Church Growth in Nigeria - Special Reports By Dave Omokhodion
"....Go Ye into the world and preach the Gospel.." Mark 16:15
The beginning of Christianity in Nigeria dated back to the early 15th century. It was a missionary adventure by the Portuguese. They were said to have settled in Benin, mid-western region, but were not welcome by the Benin Kingdom.
In early 19th century European and British missionaries found their way into the country and settled in the remote part of Badagry, Lagos.
Record also have it that after a while the missionaries led by Thomas Birch Freeman and Samuel Ajayi Crowther a yorubaman who was once a slave but became a missionary, reportedly found their way to Abeokuta, South West Nigeria. There, several yoruba elites recognized the important of the Gospel and successfully keyed into it.
Because of the local religion practice however, the work of the gospel was not quite effective. Many people were not quite willing to turn away from their old ways.
But the rugged stand of some of the early converts could not be deterred.
To become more relevant the missionaries employed many measures to pass the message of salvation across to the citizens. Schools were built as well as hospitals and churches. And gradually people started seeing the need to let go of their African religion.
The accurate numbers of believers at that time can not actually be ascertained because everywhere the missionaries have their presence they also entered with mission works.
During this period, the like of Ajayi Crowther and a host of them gained prominent because of their serious involvement in spreading the Gospel.
Their several exploits include the translation and printing of the Bible to Yoruba language. The efforts did not only paid off but actually marked the turning point in the history of Christianity in Nigeria.
In the pre-colonial era christianity has started yeilding positive results. In fact the Gospel has gained prominent in several places in Nigeria, including the Eastern part and some places in the Middle Belt except in the northern part of the country due to Usman Dan Fodio jihadist movement.
The colonial government supported the missionaries work to such an extend that christianity became closely tied to Western Education. Several families were opportuned to give good education to their children.
During this period the early churches were predominantly the Anglican, Methodist and Catholic. But as Nigeria became more involved in church leadership, Indigenous, evangelical and Pentecostal churches came into focus.
The presence of Pentecostal movement was a fall-out from Martin Luther King broke away from the Catholic Church to form Lutheran Church in America. Several followers of the movement began to preach on the "JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH" maxim.
The era, no doubt sparked widespread of the gospel across Europe and America with the fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit. And then some churches in America began to have roots in Africa soils, including Nigeria. Some of these churches included Apostolic church, Apostolic Faith, Assembly of God, Foursquare Gospel church, Presbyterian church and a host of others.
One beautiful work of the gospel was actually the confirmation of the power of God as there were several records of healings, deliverance and miracles both in churches, convention, crusade and revival grounds.
The spread of the gospel became more profound when several Nigeria believers started to travel abroad for ministerial training.
In the early 70s the like of late Archbishop Benson Idahosa broke all known protocols with his charismatic and power parked crusades in several dangerous places across the country.
It is on record that the Archbishop spear-headed many revolutionary moves in Christendom which led to the birth of many Pentecostal churches in Nigeria today. The efforts, no doubt, enhanced the gospel as many people became saved.
Today Nigeria has about 100 millions christians, one of the largest christian population in africa, with diverse rang of denominations and churches. Their works spread across healthcare, social welfare and education.
In conclusion, the spread of the Gospel can not but be accepted as successful in Nigeria in spit of certain persecution. Virtually every nook and cranny of the country, including the islamic stronghold in the north have a touch of the Gospel.
Lives are getting more saved, people are becoming more enlightened in God's word and miracles of different nature are still being recorded. This can only but be a testimonial of the presence of the Holy Spirit as always.
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