Nathaniel Bassey started a praise movement on Instagram and is here in Winnipeg for a weekend conference.

It started as a simple challenge, to wake up and praise God at midnight for a month. The Instagram post included the hastag #olowogbogboro, which means outstretched arm of God.

"It was just a praise challenge," Bassey said. But the hashtag went viral, with over 52,000 public posts. It's English counterpart, the #HalleluyahChallenge, has around 20,000 posts.

The movement was based on Acts 16 where Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God at midnight, before the prison was hit by an earthquake.

"It was humbling, but at the same time I felt it was a move of God," Bassley said about watching it go viral. "It's beyond something I started."

Bassey has heard some amazing stories, like one lady whose husband had walked out on her and their family. While she was taking the challenge and praising God, her husband returned.

"I'm big on reconciliation," Bassey said. "To find that home and start again . . . I think that's the story I remember [most]."

He also recalled that two women had cancerous lumps disappear while taking part in the challenge.

Singing praises to God and diving into him is what has brought Bassey to this point in his life.

"The more I discovered God, the more I discovered me," Bassey said.

He has a message of hope for those struggling to find themselves and who they are.

"Every time we have a revelation of who Jesus is, we find ourselves," he said. "Quit trying to find you . . . seek the Lord and you will find yourself."

Bassey will be speaking leading worship at the Immanuel Fellowship Young Adult 2017 Annual Conference, which runs from today until Saturday, July 22. A Night of Worship with Pastor Nathaniel Bassey starts at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday.