The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) is one of the fastest Pentecostal churches and denominations across the globe. Founded in Lagos, Nigeria, the General overseer (most senior Pastor) is Enoch Adeboye, ordained in 1981.
The church in Lagos had an average church attendance of 50,000 in 2022. In The New York Times, Andrew Rice calls the RCCG “one of Africa’s most vigorously expansionary religious movements, a homegrown Pentecostal denomination that is crusading to become a global faith. In 2008, it had 14,000 churches and 5 million members in Nigeria, in 80 countries.
Since 1981, there has been exponential growth, with the number of parishes growing in leaps and bounds. At the last count, there are at least about 2000 parishes of the Redeemed Christian Church of God in Nigeria.
On the International scene, the church is present in other African nations, including Cote D’Ivoire, Ghana, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Gambia, Cameroon, and South Africa.
In Europe, the church is spread in England, Germany, and France. In the United States, there are parishes in Dallas, Tallahassee, Houston, New York, Washington, and Chicago, and also in the Caribbean states of Haiti and Jamaica.
About The Founder Of Rccg
In July 1909, a son (Josiah Akindayomi) was born into the Akindayomi family of the Ondo State of Nigeria. Even though this child grew up surrounded by idol worshippers, he knew a greater power existed and yearned to know.
This pursuit of God led him to the Church Missionary Society, where he was baptised in 1927. Still spiritually unfulfilled, he joined the Cherubim and Seraphim church in 1931.
Whilst there, he began to hear a voice within him saying, “You will be my servant.” Since this was not his preconceived plan, he decided to ignore the voice. He eventually harkened to this divine calling seven years after financial turmoil and severe hardship, as all he laid upon crumbled.
He became married in 1941. He continued to worship with the Cherubim and Seraphim. By 1952, he felt persuaded to leave the church.
He started at Willoughby Street, Ebute-Metta, Lagos, as a house fellowship called ‘the Glory of God Fellowship’. Initially, there were nine members, but the fellowship rapidly grew before long as the news of the miracles that occurred in their midst spread.
Pa Akindayomi also had a vision of words that appeared to be written on a blackboard. The words were “The Redeemed Christian Church of God.” Amazingly, Pa Akindayomi who could not read or write was supernaturally able to write these words down.
In this visitation, God also said that he would meet all the church’s needs awesomely if only members would serve Him faithfully and obey His Word. It is upon this covenant that the Redeemed Christian Church of God was built.
Thus, the Redeemed Christian Church of God was born in 1952. The church continued to meet at 9 Willoughby Street until they were able to acquire some land thereby witnessing a relocation to the present site of the Headquarters of the church at 1-5 Redemption Way, Ebute-Metta, Lagos.
Leadership Succession Of Rccg
In the early 70s, God had spoken to Pa Akindayomi about his successor. The Lord told him that this man, who was not a church member then, would be a young educated man.
Thus when a young university lecturer joined the church in 1973, Papa was able to recognize him in the Spirit as the one that the Lord had spoken about in the past. This man, Enoch Adejare Adeboye, who was then a lecturer of Mathematics at the University of Lagos, soon became involved in the church.
He became one of the interpreters translating Pa Akindayomi’s sermons from Yoruba to English. He has ordained a pastor of the church in 1975.
Pa Josiah Akindayomi was 71 years old when he died. Amidst controversy, Pastor Adebayo’s appointment was formalized by reading Pa Akindayomi’s sealed pronouncement after his burial.
Present Leader Of Rccg
Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, the General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) was born on 2nd March 1942 at Ifewara (present-day Osun State).
Against all odds, he graduated from the University in 1967 at 25. Between 1967 and 1975, he added two more degrees; M.Sc. in Hydrodynamics and a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics.
He later became a lecturer at the University of Lagos and Ilorin before he was called into full-time ministry. Pastor Adeboye joined RCCG in 1973 and gave his life to Jesus on 29th July 1973.
After some active service in the church, he became Akindayomi’s interpreter and was ordained a church pastor in 1975. Akindayomi died in 1980 at 71 but not before naming Enoch Adejare Adeboye as his successor.
After that, Pastor Adeboye’s appointment was formalized in 1981 and he has since been the General Overseer of the Church.
Pastor Adeboye is married to Mummy Mrs. Foluke Adeboye. Her efforts and support in the missions, women, and children departments complement the efforts of her husband’s ministry. They are blessed with four children (Adeolu, Bolu, Dare, and Leke) and many grandchildren.
Belief And Doctrine Of The Rccg
The official RCCG website outlines its beliefs and doctrines 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).
Fasting and prayer is also yearly ritual at the Redeem Christian Church of God. The church undergoes annual fasting and prayer at the year’s opening, which lasts for months, as declared by the General Overseer.
A routine evangelical outreach is also done annually called ‘let’s go fishing.’ The program is designed to spread the word of God to rural areas. This is done per peso by sharing relief materials like clothes, shoes, food, drinks and other items.
Special Events Of Rccg
The international church is structured in different areas throughout the world. The local churches are now grouped into regions, with 25 Regions in Nigeria. It is also organised throughout most of the world.
The Holy Ghost Service, the annual Holy Ghost Convention (August), and the Holy Ghost Congress (December) in Nigeria are special spiritual programs. Minister convention, Youth Convention, and Workers convention, among other scheduled events in Nigeria and around the globe.
One of the well-known programs of the church is the Holy Ghost Service, an all-night miracle service that holds on the first Friday of every month at the Redemption Camp at Km. 46, Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
The average headcount of those who attend the Service is about 500,000. The Holy Ghost Service now holds in different parts of the world, which includes the United Kingdom, India, USA, Canada, South Africa, Australia, Dubai, Ghana, Philippines, and many more.
Other Branches Of The Church
In 1988, a student body known as the Redeemed Christian Fellowship (RCF) was formed. The youth wing of the church is concentrated and scattered within tertiary institutions of learning in the country.
In 1990, Christ the Redeemer’s Friends Universal (CRFU), was established to garner financial and human resources from the very wealthy in the society.
The church also established the Redeemer College across several parts of Nigeria. In 2005, Redeemer’s University was established. The church has also established Clinics, Hospitals and Maternity homes across different regions.
