The religious configuration of Nigeria has shown that Igboland has the highest concentration of the mainline churches, particularly Catholic and Anglican Churches. This has been attributed to the evangelization strategies, employed, largely, by early missionaries. Unfortunately, these strategies also engendered rivalry and competition among the two groups, robbing them of the real focus and commitment needed to penetrate the traditional religious beliefs and practices of the people. Consequently, routinization has become a common attitude within the Christian population, which calls for a new method of evangelization.

The socioeconomic crisis of the postwar period, the government takeover of mission schools, and the expulsion of expatriate missionaries opened the way for a larger role for the laity in Igboland South in eastern Nigeria, especially in evangelization and the organization of lay groups. Although these lay groups made some progress in addressing the problems of the period, taking the gospel message beyond conversion, adopting a more radical approach to evangelization, and building a healthier society remained substantial challenges.

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