The 'Great Move of God' in an African Community: A Retrospect of the 1930s Indigenous Pentecostal Revival in Nigeria and Its Impact on Nigerian Pentecostalism

Abstract

Th e paper examines the 1930s Pentecostal revival in Nigeria that brought Nigerian Pentecostalism onto the global scene. Th e study is approached from a socio-historical perspective, drawing data from archival search, oral interview and bibliographical search. Among other things, the research brings to the fore the remote and immediate impact of the revival on the Nigerian Church and State. More importantly, the paper locates the rapid growth of Pentecostalism in Nigeria (particularly the much proliferation of churches in the southwest) in the aftermath eff ects of the 1930s' indigenous Pentecostal revival. Th at notwithstanding, the paper denounces the undue emphasis on material prosperity which forms the nucleus of Pentecostal crusades/ revival in contemporary time and calls on all stake holders to go back to the 'rock from which they were hewn' and purify Pentecostalism in Nigeria of all questionable characteristics.

Pentecostal Conceptions of Warfare Prayer among the Yoruba in Southwestern Nigeria

“…They speak of things, places, and figures as if they are substantively and factually present in their local state. All these affirm that adherents have a choice between passive and active responses to challenge Satan's power in the world, and that the most promising strategy is to engage the enemy by aggressive confrontation through prayers couched in a pervasively military rhetoric (Fatokun 2009;Jorgensen 2005;Adogame 2004;Stritecky 2001;DeBernard 1999). Such prayers seem strange to a nonadherent, but they help considerably in sensitizing the congregation to pray and provide some sociopsychological comfort (Fatokun 2002).…”

Prosperity Gospel: Effects on Nigerian Christian Church and Society

“…In Nigeria today, prosperity gospel has not become the characteristic of Pentecostal churches only, it has spread among some Catholic and Protestant churches. Most of Christian churches in Nigeria today misuse the original teachings of the gospel by given less emphasis on doctrinal issues related to soul-winning, salvation, desire for the kingdom of God and good conducts ( Fatokun 1999). In fairness, the prosperity gospel does well to emphasize healing, deliverance and empowerment of believers spiritually and economically.…”