.

Give us a glimpse into your daily chores.
I plan my programme from the morning. When my child was growing up, I made sure I come home early. I see to it that she does her homework and ensure there is food. I think God knows all the things women are going to do and has given them that grace. So, it is just planning. I plan my day. I wake up in the morning and have family devotion. That is the first thing in the morning.

After the family devotion, I would have my personal devotion. I read my Bible and pray for myself. I come to work and close at about 4.00 p.m. When my daughter comes back from school, I ask her if she has any homework. If there is, I will make sure she does it. If it is the day l am going to cook, I have to close a little bit early. I have some girls staying with me who help, but I do not leave everything to them. If it is fellowship day, then I have to come back to the church. Bishop usually eats once a day. He fasts most of the time.

What happens when you travel, who takes care of your husband?
I monitor him from wherever I am by phone. I make adequate provisions before I go. If I know I must go, I do not go for too long. It may just be for weekend programme. There was a time I went to Maryland , USA for two weeks. When it's going to be for that long, I will make sure the house is in order and the girls would know what to do. And when I call him on phone, the first thing I would ask him is "How are you? Have you eaten? Are you sure you are okay?"

Now, talking about politics, what is your opinion about women's involvement in politics?
I encourage women to go into it. Not every woman can be a politician though. Looking at the situation in Nigeria , I encourage them. I was interviewed on Delta Television sometime ago on this issue and I said, "If you are called into it, brace up for it and the Lord will see you through."

Some people argue that if women go into politics, they lose focus of their primary responsibilities at home. This is because politics involves a lot of flexing of muscles, travellings, late night meetings and so on. What do you think?
Once it is an agreement with the husband, it's okay. A man might say, "Yes, I allow my wife, I support her because she has the flair for it". So, once a woman agrees with her husband, it does not matter how much she gets involved. She will know how to pull herself together. But I would advise that when the children are young, they should not go into it. There is time for everything. But when the children are a little bit grown up, they can go into politics.

With the present quota given to women in government, would you say there is fair treatment?
I think President Obasanjo has tried. Before this time, we were not seeing women the way we are seeing them today. But they should be given more opportunities because anything a woman handles, she does it very well. If you look at NAFDAC, for example, you'll agree that Dora Akunyili is a testimony to this country. Look at the former Minister of Aviation, too. She did her best. I think the government should encourage more women and give them more opportunities.

Is there any hope for this country?
Yes, we are praying. There is every hope for this country. This country cannot go under because it is in the agenda of God. Nigeria is going to carry the end-time gospel to other parts of Africa . No matter what the devil is doing, Nigeria cannot crumble. Nigeria cannot go worse. It will go better and better.

I plan my programme from the morning. When my child was growing up, I made sure I come home early. I see to it that she does her homework and ensure there is food.

What is the secret of your husband's success? To what extent do you think you have influenced his life?
I've always known that I'm there as an intercessors for him. I always pray for him. Like when they were going for this CAN election, I prayed for him. I told God that if He is in it, then my husband must win, but if He is not, then he should not win. And it came to pass, he won. Bishop is such a sensitive person. When he is not happy, you will easily know. Also, he has a very large heart. He takes in more than I do. Moreover, I do not make trouble for him. My home is not a place where you are quarrelling about this or that. What I do not understand, I will leave it. At the appropriate time, I will ask him.

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