OUR HISTORY

In 1952 Rev. Josiah O. Akindayomi started a house fellowship in Ebute  Meta, Lagos, called the Glory of God Fellowship with nine initial members.
During this period, Rev. Akindayomi had a vision that appeared to be written on a blackboard. Even though he could not read or write, he was supernaturally enabled to write the words down.
 

The LORD then established a covenant with Rev. Akindayomi, synonymous to the Abrahamic covenant. The Lord said He would meet all the needs of the church in an awesome way if only members would serve Him faithfully and be obedient to His word.
It is upon this covenant that the Redeemed Christian Church of God was born and built. The Redeemed Christian Church of God (The RCCG) was founded on the tripod of prayer, holiness and evangelism.
 

In the early 70s, God spoke to Rev. Akindayomi about his successor. The LORD told him that the man who was not a member of the church then, would be a young educated man.
In 1973 Enoch Adeboye, who was then a lecturer in Mathematics at the University of Lagos, joined the church. He became one of the interpreters of Rev. Akindayomi, translating from Yoruba to English. He was ordained pastor in 1975.
 

Pa Josiah Akindayomi died in 1980 at the age of 71. In 1981, amidst controversy, Pastor Adeboye’s appointment was formalized by the reading of Pa Akindayomi’s sealed pronouncement. Since then, the church has experienced an explosive growth in 140 countries in the world including Nigeria and African nations.
Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, attributes the strong foundation and consequent expansion of the church to the tripod of Prayer, holiness and evangelism.

 

Like Pa Akindayomi, the current General Overseer Pastor Adeboye has his eyes on the future. In a rare personal encounter leading to the formation of the church, God had promised the former General Superintendent that Christ would meet the RCCG still standing at His second coming.
 

Pastor Adeboye shares Pa Akindayomi’s zeal for soul winning. Though unlettered, Pa Akindayomi engaged in intense personal evangelism and mass production and distribution of tracts within and outside Nigeria.
Soul-winning and discipleship are central to the life of the RCCG. Top on the church’s vision and mission statement “is to make heaven” and “to take as many people as possible with us”. The strategies for the accomplishment of the vision encompass the other legs of the tripod  holy living and church planting (through aggressive evangelism).
 

By a dint of divine inspiration, innovativeness and hard work, Pastor Adeboye brought transformation to the church. A more charismatic mode of worship with a stronger appeal to the younger generation was introduced. Model parishes which conducted worship in English Language without interpretations into local languages were established in select locations and brought a rapid boost to membership. Professionals also found expression in the Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries (CRM), a multi-faceted arm of the church engaged in teaching and other gospel vocations.

Pastor Adeboye also introduced the School of Disciples, a discipling and mentoring organ. The Redeemed Christian Bible College and the Redeemed Christian School of Missions were also established to train interested brethren for the ministry.