Pentecostalism began in Nigeria in the early 1950s with the arrival of Christian missionaries in Nigeria. It was a dual purpose message that they came to deliver to passionate Nigerians as they came with the gospel of Christ and also made sure that those they came to preach to were educated.
The exponential growth of the Pentecostal movement in Nigeria over the years has resulted in the rise of mega-churches spread across all 36 states of the country. Below is a list of the five most popular Pentecostal churches in Nigeria.
The Redeemed Christian Church of Nigeria
The Redeemed Christian Church of God was founded in 1952 with members scattered throughout the 36 states of Nigeria. The Church was founded by Pa Josiah Akindayomi before he handed it over to Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye in 1981. The Church has a mission to have a member in every family in Nigeria. The Redeemed Christian Church of Nigeria currently hosts two annual programs in August and December each year. The programs are: The Congress of the Holy Spirit and The Convention of the Holy Spirit in Lagos.
Deep Life Bible Church
The church was founded in 1982 by Pastor William Folurunsho Kumuyi. An astute pedagogue with a passion for holiness, he has taken the affairs of the church to great heights. The main support point of the church is holiness and justice. With a congregation exceeding 5 million, the church has branches throughout the country and is headquartered in Gbagada, Lagos.
living faith church
The church is also known as the Chapel of the Winners and its founding overseer is Bishop David Oyedepo. A fast growing Pentecostal church with one of the largest individual auditoriums in Nigeria located in Canaan Land. The church hosts one of the largest Christian festivals in Nigeria known as Shiloh every year. The church was founded in 1983 in Kaduna, in northern Nigeria.
Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministry
Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries are recognized for their deliverance and prayers. It was founded by Dr. Odukoya, an astute scholar with several publications to his credit. The church is currently headquartered in Lagos and has branches in every state in Nigeria.
Embassy of Christ
Christ Embassy is one of the most popular and followed churches in Nigeria with over 4 million members. It was founded by charismatic pastor Chris Oyakhilome, who single-handedly created a model out of the fast-growing church. It hosts television programs and yearly programs that bring salvation, healing, and relief to millions.