Christianity in Nigeria have evolved within a short
period of time that it was brought to us by the
Europeans through the work of the missionaries.
Here we take a look at some of the popular
churches in Nigeria and their origins,if your church
is not listed here that doesn’t mean its not popular in Nigeria.This list is all for the Glory of God.
1. ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
The Roman Catholic Church traces its history to
Jesus Christ and the Apostles. The first bishop of the
church is the bishop of Rome also known as the
Pope Saint Peter who was appointed by Jesus Christ
to be the head of the church in the New Testament. Catholic Church is also the only church in the world
to has its own state in the name of Vatican. The
church came to Nigeria in 1885.
2. ANGLICAN CHURCH
The name “ANGLICAN” means “Of England”, but
although Anglican Church is seen everywhere in
the world. The history of the church is traced back
to the sixth century in England, when Pope Gregory
the Great sent St Augustine to Britain to organize a more centralized and disciplined apostolic
succession to the Celtic Christians. The Anglican
Church evolved as part of the Roman Church. It
spread worldwide first through Great Britain’s
colonization and through English speaking
missionaries. Its history in Nigeria dates to 1842.
3. DEEPER LIFE
This church is a non-denominational Christian with
its headquarters in Lagos. The General Overseer is
Pastor William Kumuyi. It is a holiness Pentecostal
church with an emphasis on holy living. In 1973,
while lecturing at University of Lagos, Kumuyi started a bible study group with 15 university
students. William Kumuyi a former Anglican later
joined the Apostolic faith church. In 1975 he was
expelled from the church for preaching without
credentials. He continued his independent ministry,
which in 1982 culminated into Deeper Life Bible Church.
4. JEHOVAH WITNESS
The founder of the Jehovahs witness is Charles
Taze Russell, a former haberdasher who founded
the International Bible students Association in
Pennyslvania in 1872. Russells various publications
in 1879 led scores of congregation to form in nearby states. According to the Jehovah witnesses,
there is one God and they have insisted he be called
Jehovah. They condemn the Trinity as pagan,
idolatory and accordingly deny Christ Divinity.
Russell even claimed that the Trinity was the idea of
the Satan. Ironically, when they baptize, they use the formula “In the name of the Father and of the
Son and of the Holy spirit”.
5. CHRIST EMBASSY
Christ Embassy also known as Believers Love World
is a mega church founded by Pastor Chris
Oyakhlimo in 1990. The formation of the church
started in the University of Benin when Pastor Chris
was leading a prayer group at the campus. The foundation of the church dates to 1990 in Lagos.
The church has churches in many countries of
today, having over millions of members.
6. REDEEMED CHURCH
The Redeemed Christian church of God is a church
founded in 1952 by Rev Josiah Olufemi
Akindayomi. Pastor Enoch Adeboye, a lecturer in
Mathematics department at the University of Lagos,
who joined the church in 1973 was chosen by Pastor Akindeyomi after he had been involved in
several other churches. Adeboye initially became
one of the interpreters translating Akindayomi’s
sermons from Yoruba to English. He was ordained a
pastor of the church in 1975, and his appointment
as leaders of the church was formalized by the posthumous reading of Akindayomi’s sealed
pronouncement.
7. METHODIST CHURCH
Methodism is a group of historically related
denominations of protestant Christianity which
gained their inspiration from the life and teachings
of John Wesley. Methodist movement spread
throughout the British empire, the United states and beyond claiming million believers in the world of
today. The church came into Nigeria in 1842.
8. WINNERS CHAPEL
It’s a mega church founded by Bishop David
Oyedepo in 1981. The origin of the church can be
traced back to May 1981 when Oyedepo had an
18-hour vision from God. In this vision God spoke
to liberate the world from all oppressions of the Devil, through the preaching of the word of faith,
and I am sending you to undertake this task. Two
years later the church was formed with four
members.
9. BAPTIST CHURCH
Baptist came into existence in England in the early
17th century. It apparently emerged out of the
puritan separatist movement in the church of
England. Although there are many account to the
origin of the church. Another view has it that the church emanated in Amsterdam back in 1609, with
English separatist John Smith as its Pastor. The
history in Nigeria is traced back to 1850.
10. LORDS CHOSEN
The founder and General overseer of The Lords
Chosen Charismatic Revival Movement is Pastor
Lazarus Muoka. Born into a catholic family in Mgbidi
in Imo state. In 1975, he moved to Lagos and
worked for sometime under a company before starting up his own business. Muoka claimed to
have had many dreams from God. In 1994
prompting him to pull out of his former church and
set up the Lords Chosen Charismatic Revival
Movement. The church which started with few
people has gone to become one of the most popular churches in Nigeria.
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