The Role of Indigenous Churches in the Development and Growth of Christianity in Africa: The Contribution of Assemblies of God, Nigeria

Abstract

Mission's Indigenization remains the best option for the development and growth of Christianity in Africa. A paradigm shift is currently taking place in the development and growth of Christianity in Africa today. A study of Assemblies of God, Nigeria's eighty-year missionary work in Nigeria (1934-2014) reveals enormous contributions by an indigenous church to the development and growth of Christianity in Africa. The study established from this indigenous Church denomination in Africa that usingindigenous method of church planting and development, training of pastors and church project financing approach changes rapidly the development and growth of Christianity. The 2013 statistical report of the Assemblies of God, Nigeria shows the Church in Nigeria has 105 Districts, 14,367 local churches, 15,061 active pastors, 4,837,035 adherents, 506 primary schools, 75 secondary schools, 11 Theological Schools, 1 University, and 10 hospitals/clinics and 24 Home and 8 Foreign Missionary fields in Africa and Europe. Pastors of the church are ministering to churches they planted within and outside Africa. This research work adopts a combination of descriptive/historical/ phenomenological approach. The researcher visited Assemblies of God churches in different zones of Nigeria, interviewed people who gave him different publications of the Church in their zones. Top leaders of local Churches and Districts of the zones were interviewed. The findings show Assemblies of God, Nigeria's indigenization approach is unique and has greatly enhanced church evangelism and growth in Africa. Missions' indigenization of Assemblies of God, Nigeria, is recommended to all Churches in Africa and can also apply to any church in other continents of the world.