18 Inspirational Quick Facts about the Life and Ministry of Pastor Mensa Otabil

Introduction

If a man’s life were solely predictable by his own assessment and the judgement of others, Pastor Mensa Otabil would never have become a renowned preacher and author, blessing many lives for the kingdom of God. He started life with many odds against him but braved through them all to become a force to be reckoned with.

Quick Facts about Pastor Mensa Otabil

Here are some quick facts about the life and ministry of Pastor Mensa Otabil that will inspire you to trust God to use you:

1. Adversity: Pastor Otabil lost his mother at the age of 16 and his father the following year at 17.
2. Education: Pastor Otabil never attended university. After passing his Common Entrance Exams, he gained admission to Swedru Secondary School in 1972 and completed his Ordinary Level studies in 1977. Through personal development he has educated himself.
3. Work: In the late 1970s, Pastor Otabil worked with the Audio Visual Department of the Ministry of Information.
4. Public Speaking: Pastor Mensa Otabil was quiet and reserved, so no one could have predicted he would become a pastor. He himself never believed he could even say a closing prayer until one day his teacher prompted him to pray in their next fellowship meeting.
5. Talent: When Pastor Otabil started his ministry, all he had was the ability to explain things and help people understand. From that, he built an enduring teaching ministry. He has always been a Bible teacher, extracting principles and lessons to help hearers.
6. Starting ICGC: On February 26, 1984, Pastor Otabil started the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC) at the Kanda Cluster of Schools when he was barely 25 years old. They later moved to Sal Valley School, also located in the Kanda area.
7. Focus: When Pastor Otabil started pastoring and the church was small in numbers, he preached consistently at almost every service. For 2 years, he never took an appointment to preach anywhere other than his church, focusing entirely on his congregation.
8. Recognition: Pastor Otabil has received honorary doctorate degrees for his work in various fields. He was also a recipient of the Millennium Excellence Award and was honoured by the Government of Ghana with a state award, the Order of the Volta (Religion), in 2007.
9. Role Model: Pastor Otabil’s role model in ministry is Billy Graham, even though they have different ministries. While Pastor Otabil is a pastor and teacher, Dr. Graham was an evangelist. His rationale is, “He (Graham) is my role model because I want to build the integrity of character he has kept in all these years of ministry. He is my mental picture of an honourable man of God.”
10. Greater Works: Pastor Mensa Otabil and the ICGC started the Greater Works Conference in 1987, one of the biggest believers’ gatherings in Ghana that attracts people from other African nations and beyond.
11. God Summit: Pastor Mensa Otabil started an annual apologetics conference in 2023 dubbed The God Summit, which equips believers to defend their faith and proclaim the truth of the gospel.
12. Speaker: Pastor Mensa Otabil is an international conference speaker whose ministry is well received around the world.
13. Author: Pastor Mensa Otabil is a bestselling author of Christian living books, including Beyond the Rivers of Ethiopia, Pathways to Success, and The Dominion Mandate.
14. Living Word: Pastor Mensa Otabil’s Living Word devotional has become a favorite for many believers, offering practical and insightful lessons for daily living. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Otabil switched to video and audio versions, which have been running ever since, demonstrating consistency in ministry.
15. Influence: Pastor Mensa Otabil is a statesman in Ghana who has worked with major government institutions like the Electoral Commission (EC), Peace Council, and others to bring his years of experience to bear.
16. Initiative: Pastor Otabil and the ICGC started Central University as a ministerial training institute meant to train preachers for the gospel of Christ in 1998. Central University is now a fully accredited university with courses in various fields of academic studies.
17. Charity: Central Aid was initiated by Pastor Otabil and the ICGC to provide financial support for needy but brilliant students in secondary schools and to embark on charitable projects for the less privileged.
18. Business: Pastor Otabil has taken his expertise to the marketplace through Otabil and Associates, an Executive and Leadership Growth Consultancy. He has also served on many boards, including those of pharmaceutical, banking, and educational institutions.

Conclusion

The life and ministry of Pastor Mensa Otabil illustrate a journey shaped by unwavering grace. Through perseverance and dedication, he has forged a legacy far more valuable than riches, one that will inspire and benefit generations to come.

May we all become living testimonies to what God can accomplish with a life fully devoted to Him.

Eric Otchere uses his writing to inspire hope and can be contacted at info@livingourbible.com.