Nigerian-based churches spreading like veldt fires

JACOB MAKUSHA
Correspondent | Friday October 10, 2008 00:00

For instance the music, dancing and clapping from the worship team called 'The House Of David' of Winners Chapel International Gaborone from Nigeria, would make you want to join in. On a typical Sunday, a pastor clad in West African regalia, Nigerian-style, would normally lead the dancing to the very popular Setswana song 'Modimo o re file , Sebakanyana se,  le mo tsotsonyana o' .

Everybody in the church is always in a mood to dance and praise the Lord , while others in a tent pitched outside would be watching the proceedings on mounted television monitors. The church is usually overflowing with worshippers.

A visit to The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), which operates from the Nes Caf, Gaborone, shows the same pattern. Christ Embassy, despite losing its Zimbabwean pastor, who was recently deported from Botswana, boasts of 2,000 parishioners. Christ Embassy is owned by a Nigerian pastor.

At the two most popular churches, the gospel of healing and prosperity takes precedence. The influence of the likes of Kenneth Hagin, the American pastor said to be a mentor of most of the West African pastors, is evident. Books, CDs, and DVDS from Kenneth Hagin, TD Jakes, Benny Hinn and others are sold at the church. 

In most African societies, there is a constant threat and fear of evil spirits, which is evidenced by people's regular visits to witchdoctors and seers. Pastors preach in clear and uncertain terms that 'the battle against the devil can only be won through calling on the name of Jesus'.

 A look at the highly popular Nigerian films, whose general theme is about 'good triumphing over evil' through prayers, also shows that the Christian faith is growing and the battle against diseases like HIV/AIDS is relentless. It has captured the imagination of young Africans across the continent. The pastors even claim that the churches are the homes of signs and wonders.

Dr David Oyedepo, claims  to communicate directly with God and that other churches have much to learn from his church because God has given him the message in clear terms on the great commission .One just needs to read his proclamations on the church website

The commission is plastered onto the wall at a very vantage position were everyone can see it. 'The hour has come to liberate the world from all oppression of the devil through the preaching of the word of faith, and I am sending  you to undertake this task,' it says and goes on to quote Ephesians 6 :16.

His Living Faith Ministries aka Winners Chapel International's 50,000 capacity church in Lagos is said to have the biggest church auditorium in Africa.

On the other hand there is also Dr Enoch A Adeboye, a former mathematics lecturer at the University of Lagos, the general overseer of RCCG, who also claims to receive messages from God. One of the healing sessions they have at their campus is reported to be the largest attended in 2001. It is believed two million people, some of them from Botswana, attended.

RCCG's mission is to have a parishioner in every country worldwide. In 2005 they claimed to have five million followers in Nigeria alone and then they had established churches in more than 60 countries.In the same year, the church launched a studio called World Dove Media plc for producing films. It is reported to be the fastest growing church enterprise in Nigeria. That same year the church produced four films with Christian themes.The church has radio station facilities and a celebrity magazine, music videos, and a satellite television broadcasting all-day long.

Then there is Deeper Life Ministry, led by Professor Kumuyi, which at one time was reported to be the fastest growing church, but has since been taken over by Winners Chapel International.

All these churches produce literature , which they encourage their members to buy. These pastors are given so much reverence, one wonders if this will not lead to idolatry.

The  day I visited Winners Chapel  International Gaborone, the pastor told a story of a man who died when he refused to listen to the founder's plea to go on a trip back in Nigeria. The story was met with a deafening silence . On the same day I heard an amazing testimony by a Zambian woman who was given three days to go back to Lusaka to sort out her papers (probably passports, etc). The time was running  out. On arrival in Zambia she went to put on what she called holy soil she had been given by her fellow Christians who went to attend the seminar called SHILOH 2007 at church headquarters in Canan Land, Lagos, and some holy oil at the doorsteps .

She claimed that immediately her prayers were answered,as a man came out of the government offices and asked if he could help her. And in no time she was back in Botswana, praise to God.

Whilst the Nigerian-based Pentecostal churches are growing, mainline churches seem to be struggling to keep up the pace. On  any given  Sunday a visit to bigger churches like the  Methodist, Roman Catholic or Lutheran churches, compare the numbers and you will be left with a big story to tell. However, this problem (poor attendance) is not unique to the established churches because some Pentecostals are also closing for lack of parishioners. A typical example is the St Paul Apostolic Faith Mission in South Africa based at the African Mall in Gaborone. At the time of my visit the place looked desolate with grass growing all over. Where have the parishioners gone? To the bars or Chibuku shebeens?   When contacted for comment, Botswana Council of Churches (BCC) secretary David Modiega wondered if the missionary mandate has lost its original meaning because some churches tend to put so much stress on material wealth and not the spiritual well-being of the worshipper .

Modiega said he was particularly worried because Batswana do not seem to be benefiting from the tithes and offerings they give to these churches. 'We are yet to see them opening schools, helping society's marginalised such as orphans, the sick and prisoners,' added Modiega.

He observed that 'generally church funds are not monitored by government, and I do not know if their parishioners are ever given financial reports and explanations as to what happens to the funds they provide in tithes' . He said the BCC is concerned that Batswana are probably being ripped off by pastors bent on making a quick buck. (Sila Press Agency)