Draft:Ishmael Sam

Ishmael Fosu Sam, PhD (ABD) (born January 16, 1966) is a Christian leader, megachurch pastor, preacher, author, international conference speaker and resident bishop of the Truth Cathedral, Loyalty House International. He is a theologian, as well, with a Master of Theology in Pentecostalism and Media from the Trinity Theological Seminary. The Loyalty House International is a denomination of the United Denominations Originating From The Lighthouse Group Of Churches (UD-OLGC) founded by Bishop Dag Heward-Mills.

Early life and education
He attended Sekondi College from 1978 to 1985 for both his O-levels and A-levels. He worked at the Bank of Ghana from 1989 until early 1993 when he entered full time ministry. After obtaining his masters degree in Theology at Trinity Theological Seminary, he continued to the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) to pursue his PhD.

Career and ministry
He joined the newly founded Lighthouse Chapel in the 1980s where Bishop Dag appointed him as the first follow-up director of the church. He was appointed a pastor in June 1991 and subsequently became a full-time pastor in March 1993. He was later transferred to Tema to start a branch of the church. Starting at the premises of a local bar called El-Paso, he would lead this church to become a megachurch within the Tema District. The church built a cathedral in Tema Community 8 called the Cornerstone Cathedral. In 2017, Bishop Sam was transferred to Dawhenya from Tema. In 2021, the Truth Cathedral built in Dawhenya was dedicated by Bishop Dag Heward-Mills. He lectures regularly at the Anagkazo Bible and Ministry Training Centre. He also travels preaching and teaching in Ghana and across the world.

From 2012 till 2019, he held an annual eastern European tour preaching and teaching in Ukraine and Russia. This was suspended because of the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent war in Ukraine which begun in 2022.

The Bishop Ishmael Sam podcast is actively followed in Ghana and across the world

Personal life
He is married to Olivia Adalena Sam and together they have 3 children, all of whom are actively involved in the ministry.

Writings
In 2021, he authored his first book, Retention and Church Growth. Bishop Dag Heward-Mills wrote the foreword to the book and described it as " a tool for every church worker who desires to build a thriving, growing and flourishing church."

Below are the books written and the year published.


 * Retention And Church Growth (2021)