Redeemed Christian Church of God
Redeemed Christian Church of God | |
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Abbreviation | RCCG |
Type | Christianity |
Classification | Protestant |
Orientation | Holiness Pentecostal |
Scripture | Bible |
Theology | Evangelical |
Governance | Synod |
General Overseer | Enoch Adejare Adeboye |
Region | Worldwide, especially Nigeria |
Headquarters |
|
Founder | Josiah Akindayomi |
Origin | 1952 Lagos, Nigeria |
Congregations | 51,580 (2021) |
Members | 9,938,617 (2021) |
Tertiary institutions | Redeemer's University |
Seminaries | Redeemed Christian Bible College |
Official website | www |
The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) is a holiness pentecostal megachurch and denomination headquartered in Ebute Metta, Lagos, Nigeria. With presence in more than 190 countries of the world and more than 5 million members in Nigeria alone, it is one of the biggest church denominations in the world.[1]
Its general overseer since 1981 has been former university lecturer, pastor E.A. Adeboye.
History
[edit]The RCCG was founded in 1952 by Rev. Josiah Olufemi Akindayomi (1909–1980).[2][3] Adeboye was a mathematics lecturer at the University of Lagos and had joined the church in 1973. Adeboye was initially a Yoruba-to-English interpreter for Akindayomi's sermons. He was ordained a pastor of the church in 1975. His appointment as the leader (styled 'General Overseer') of the church in 1981, was formalized by the posthumous reading of Akindayomi's sealed pronouncement. In 1990, the Redeemed Christian Church of God Bible School was founded.[4][5]
In 1983, the land for the Redemption Camp in Mowe was purchased. In 1988, a students' body known as the "Redeemed Christian Fellowship" (RCF) was established. It is the youth wing of the church, concentrated that caters to students in tertiary institutions. In 1990, "Christ the Redeemer's Friends Universal (CRFU)" was established to garner financial and human resources from the very wealthy in the society.[6] In 2005, the Redeemer's University was established.
Andrew Rice, writing in The New York Times, calls the RCCG "one of [Africa's] most vigorously expansionary religious movements, a homegrown Pentecostal denomination that is crusading to become a global faith".[7] The church's mission statement states that "In every household, there will be at least one member of Redeemed Christian Church of God in the whole world."[7][8]
In 2008, the RCCG had more than 14,000 churches and five million members in Nigeria, and as at 2024, is present in more than 190 countries.[9][10]
The international church is structured in different areas throughout the world.[11] The local churches are grouped into regions, with 59 regions currently in Nigeria after the 2024 Annual Convention of the church, held in August. It is also organised throughout most of the world. Notable special spiritual programs are the "Holy Ghost Service", which holds on the first Friday of every month in Nigeria. Others include the annual "Holy Ghost Convention" that holds in August and the "Holy Ghost Congress" which holds in December.
Beliefs
[edit]The official RCCG website outlines its beliefs in the Bible and the Holy Trinity, that the Devil exists, that God formed man in his image, in repentance, in cleansing from sins by God's grace, in sanctification, water baptism, Holy Spirit baptism, restitution and that God can heal without medicine (by his divine intervention e.g. through prayer).[12]
See also
[edit]- List of the largest evangelical churches
- List of the largest evangelical church auditoriums
- Worship service (evangelicalism)
- Christ Apostolic Church
- The Redeemed Evangelical Mission
References
[edit]- ^ "History and Growth of RCCG". Vanguard News. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
- ^ Ruth Marshall, Political Spiritualities: The Pentecostal Revolution in Nigeria, University of Chicago Press, USA, 2009, page 74
- ^ Nimi Wariboko, Nigerian Pentecostalism, Boydell & Brewer, USA, 2014, page 57
- ^ Laurent Fourchard, André Mary et René Otayek, Entreprises religieuses transnationales en Afrique de l'Ouest, Karthala Editions, France, 2005, page 343
- ^ "History and Growth of RCCG". Vanguard News. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
- ^ Asonzeh F.-K. Ukah (2005). Globalisation of Pentecostalism in Africa: evidence from the Redeemed Christian church of God (Rccg), Nigeria. IFRA-Nigeria French Institute for Research in Africa, Nigeria: IFRA Special Research Issue Vol. 1 African Dynamics. IFRA-Nigeria. pp. 93–112. ISBN 9791092312201. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
- ^ a b Rice, Andrew (12 April 2009). "Mission from Africa". New York Times. Retrieved 19 November 2011.
- ^ Rollins, Betty (8 January 2010). "Reverse Missionaries". PBS Religion & Ethics Newsweekly. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
- ^ "Taking RCCG from 32 parishes to 200 nations is greatness". Vanguard News. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
- ^ Stephen M. Cherry, Helen Rose Ebaugh, Global Religious Movements Across Borders: Sacred Service, Routledge, Abingdon-on-Thames, 2016, p. 35
- ^ Donald E. Miller, Kimon H. Sargeant, Richard Flory, Spirit and Power: The Growth and Global Impact of Pentecostalism, OUP USA, USA, 2013, page 190
- ^ cite web |url=https://www.rccg.org/our-beliefs/ |title=DIVINE HEALING(WITHOUT MEDICINE)
External links
[edit]
- Pentecostal denominations
- Christian organizations established in 1952
- Christian denominations established in the 20th century
- 1952 establishments in Nigeria
- Churches in Lagos
- Holiness Pentecostals
- Pentecostal denominations established in the 20th century
- Evangelical megachurches in Nigeria
- Pentecostal churches in Nigeria
- Churches in Nigeria