20 Pentecostal Pioneers in Nigeria: Their Lives, Their Legacies

Copyright © 2011 by Israel O. Olofinjana.

Library of Congress Control Number:       2011902067

ISBN:         Hardcover                               978-1-4568-6681-5

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Contents

Recommendations

Dedication

Acknowledgements

Abbreviations

Foreword

Introduction

Appendix 1

Pioneers to be considered in the Next Volume

Appendix 2

Major Revivals In Nigerian Pentecostal History

Appendix 3

Legacy and Theology of Daniels Ekarté (c. 1890s-1964) and its implications for Black Majority Pentecostal Churches in Britain

Glossary of Technical Terms

Bibliography

Endnotes

Recommendations

Ever so often a book comes along that I feel should have been written years ago, and this book is one of them. As a Christian who found faith in Nigeria in the 80s, I was intrigued by stories about ‘God Generals", those men and women that led 20th century revivals across the world (most of them in the West). Now I have in my hands, a book that shares some of the stories of some of my fellow countrymen who shaped the faith landscape in Nigeria. I am really impressed with the diversity of the leaders identified and the depth of the research undertaken. This book, in my view, should be a must read for anyone interested in origins of Pentecostalism in Nigeria.

Keno Ogbo, Co-editor, The Black Church in the 21st Century

The Lord joined us to the ministry of Benson Idahosa for 20 years and we saw firsthand the reality and power of the gospel in Africa that has touched the world. The Lord’s sovereign work in the continent is going to impact the globe for generations to come. Thank God for the African church of Jesus Christ. Millions of strong and faithful believers are coming forth at this critical time as God builds His church.

Dr Kent & Ruth Hodge, President of Christian Faith Institute,

Jos, Nigeria.

Dedication

This book is dedicated towards the Nigerian 50th

Independence Celebration

Golden Jubilee

Acknowledgements

I would like to use this opportunity to appreciate the following people without whom this project would not have been a success. Firstly I thank Tolu Mala and Richard Asaolu Roberts, my research partners at the beginning of this work, for allowing me to continue this project. I would also like to thank Kehinde Awolesi for helping in buying books and for his encouragement. Special thanks to Paul Esupofo-Oriade of Sword of Excellence Drama Ministries for being my research assistant in conducting interviews and making available some of his own research findings to me. I would like to thank Dr Kent and Ruth Hodge for their hospitality and information they supplied regarding the late Archbishop Benson Idahosa. Special thanks to Mr Eric and Grace Adegboyega for lending me books about the late Rev Samuel Gbadebo Adegboyega and for granting me interviews. I appreciate the following people for granting interviews about the late Joseph Ayodele Babalola and the Oke-Oye Revival: Baba D.O. Ige of Ita baale Olugbode, Beere-Oje; Apostle Okerinu of Christ Gospel Apostolic Church (CGAC); Elder Adetula, Dr N.E. Udofia and Mr Ogundipe. I also thank Apostle Alfred Williams of Christ Faith Tabernacle, London, Rev. Canon Ben Enwuchola of the Nigerian Chaplaincy Office in London, Pastor Jonathan Oloyede, Convener of Global Day of Prayer London and Mr Alex Iwu of Treasure Publishing for their support and encouragement. In addition, I thank Mr Alex Iwu for giving me the permission to use the map of Nigeria that is the background image of the front cover. I like to appreciate Dr David Muir, founder and director of Faith in Britain and Keno Ogbo, Co-editor, The Black Church in the 21st Century, for endorsing this book. Finally, I would like to thank my wife for giving me the time to write this book and for painstakingly reading through the manuscript.

Abbreviations

Foreword

20 Pentecostal Pioneers in Nigeria offers a survey of the history of Pentecostalism in Nigeria through the lens of 20 icons who have defined that Movement in Nigeria. This book documents stories that are not commonly told in Nigerian Pentecostal Churches. For example, the story of Garrick Sokari Braide and its pioneering efforts in the Niger-Delta is one that is not very known. The book with well documentation and groundbreaking research highlights the fact that Pentecostalism in Nigeria is not confined to a particular region or tribe, but it’s a Movement that encompasses the whole nation.

Another significant contribution of this book is seen in the profiling of women who were actively involved in shaping the contours of Pentecostalism in Nigeria. Furthermore, the writer demonstrates that the Pentecostal Movement in Nigeria is diverse covering a large range of Churches such as the Aladuras, African Independent Churches (AIC), Classic Pentecostal Churches and Newer Pentecostal Churches (NPC) or new generation Pentecostal Churches as they are sometimes known.

The release of this book becomes more significant because it coincides with the year that 17 African nations are marking their 50 years of independence from colonial powers. Nigeria is one of these countries and it is befitting that this book has been dedicated towards her Golden Jubilee celebration. Some have asked the question what is worth celebrating in these African nations and particularly the case of Nigeria. One area that deserves celebration is the reverse missions of African Churches to Europe. Nigerian Pentecostals have taken the lead in this reverse missions and they now pastor some of the largest Churches in Europe and North America. But for anyone to fully grasp the concept of this reverse flow of Nigerian Pentecostals, attention has to be given to how Pentecostalism began and developed in Nigeria. Part of what this book tells us is that Pentecostalism in Nigeria is not totally a religious movement planted by North Americans and Europeans, but that its origin and some significant developments of it were indigenous. Revivals led by local people played a key role in shaping Pentecostalism in Nigeria and the writer has given due emphasis to these local agencies. To this end, I will like to commend the book to Church historians, practitioners, scholars of religion and missionaries. I will also like to commend the book to the general public who are interested in history of missions from a non-western perspective.

The Revd Canon Ben Enwuchola

Chaplain

The Nigerian Chaplaincy Office, London

Introduction

PURPOSE OF STUDY

There has recently been a shift in world Christianity from the West to the Two-Thirds world; from North America and Europe to Latin America, Asia and the African nations. This shift has been recognised by missiologists, social anthropologists and scholars of religions from across the world. The Swiss Pentecostal Theologian Walter Hollenweger, in his foreword to the book African Initiatives in Christianity observed that ‘Christianity is growing more quickly than the world population is due to the Churches in the Third world and in particular to the African Initiatives in Christianity (AICs) and their relatives, the autochthonous Pentecostal Churches in many parts of the world’¹. This shift is recognised in recent research materials. For example The International Dictionary of Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements (2003) includes new research material on Pentecostalism in developing countries which was not included in the first edition published in 1988.² Pentecostalism is the main expression of Christianity that is growing in the developing world, and it has its Biblical origins on the day of Pentecost as recorded in Acts 2.³

One of the developing nations experiencing Pentecostal renewal is Nigeria. This renewal began ca 1916 through the prophetic movement of Garrick Sokari Braide in the Niger-Delta and was continued by the Aladura (Praying people) in the South-Western part of the country in the 1930s. Recent Charismatic Movements have developed out of the spiritual renewal within higher institutions of learning around the 1970s. These revivals have blossomed in and out of Nigeria and have attracted international status, causing Nigeria to be identified as one of the places where mega Churches can be found.⁴ Peter Wagner, a professor of Church growth at Fuller Theological Seminary in California, has recognised that since the 1990s there has been a shift in Church growth from South Korea to Nigeria.⁵ Theologians from Nigeria, other African countries and Europe have written books to document these revivals. This book and its sequel will therefore look at 20 Pentecostal individuals who have played significant roles in these revivals in Nigeria. This book is the first of two volumes. All 10 pioneers considered in this book are deceased while the remaining 10, discussed in the second volume, are still alive. The 10 people considered in this volume are: Garrick Sokari Braide, Joseph Ayodele Babalola, Moses Orimolade Tunolase, Samuel Gbadebo Adegboyega, Christianah Abiodun Emmanuel (nee Akinsowon), Josiah Olunowo Ositelu, Agnes Okoh, Josiah Akindayomi, S.G. Elton and Benson Idahosa.

The task of these volumes is to enquire into the lives and legacies of 20 Pentecostals and their contributions to that expression of Christianity as found in Nigeria. These 20 people have been carefully selected to show the diverse nature of Nigerian Pentecostalism. This is because Pentecostalism in Nigeria is not a monolithic or homogenous body, but rather a heterogeneous one. Some of the pioneers discussed are un-educated, which is one of the characteristic of the Aladura Movement leaders. Others who are leaders of the New Pentecostal Churches are educated, such as Pastor Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) and W.F. Kumuyi of Deeper Life Bible Church. They were both University lecturers before entering ministry. They will be considered in volume II of the series.

All the pioneers discussed are Nigerians, with the exception of S.G. Elton. I have included Elton because it is impossible to undertake a study of Pentecostalism in Nigeria without due regard to the significance of his contribution to the Pentecostal scene in Nigeria. Elton was an English man who mentored majority of the students who experienced Charismatic renewal on university campuses in the 1970s. Three women have also been chosen to reveal how women were, and are still, contributors to Pentecostalism in Nigeria. These women are founders of Churches and ministries. Christianah Abiodun Akinsowon (Captain Abiodun) played a significant role in the formation of Cherubim and Seraphim Church, Prophetess Agnes Okoh founder of Christ Holy Church was a pioneer of indigenous Church in Eastern Nigeria and Archbishop Dorcas Olaniyi is the founder of Agbala Daniel Church in Ibadan. Two of these women are considered in the present volume while Dorcas Olaniyi one is considered in the next.

Similar books have been written about the lives and work of some of these pioneers, the first of such books was a groundbreaking effort; The Makers of the Nigerian Church 1842-1947 (1995) by J.A. Omoyajowo. This book considers carefully the biographies of men who were influential in the history of the Nigerian Church during the period of the Mission Churches, African Churches and the Aladura Churches. However, this book did not cover the pioneers of the Charismatic revival of the 1970s, or the pioneers of the Newer/Neo Pentecostal Churches (NPC). On the other hand Stories of Great Men of God written by Fred Akporaye Mabonvebi chronicled the pioneers of Neo Pentecostal Churches but failed to consider the Aladura pioneers. Another book detailing some of these pioneers is How I was Called by Bisi Ojediran, Ohi Alegbe and Isaac Achor. This book shares the testimonies of how some of the Newer Pentecostal preachers in Nigeria were called to ministry. It also shares their testimonies of humble beginnings. However, it also did not consider the Aladura pioneers. A recent book written about some of these pioneers is Nigeria’s men of God (2007) by Bisi Ojediran. This book looks at the contemporary preachers from both Pentecostal and mainstream Churches,⁶ but again does not consider the pioneering work of the Aladura founders. A further book which has certainly contributed to the history of Charismatic missionary efforts in Nigeria is Nigerian Indigenous Missions: Pioneers behind the scene by Wale Banks and Wale Olaniyan. This book documents the biography and significance of four Mission pioneers in Nigeria, including two Charismatic missionary pioneers. However, it also did not chronicle the Aladura pioneers.

The above books reveal that the present volume is not a seminal work on the lives of these pioneers, but is building further and adding to the knowledge already researched. This book covers the pioneers of revival from the Aladura Churches through to the Neo Pentecostal Churches. It is worth mentioning at this juncture that there now exists an online resource that is useful for African Church historians, researchers, students and the general public. This resource is the Dictionary of African Christian Biography (DACB). The resource covers African Church leaders from Mission Churches, African Churches, African Instituted Churches (AICs), Evangelical Churches and agencies and Neo-Pentecostal Churches (NPCs).⁷

This book will take into consideration the experiences and testimonies of the pioneers mentioned. This is because Nigerian Pentecostalism illustrates theology through oral narratives such as testimonies and personal experiences. Some Western theologians and historians who have written books on Pentecostalism as expressed in Africa have not done justice to the subject. This is by neglecting to let the experiences and stories of African Pentecostals speak for themselves; either their experiences were subjected to Western forms of theology, or they were simply misunderstood. Some of these scholars are theologians from outside the Pentecostal denominations who have been educated in Western Theology. Many Pentecostal preachers in Nigeria are not seminary trained, particularly those in independent Pentecostal churches; they are educated in their respective professions but most of them have never been to Bible College and probably will never do so. As John Pobee and Gabriel Ositelu commented, most adherents of African Initiated Churches are not given to heavy intellectualism.⁸ But caution must be made here because ministers from the Classic Pentecostal Churches in Nigeria such as Assemblies of God Church, Foursquare Gospel Church, The Apostolic Church (TAC) and others are seminary trained. As a Nigerian Pentecostal historian who has had the opportunity to experience and study Pentecostal/Charismatic Movements in Nigeria and outside the country, I shall be giving an ‘inside’ perspective on these men and women’s experiences and testimonies. This does not mean that objectivity is not involved in the research; it only means that both the objective and the subjective are combined to arrive at a balanced view of the people in consideration.

This book is not only written for the academic, but also for the general public. In essence, anyone who is interested in knowing the principal characters of Nigerian Pentecostalism will find this book easily accessible. I have therefore chosen to minimise the number of technical terms used. Where it is necessary to use these terms I have tried to explain their meaning. In addition, I have provided a glossary of technical terms to aid the reader in their understanding.

This book is also written for Christians who are interested in knowing about Pentecostalism in another continent, not only from places like North America and Europe which are traditionally associated with this expression of Christianity. There are also Christians who want to experience revival in their personal lives; this book is written to birth and inspire revival in their hearts.

This work is also written for Church ministers who are willing to learn how revival can happen in their own Churches or ministries. Pastors, evangelists and missionaries who want to learn the secrets of Church planting and Church growth will find this book a mine of inspiration.

Part of the shift happening in world missions today is that Africa, which used to be the mission field for European and American missionaries, is now sending missionaries and evangelists to the West. Wagner recognised this when he said, ‘our old stereotype of Africa as the mission field has long since become antiquated’.⁹ Part of the mission strategy of Africans reaching out to the West is Diaspora mission.¹⁰ This is enabling Nigerians and other Africans to meet the spiritual needs of their communities living in Europe and North America. These African communities are then mobilised to reach out to their wider community, which has led to Nigerians pastoring the largest Churches in Europe. Matthew Ashimolowo of KICC, who leads the largest Church in the UK, and Sunday Adelaja of Embassy of God, who pastors the largest Church in Ukraine, are prime examples and the latter is considered in the next volume.

Finally, this book is written to acknowledge and tell the world of what God has done and is still doing in the Church in Nigeria. I believe that the universal Church can learn something from the Church in Nigeria. This is especially poignant as Nigeria is celebrating its 50th year of independence in 2010, offering a good opportunity to reflect on how the Nigerian Pentecostal Church has matured and contributed to global Christianity.

A SHORT HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY IN NIGERIA

For a thorough understanding of the subject at hand, I shall give a synopsis of the history of Christianity in Nigeria. This will enable the