African Institute of Church Growth (AICG)

As a result of the springing up of so many independent and apostolic churches that are not tied to the apron strings of denominational churches, there is a vacuum of leadership that these churches can look up to. Moreover, many of them have passed through our training and are therefore looking up to us for leadership. We therefore formed a body known as Church Growth Network of churches. This body hopes to provide apostolic leadership, accountability, security, support and opportunities to pastors and church founders.

Due to the widespread ignorance of balanced church growth principles and methodologies in Africa, we decided to pioneer an institute that is wholly devoted to church growth teachings in Africa context. The name of the institute is African Institute of Church Growth (AICG). The goal of the institute is to facilitate church growth in Nigeria and Africa through proper church growth contexualization subjects such as:

 Vision for ministry
 Church Growth evangelism
 Contemporary church growth
 Signs and Wonders in church growth
 Church planting
 Spiritual warfare
 Church growth pastor
 Kingdom encounter
 Church pathology

The school runs two major courses of six months duration each. Advance diploma in church growth and post-graduate diploma in church growth. The school that was started in March 1996 has so far been able to train over 400 pastors and church leaders. Presently, the school trains more than 100 pastors weekly. The school also runs a special course for church founders. Here are some testimonies of pastors that have passed through our courses:

'At African Institute of Church Growth (AICG) my life and ministry was x-rayed and the result was negative. But as I began to take the weekly medicine, everything turned positive and progressive. The institute is a spiritual specialist hospital sent to us by God in Nigeria, Africa and the whole world'
(Joseph Ukannah)

'Nobody has come in contact with AICG and regretted it. Unless if you refuse to change: satisfy with littleness with old archaic methods and neglect the principles given to you. I have tasted it and my life and ministry have received a tremendous transformation'
(Rev. Chris O. Azic)

'AICG is a special healing center and eye-opener. The teachings rekindle my hidden talents and gifts. It also broaden my spiritual horizon about the necessity of church growth'
(Rev.. S.O. Onaolapo).

'I thank God for the AICG course. I was able to handle the crisis in our church in such a way that my people were very happy. The course taught me many things about the church. My ministry is now growing' (Rev. Timothy Ajuwon.)

COMING CONFERENCE:
'New waves of God's move for end time harvest'.
August 21-25th Lagos Nigeria W/Africa


We are open to invitation churches, group of churches, and ministers associations for seminars, conferences or any of these resources. Contact us for further details.

BOOKS BY DR. FRANCES BOLA AKIN-JOHN

Personal growth
Financial growth
Family growth
Church growth
The decline of churches
Church growth is possible
The impact-driven church
Spiritual warfare for church growth
Grow the pastor, grow the church

FACTORS FOR CHURCH GROWTH IN NIGERIA

As Christians we have reasons to be optimistic. There is reason to be a positive person in a negative world. This is an exciting time to live in simply because God is doing mighty things than ever before. The possibility of fulfilling the Great Commission is now very real than anytime in history. The facts are there for everyone to see. God is pouring out His Spirit more than ever before; the largest church in history is here now.

-Yoido Full Gospel church in Korea:
Many open doors to otherwise closed places. Africa is fast becoming the Christian continent. Out of 670 million people, over 293 million are already born again; many of our cities are now dotted with large churches. The largest single Christian gathering in history has just taken place in Nigeria, (6 million people in a night of prayer and praise on Dec. 18th 1998 led by Pastor E.A. Adeboye). It is note worthy that in the last 15 years, the Nigerian church has experienced tremendous growth. Much of the growth of the Nigerian church came during the austerity measures and economic crisis that started in 1985. The failures of the military in leadership have led many Nigerians to put their faith in God than in any human leaders. The mercy of God has turned our economic crisis into spiritual gain for the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. In this write-up we want to examine the growth of the church in Nigeria, Africa.

In looking at the Nigerian church situation, there are many churches that are experiencing wonderful growth. There are general factors that contribute to the growth of these churches. Not everything that causes growth in a church can be known on this side of heaven, yet we can deduce principles that will help our understanding. Church growth is both divine and human partnership (1Cor, 3:6). We will have to do our part and God will add His blessings.

1. Vision (Prov. 29:18)
Growing churches in Nigeria exhibits God's vision. The vision is clearly articulated, modeled and communicated to the people repeatedly, until they grasp it fully. Pursuing their God-giving vision vigorously is one factor of growth that growing churches in Nigeria posses abundantly. The Deeper Life Bible Church sticks to the vision of holiness and physical conformity in dressing. Winners Chapel holds tenaciously to financial prosperity and breakthrough, while Redeemed Christian Church of God pursue the vision of reaching and winning the middle class people for the Lord.

2. Powerful Prayer (James 5:16)
Prayer is the secret of church growth. Growing churches are churches that place premium importance on the ministry of prayer. The Redeemed Christian Church practiced periods of fasting, engage full time intercessors and practice corporate prayers. C.A.C. is known as a prayerful church. Growing churches believes and practiced warfare. Ground level warfare binding of demons and delivering people from bondage are being practiced. Occult powers are engaged in power encounter and defeated for gospel advancement.

3. Prophecy, Miracles, signs and Wonders (John 4:48)
Many churches are experiencing growth through signs and wonders. Churches that are open to signs and wonders are growing churches. Deeper Life, Redeemed Christian Church, C.A.C. Agbala Itura, Winners Chapel are all seeing mighty growth through miracles, prophecy, signs and wonders. There is much more growth when miracles are welcomed than when they are restrict.

4. Dynamic Leadership
One other factor that God seems blessed with growth is leadership. Pastor Adeboye was able to provide the kind of leadership that has seen Redeemed moved from 39 branches in 1981, when he took over to over 3,000 branches in 1998. Pastor W. Kumuyi gave the kind of leadership that saw Deeper Life move from 15 members in 1973 to over 5 million members in 50 countries today, 1998. Bishop Oyedepo provided the kind of leadership that saw Winners Chapel move from scratch in 1991 to over 30,000 members in Lagos alone in 1998. Bishop Okonkwo provided the kind of leadership that saw TREM move from few people in 1980 to over 120 branches in Nigeria alone and several thousand of people in worship attendance every Sunday.

Rev. Dr. Ezekiel provided the kind of leadership that saw Christian Pentecostal Mission move from few in 1980s to several thousand of worshippers in the headquarter alone and several other big branches all over the nation. The late Arch-Bishop Idahosa provided the right type of leadership that saw Church of God Mission mover from few people in 1972 to over 6,000 branches the world over and several thousand of worshippers in the headquarter church in Benin alone. And there are several others that could be mentioned. The point is this: Dynamic leadership leads to dynamic growth.

4. God Preaching (Rom. 10:11-13)
In growing churches, the pastor is a good communicator. He has learned how to pass his message across effectively. People go to churches where they can hear effective, good and sound message. Messages of hope, joy, victory and prophetic are secrets of growing churches. Pastor Adeboye, Pastor Kumuyi, Bishop Oyedepo and a host of others are good preachers. They preach stuff and substance, therefore people flock to hear them.

6. Meeting Needs
One other principles of growing a church is meeting need. People come to church basically because of needs. Growing churches have strategically placed themselves to minister to the felt and real needs of the people. People do not care how much you know until they know how much you care. The felt needs of the people are sickness, disease, poverty depression and their real needs are forgiveness, pardon, salvation and peace of mind. If these needs are not met. They will go away.

7. Peoples Witness (Luke 24:48)
Growing churches have people who are proud of their churches and therefore bring their friends, colleagues, neighbors and acquaintances to the church. The people have become personal evangelists. They witness about the church to other people. They bring them and follow them up in the faith. They launch out ministries to needy and hurting people and win them for Christ. They try to reach out to every segment of the society.

8. Care and Concern (Act 20:20)
Growing churches continues to maintain their large membership because they are also the smallest churches. They show care and concern for their members through small groups where there can be interaction, sharing, deeper level of fellowship and evangelism. These small groups-called cell ministers to the emotional and friendship need of members. Even though the main reason is evangelism and spiritual maturity.

9. Proper Programming
The Christian Pentecostal Mission is an example of how programs contribute to the growth of the church. Spirit-led indoor seminars, revival, meetings, outdoor crusade and specialized programs that draw sinners to the Lord are practiced. People are attracted to programs that can proffer solutions to the myriad of problem confronting them. Growing churches are a beehive of Christian programs that positively affect the lives of people.


10. Music
We cannot but mention music as a factor for growth in the Nigeria church. Most of those getting saved today are youths and anyway we are living in a youth world, since large percentage of the world population is youths. One major interest of youths is music. Youths flock to where good music is. And churches that take care to have a rich music always find growth very interesting.

The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM) is a case point. Good music has drawn many people to the church. Even though the type of music varies from church to church. While some welcome guitars, band set, harp, keyboard, others only welcome flute and stringed instruments to accompany the singing, while some welcome dancing and drumming, others prohibits or restrict it to barest minimum.

In all, music and worship is one key element of growth in churches of Nigeria.

11. God at Work
In every growing church, people became attracted because they sense God at work. The mighty presence of the Holy spirit is drawing people. When God is I action in any particular church, the news will spread far and near, and people will come to be blessed.