An explosive spiritual awakening in this African nation is also reshaping
Catholic and Anglican churches

Arising wave of charismatic revivalism has touched Christian churches all
across Nigeria, a nation that has been shaken in recent months by civil
strife. In the midst of political crisis, prominent leaders in government and
industry have made professions of faith in Christ.

All levels of Nigerian society have been affected by the revival, which has
been building slowly for decades. Even some fanatical Muslims who formerly
persecuted Christians have professed Christianity in recent months. And some
prominent political leaders once imprisoned by the military junta are
crediting their freedom to God and are preaching the gospel.

General Olusegun Obasanjo, Nigeria's former military head of state, was
serving a 15-year jail term for his alleged involvement in a coup d'etat in
1995. He was released in June 1998 and is now spreading the Holy Spirit's
fire throughout Africa.

"For me," Obasanjo said, "God used the hardship and the tribulation of prison
to draw me closer to Him."

Testimonies from other Nigerian prisons reveal a similar spiritual hunger.
Some inmates at the city prison in Jos told Charisma that they've now
surrendered their lives to Christ and are eager to share God's goodness with
others.

Dr. Frederick Fasehun, who was arrested on Dec. 18, 1996, and released in
June 1998, said prison inmates in Nigeria cherish the Bible. Of 26 other
political detainees released in Nigeria, approximately 10 renounced their
former lifestyles and became Christians.

The charismatic revival has also renewed Christian opposition to African
occultism. Ancient forms of paganism and newer types of spiritism are
practiced by the majority of Nigerians--even by nominal Christians. But
today, because nominal Christian leaders tolerate the mixing of Christianity
and occult practices, the three largest mainline Christian denominations in
Nigeria are losing members to Pentecostal and charismatic churches.

Pentecostals have urged Christians in Nigeria to renounce their ties to
groups including as the Reformed Ogboni Fraternity, the Rosicrucian Order,
the Masonic Lodge and various African fraternities that promote spiritism.
The Methodist Church of Nigeria, the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican
Communion are currently experiencing a crisis because prominent members of
their churches are linked to the occult organizations.

Gabriel Osu of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos said that despite
accusations that some of its members are involved in the occult, the Catholic
Church is taking a stand against the Reformed Ogboni Fraternity, Freemasonry
and other secret societies. "Our belief is that as a member of such societies
you cannot be a member of the body of Christ; you cannot be in communion with
Christ as is expected of Christians," Osu said.

Some Methodist churches touched by charismatic renewal are now fighting
occultism within their ranks. One Methodist clergyman, Geofrey Bamgbose, told
his colleagues in a recent sermon: "If the Reformed Ogboni Fraternity is
complementary to Christianity and the church, please come out and tell us. I
cannot defend you as I cannot defend what I don't know. You can deceive me
and others, but you cannot deceive God."

Anglicans also have called church members to repent and renounce occultism.
And as the call for repentance has grown louder, the impact of charismatic
renewal has increased among Anglicans. Among Catholics, the charismatic
renewal is now the strongest arm of the Nigerian Catholic Church.

Some believe this spiritual explosion was triggered by an inability on the
part of the mainline churches to respond to the spiritual yearnings of those
looking for the power of the Holy Spirit. Among the major Nigerian churches
that have offered the Pentecostal message is the Church of God Mission,
incorporated by the late Archbishop Benson Idahosa, which boasts 6,000
congregations in Africa. The denomination has more than 7 million members.

Deeper Life Bible Church, pastored by a former university mathematics
professor, has 50 congregations and a cathedral that seats 12,000. It is
believed to be the fastest growing church in Africa.

But not everyone is happy about the new church growth trend. Some within the
secular media see this charismatic revival as a lucrative business, while
mainline church leaders accuse the charismatics of sheep-stealing.

But Bishop Mike Okonkwo of The Redeemed Christian Mission and chairman of the
Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria believes Nigeria would be in much more
chaos were it not for this revival.

"Any nation that ignores God is finished," Okonkwo told Charisma. "Nigeria
has survived this long because of the Pentecostal churches, because our focus
is on Christ's last mandate: 'Go ye and make disciples of all nations.'"

--Obed Minchakpu in Jos, Nigeria
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