Redeemed Christian Church of God

The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) is a Nigeria-based Pentecostal Holiness ministry.

Church history

The RCCG was founded by Pa Josiah Akindayomi who came from Ondo state in the western part of Nigeria. He was born in 1909. He grew up as an idol worshipper but he later converted to Christianity out of a yearning to know “The God who created the earth and everyone on it”. He was baptized in 1927 in the Church Missionary Society. He joined the Cherubim and Seraphim church in 1931 because he was not fulfilled as a Christian in the CMS. While in the C & S church,he said a voice told him that “You will by My servant”. Since this was not his intention, he ignored the voice and went into business ventures for seven years. During this period, all of his businesses ventures failed. This broke him completely. He finally yielded to God saying, "Lord, I will go wherever you want me to go." He asked for signs to confirm that this was indeed God's call. The confirmation came through the Bible passages of Jeremiah 1:4-10, Isaiah 41:10-13 and Romans 8:29-31. He continued to worship with the Cherubim and Seraphim. In 1947, he started to become concerned that the church was departing from the true Word of God in some of its practices. By 1952, he felt totally persuaded to leave the church. He started at Willoughby Street, Ebute-Metta, Lagos a housefellowship called, the Glory of God Fellowship. Initially there were nine members but before long the fellowship rapidly grew as the news of the miracles that occurred in their midst spread.

Pa Akindayomi, who was an illiterate, one day proclaimed that he got a revelation from God about the renaming of the church the Redeemed Christian Church of God, which is now a household name in many countries. It is claimed that God made a covenant with Pa Akindayomi that is synonymous to Abraham’s covenant. He said that He the Lord would meet all the needs of the church in an awesome way if only members would serve Him faithfully and be obedient to His Word. It is upon this covenant that the Redeemed Christian Church of God was built. Thus in 1952, the Redeemed Christian Church of God was born. The church continued to meet at 9 Willoughby Street until they relocated to 1-5 Redemption Way (formerly 1a Cemetery Street).

Sometime in the early 70s, Pa Akindayomi claimed that God had spoken to him about his successor. He claimed that The Lord told him that this man, who was not a member of the church then, would be a young educated man. Thus when a young university lecturer joined the church in 1973, Papa was able,as was claimed, 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 was ordained a pastor of the church in 1975.

As Papa was preparing to meet his Creator, he sent for Pastor Adeboye and spent several hours sharing with him details of the covenant and the plans of the Lord for the church. Even though a year before this, the Lord had revealed to Pastor Adeboye that he would be Papa's successor, it was still too difficult for him to fully contemplate such an awesome responsibility.

Pa Josiah Akindayomi was 71 years old when he died. Amidst controversy, Pastor Adeboye's appointment was formalized by the reading of Pa Akindayomi's sealed pronouncement after his burial.

Since 1981, an open explosion began with the number of parishes growing in leaps and bounds. At the last count, there are over 2000 parishes of the Redeemed Christian Church of God in Nigeria. On the International scene, the church is present in other African nations including C'ote D'Ivoire, Ghana, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, 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.

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 Holy Ghost Service now holds in London quarterly and in other parts of the world. Another major service is the Holy Ghost congress which holds in the second week of December every year at the Redemption Camp.

Some of the said promises of the Lord to the RCCG are as follows:1. That He will meet this Church on His return.2. That this Church will become a model to the whole world.3. That other Churches from all over the world would come to learn and worship in this Church.

Church doctrine

The Statement of Faith of the reveals belief in the Divine inspiration of the Bible; the Trinity; the deity, virgin birth, sinless life, crucifixion, resurrection, ascension, and return of Jesus; that man by voluntary disobedience and transgression fell into sin; that salvation is through repentance and faith; the baptism of the Holy Ghost, evidenced by speaking in tongues; that Divine healing is provided through the atonement; the pre-tribulation rapture of the church; the thousand year reign of Jesus Christ; the final judgment of all the wicked; that eternal heaven and eternal hell are literal final places of destiny; water baptism by immersion; in the Lord's supper as a memorial; and in restitution (Christians righting wrongs they have committed).Fact|date=May 2007

Church mission

The RCCG’s Mission Statement is:
*1. To make heaven.
*2. To take as many people as possible with us.
*3. To have a member of RCCG in every family of all nations.
*4. To have a parish in every 15mins walking distance and 5mins drive in every city of the world

Or put another way, the mission of RCCG is to propagate the message of the Christian Scriptures around the world and to proclaim the salvation found in Christ. As a church, it seeks to convert lost souls and reconcile them with their Creator by instilling in them a sense of prophecy. By reminding mankind of their obligation to honor the Word and Power of God, RCCG wishes to guide people with the aid of the Holy Spirit.

Church status

There are about 2 thousand parishes of "The Redeemed Christian Church of God" in Nigeria, with the Headquarters located in Ebute-Metta, Lagos, Nigeria, . The church is present on the continent of Africa in Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. In Europe the church has a presence in England, Scotland, France, Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands and in the Republic of Ireland where it has parishes in Co. Dublin, Co. Cork, Co. Limerick...and almost all the Counties in the republic. In the United States there are parishes in Illinois, Texas, Florida, New York, New England and Washington, as well as Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia, Maryland(one is called Jesus House Baltimore), New Jersey, and other states in the last six years.In Canada there are parishes in Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba, Alberta and in other provinces. In the Caribbean, the church is in Haiti and Jamaica. Together, the United States and Canada parishes form RCCGNA which is headquartered in Dallas, Texas. The Redeemed Christian Church of God is also present in Australia. It has branches in Melbourne,Sydney, Newcastle and Perth and looking to extend its ministry. Also in the Oceania Region, there are now parishes in New Zealand,Fiji Islands,Papua New Guinea and Singapore.In Australia, the existing parishes and other parishes in the Asia pacific report to their province headquarters in Nigeria,though working together as a single body.

The Holy Ghost Service and Holy Ghost Congress

Holy Ghost Service is an all-night miracle service that holds on the first Friday of every month at the Redemption Camp at km. 46, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Ogun State, Nigeria. The Holy Ghost Service also holds in London quarterly and in other parts of the world. Another major service of the church is the Holy Ghost congress which holds in the second week of December every year at the Redemption Camp and is usually attended by millions of people from Nigeria and abroad.

RCCGNA

The Redeemed Christian Church of God has its own group of churches in the United States with its headquarters in Dallas. RCCGNA has at least 300 churches in all states including Canada, Hawaii,and Alaska. The church has its Board of Directors in 22 administrative zones. The Chairman Board of Coordinators is Pastor James Fadele.

ee also

*Christ Apostolic Miracle Ministry
*Church of the Lord (Aladura)

External links

* [http://www.rccgna.org RCCG North America Official Web Site]
* [http://www.rccg.org/ Official Web Site]
* [http://www.rccgairdrie.org RCCG Airdrie Web Site]
* [http://www.rccgscandinavia.org RCCG Scandinavia Web Site]
* [http://www.royalconnect.org RCCG Stockholm Web Site]