Bro. Emma Okorie
Bro. Emmanuel Okwudiri Okorie, was born on September 9, 1949, in Umu Ugbo, Eziama Ossah, Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria. He is the last of nine children of late Iheomadinihu and Okorie Alfred Iroegbu.
Though his father was a Lay Preacher in the native Methodist Church, he was unaffected by religion. So dear was he to his father that he prophetically pet-named the young Emma, “Lamb of God.” Amidst the hardship and pressures of life, young Emma grew to become a local thug. None dared offend him without consequences, and he would be hired to fight any unfortunate victim. But that pugnacious lifestyle was arrested in 1967 by his giving over his life to Christ at a Scripture Union “Okro Soup-for- a-bible verse” meeting organized by a British Missionary, Bill Roberts, at Mission Hill, Umuahia.
That was an encounter that was to change the course of his life forever. Thus, at seventeen years of age, the one-time local bully nicknamed ‘young devil’ by those who dreaded him, became like Saul of Tarsus, completely sold out unto the heavenly vision. Born again on September 9, 1967, the raw physical energy reserved for street brawls turned full circle to fight and win souls for Christ. As the war came to an end in 1970, the Bill Roberts’ boys exploded like dry oil bean pods igniting active revival in many free churches of post-war Nigeria.
At Wilcox Grammar School in Aba, then East Central State of Nigeria, Bro. Emma Okorie brought about a revolution. The radicalism in him was re-engineered by the Lord Jesus Christ. Fearlessly, he embarked on radical evangelism, converting his school Principal, Elder Arungwa (of blessed memory), a host of teachers and students of Wilcox. He became a sought-after speaker at crusades and revival meetings, and various churches across the nation opened their doors to him. He so became a terror to the underworld, amazement to his colleagues at school, an enigma to the ecclesiastical circles of the time that he was nicknamed, “Evangelist Bulldozer.” He traversed every nook and cranny of this country preaching the gospel, raising the dead, healing the sick and transforming lives. His Christian Revivalist Group was well known throughout Nigeria.
At Wilcox Grammar School in Aba, then East Central State of Nigeria, Bro. Emma Okorie brought about a revolution. The radicalism in him was re-engineered by the Lord Jesus Christ. Fearlessly, he embarked on radical evangelism, converting his school Principal, Elder Arungwa (of blessed memory), a host of teachers and students of Wilcox. He became a sought-after speaker at crusades and revival meetings, and various churches across the nation opened their doors to him. He so became a terror to the underworld, amazement to his colleagues at school, an enigma to the ecclesiastical circles of the time that he was nicknamed, “Evangelist Bulldozer.” He traversed every nook and cranny of this country preaching the gospel, raising the dead, healing the sick and transforming lives. His Christian Revivalist Group was well known throughout Nigeria.
The word “impossible” does not exist and is not permitted in his rugged faith operations. On graduation in 1972, he left for Eket in Cross River State, Nigeria on invitation to preach in a Christian Fellowship outreach. Due to the great harvest of souls and miracles in that singular outing, the people did not want him to leave Eket. Later, when he returned to Aba, he rented an accommodation in 33 Umuoba Road, Ogbor Hill and formed a team of fiery preachers with some of his converts who left their occupations to join him, and were known as the Christian Revivalist Missionary Team. Bro. Emma Okorie lived a life of faith. He met and married his dear wife by faith; travelled to the United States of America by faith; attended Oral Roberts University, Indiana Christian College, and studied Christian Education by faith; he sat at the feet of Papa Kenneth Hagin at Rhema Bible Training Centre and T. L. Osborne. He attended Billy Graham School of Evangelism; came back to Nigeria in early 1985 and started the Living Word Training Centre by faith. From there, the growth of his vision became paramount. Living Word Training Centre is a school of practical application where the supernatural was taught. From Living Word Training Centre came Living Word Ministries and Living Word Churches.
Grieved by a nation-wide strike by teachers and saddened at seeing school children roaming the streets in 1985, he and his wife founded Living Word Academy, which took off from the living room of their residence in Aba, and has now spread like wide harmattan fire. Now, there is no place on earth where the name of Living Word Ministries and Living Word Academy is not heard or spoken of. This vision has given birth to Living Word Mission Hospital, upgraded to super Multi Specialty Hospital, Living Word Press, Living Word Computers, Living Word Organization for the Care of the Needy (LIWOCARE), Christian Men’s Forum, Unique Women International, Living Watch Security, Living Youth Aflame, and many others.
The Living Word Ministries presently has a work force of over four thousand (4,000), thus providing a great relief for the State Government on employment. These figures do not include those of the University.
The Living Word Academy Schools alone take care of over fifteen thousand (15,000) pupils and students both within Nigeria and in different parts of the world.
In 2009, Bro Emma founded Rhema University, and this great citadel of academic excellence and spiritual power has not only been fully licensed by the National Universities Commission but also all her courses accredited. Bro. Emma Okorie, the itinerant Evangelist, has become an Apostle, Bro Emma, an Old Boy of Wilcox Grammar School has become father of several Living Word Academy and Magnet Schools within Nigeria and beyond.
Bro. Emma has authored many books like Five Things God Has Not Seen, Invisible Means, Captivity Overturn, Pathways of His Glorious Church, Marriage Without Tears, Build Your Life Around Your Call, Thou Shall Have No Other Gods, The Art of Discipleship, Quiet Time, Offering Stops The Plague, Revival, to mention but a few.
Bro. Emma, the graduate of Indiana Christian College, U.S.A, as a Christian Educationist is today, the Chancellor of Rhema University and President of Living Word Ministries Inc. In 2015, he was honoured by the National Human Rights Commission of Nigeria as Ambassador of Human Rights.
He is happily married to the wife of his youth, Sister Chinyere Emma-Okorie. Together, they are blessed with three children (Marvellous, Amblessed, and Wonderful) and grandchildren.