THE GROWTH OF THE REDEEMED CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF GOD: LESSON FOR WORLD EVANGELISM

ABSTRACT
This study documents the history and growth of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG). The RCCG is a Pentecostal church in Nigeria, established in 1952 by Pa Josiah Akindayomi. Using the church as his base, Pastor Adeboye founded his own independent church which in subsequent years developed into a Pentecostal church. The RCCG is one of the many Pentecostal churches in Nigeria. Although some research exists on Nigerian Pentecostalism, there is hardly any scholarly work on the RCCG. This study seeks to investigate the growth of the Redeemed Christian Church of God. The method adopted is historical and phenomenological. The study reveals that emphasis on evangelism and social concerns contributes to the phenomenal growth of the Redeemed Christian Church of God. Time and finance posed some challenges in the course of the study. Notwithstanding, with perseverance and hardwork these work surmounted. Christian organizations in Nigeria and elsewhere must adopt some church growth strategies of the RCCG if they must compete favourably with other actors on the mission field.