A Brief History of Missionary Efforts In Nigeria
Learning Objectives
1. The students will be able to explain how the Nigerian, African, European, and American missionaries worked together to plant churches in Nigeria.
2. The students will be able to apply the factors that contributed to the successes or failures of evangelism to their own lives and ministries.
3. The students will be able to list the highlights of the history of missions in Nigeria.
Introduction - There is a Hausa proverb that says,
``Da dan gari, ake cin gari!’’ If you want to conquer a town, you must learn to use a son of the town. In the same way, if you want to plant a church in a certain area you should learn to use the people of that area. Many churches have not been successfully planted because outsiders were used to do the work of evangelism instead of indigenous people. One of Jesus Christ’s strategies for evangelizing the world included using 12 men from different walks of life. They were able to spread the gospel people in many different areas, in different educational circles, social groups, ethnic groups, political groups, language groups, and geographical groups.
When the apostle Paul started his missionary work in Phillipi, he began on the Sabbath. At the prayer meeting, where he met a woman named Lydia, there he began a church. In Acts 16:13-15 we learn the secrets of Paul’s wisdom in winning the indigenes who would then form the first house church in the town.
``On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. ’If you consider me a believer in the Lord,’ she said, ’come and stay at my house.’ And she persuaded us.’’
That passage gives us insights on using citizens of an area to gain credibility, trust, rapport, understanding, and a base for helping the church to grow. Now let us look at how missionaries throughout Nigeria’s history were used of God to plant churches!
I. Earliest History of Missions
A. The Portuguese Christians brought some form of the Christian message to the Oba of Benin in 1491. The chief was baptized then. (Ezemadu p.19)
B. Christianity did not spread, however, because the Portuguese were more interested in making money than preaching the gospel. (Ezemadu p. 19)
C. During the time of the slave trade in the 1800s, hundreds of freed slaves returned to Nigeria. They had become Christians while they were away. Upon returning to their homeland, they wanted to spread the gospel. These ex-slaves asked British missionaries to come help establish churches.
D. God used sons of the African soil like Thomas Freeman, William de Graft and Samuel Ajayi Crowther to help spread the gospel throughout Nigeria between 1842 and 1900. These men encouraged many ex-slaves to become involved in preaching the gospel. Crowther made this statement about the effectiveness of using indigenous people in the work of evangelism: (Ezemadu, pp. 22-24)
``It takes great effect when a returning liberated Christian gets down with his countrymen and invites them, in his own language, with refined Christian feelings and sympathy not to be expressed words but evidenced in an exemplary Christian life.’’
E. One of these ex-slaves named Simon Jonas was instrumental in convincing the Obi of Abo to stop slavery. He paved the way for the beginning of Christianity in Niger State. (Ezemadu p. 25)
F. The SIM and SUM adopted the position that a missionary society could not be established if it confined its work to mission stations.
``Hence the policy of training and involving indigenous people in the mission’s work developed at the earliest time.’’ (Ezemadu p.23)
G. Crompton in his book of the History of Christianity in Northern Nigeria says, ``It must not be thought that all the work even in the early days was in the hands of full-time missionaries . . .’’ ``In the Yoruba areas, Christianity spread through natural family contacts.’’
II. Current Indigenous Efforts of Evangelism in Nigeria
A. Geographical spread: Most of the evangelical churches can be identified within a certain area of Nigeria, but some have spread beyond their original boundaries seeking more lost, wandering, or needy sheep. (Ezemadu p.24)
1). The Assemblies of God church started in Umuahia in Imo State. They now have nearly 2,500 churches in Nigeria, mainly in the Eastern part of the country. However, it is a good example of a church which has spread throughout the country as some of its members started churches wherever they went. (Ezemadu)
2). The Christ Apostolic Church has its base in the Western part of the country with 400 congregation in Ibadan alone in 1975. It works now extends to Muslim tribes in the North, and they have foreign missionaries in Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Italy and the United Kingdom. (Ezemadu p.25)
3). E.C.W.A., the Evangelical Churches of West Africa and C.O.C.I.N., Church of Christ in Nigeria, have both spread beyond their original places of evangelism. E.C.W.A. has approximately 2,800 congregations while C.O.C.I.N. has approximately 700 churches in Nigeria. (Ezemadu, pp.23-25)
B. Cross-Cultural Missions
1). The E.M.S., the Evangelical Missionary Society of ECWA, has nearly 800 missionaries working mainly in villages as well as Niger Republic, Benin, Chad, and Ghana. It is trying to reached the unreached people groups of West Africa. Recently, it began efforts to plant churches in urban areas of Nigeria as well.
2). Nations for Christ Missionary Organization is reaching out cross-culturally to the Maguzawa and other Hausa tribes.
3). COCIN, using British missionaries, are trying to reach the Kanuris in Borno state.
4). Generally, the work of cross-cultural missions has been slow, except through EMS, the world leader in developing countries for missions organizations.
5). The Nigerian Evangelical Missions Association began a new missionary training institution in 1986 to train missionaries for full time cross-cultural evangelism.
C. Number of ``Career Missionaries’’ in Nigeria is said to be about 2,350 indigenous people, but this is subject to debate. Rather it is better to believe the following statistics (EMS has 800 missionaries, Christian Missionary Foundation - 25 missionaries, Calvary Ministries (CAPRO) - 41 missionaries, Nations for Christ - 9 missionaries, United Missionary Church - 6 missionaries. (Ezemadu p.25)
D. Church Planting; Most of the church planting efforts have been expansions of denominations into territories or areas already filled with Christian witness. Only EMS seems to be concentrating on unreached people groups where they have started 200 new churches. Also COCIN have started 50 new churches in the Borno region. (Ezemadu p.25)
III. Other Significant Developments in Nigerian Missions
A. Students in missions - NIFES (Nigeria Fellowship of Evangelical students that works on campuses.
B. National Youth Service Corps - Many Christian corpers have helped spread the gospel as they are posted to remote areas throughout Nigeria.
C. Nigeria Evangelical Fellowship - Commissions surveys for unreached areas. NEF also mobilizes its membership through seminars on reaching the unreached lost souls.
D. Nigeria Evangelical Missions Association - Formed by NEF to provide a forum for cooperating missions in Nigeria. They have begun a missionary training institution that sharpens full-time missionaries’ skills. Bill O’Donovan and Lois Fuller helped start this strategic school.
E. Translation work - The Nigeria Bible Translation Trust indicates that 10 Nigerian languages have the whole Bible. There are 26 languages with the New Testament leaving 350 languages that are without any portion of the Bible translated into their language. (Ezemadu p.28)
F. New Life For All - A partner to
the churches in evangelism. The congregation seeks to mobilize and enhance evangelism and missions. It conducts outreaches and discipleship for Christian leaders.
G. Supportive ministries - Some organizations are trying to help provide money, materials, and literature to aid mission groups. The Gospel Bankers is a ministry of helps. They try to provide financial and prayer support for missionaries. (Ezemadu p.29)
IV. Factors That Historically Contributed to Church Growth
A. Preaching of the gospel - Paul said, ``For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes . . .’’ Rom. 1:16 All other efforts without preaching of the gospel do not yield much fruit. (Ezemadu p.30)
B. Training of local leadership and lay-workers - By training indigenous leaders, the work of the gospel spread quicker and more effectively.
C. Migrating people - When people moved from their home areas to another part of Nigeria, they generally took along their faith. This contributed to the beginning of new churches in new areas. Crompton makes a keen observation about how the Lord used migrants to help start new churches:
``The spread of Christianity may be stimulated by formal missionary activity, but its main exponents are men and women who move about in the normal business of life. In many places in Northern Nigeria the initial impetus came from missions. Churches did not grow rapidly until Nigeria Christians began to move around and plant them!!!’’ (Ezemadu p.31)
D. Educational institutions were opened. Throughout Africa, the missionaries started schools as a way to open up new areas for the gospel.
E. Medical facilities - The missions started hospitals, dispensaries, leprosariums, and clinics to provide a visible witness of the love of Christ. This helped win a hearing for the gospel in new areas.
F. Rural Development Projects - Agricultural projects helped breakdown some of the cultural barriers to receiving the gospel when other ways would not work.
G. Translation of the Bible and analysis of the grammar of local languages facilitated the acceptance of the gospel in some areas.
H. Media - Cassettes, radio, TV, Christian magazines, tracts, and films opened some people’s minds to the gospel in ways that nothing else could.
I. Crusades - Open air revivals where a preacher freely shares the gospel after musical groups provide various forms of entertainment to attract crowds.
J. Cooperation Between Missions - From the earliest days of missionaries, organizations agreed to concentrate their efforts in certain areas. (Ezemadu p.31)
V. Remaining Challenges for Missions in Nigeria
A. There are still 87 unreached people groups or tribes in Nigeria that need the gospel. (Ezemadu p.31)
B. The evangelical population is still only 10.7%. (Ezemadua p.31)
C. Many churches are simply nominal and do not preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.
D. There has been an increase in the number of Bible schools starting in Nigeria.
E. There are many new denominations starting every month in Nigeria.
F. Sadly, the ambition to build larger church buildings over-rides the need to start new churches in new cities, villages, and unreached areas. There are approximately 30 million in Nigeria who still need to hear the gospel.
G. Most of the converts in recent years are either coming from areas that were formerly Christian or they have come from nominally Christian churches.
H. Only a few members in the church know how to share the gospel of Christ where they can lead another person to faith in Christ! Many people come to church today like some people go to a football game, simply to watch. They seldom get involved in service or in witnessing teams.
I. Many trained Bible school, Bible college, and seminary graduates do not go into missions. Instead graduates replace a retiring Pastor or take the place of someone who has been transferred.
J. Financial difficulties have hindered the planting of churches. Many people lack the faith to believe that God can use their money to help start new churches.
K. Some restrictions imposed by the government have hindered the spread of the gospel. Still, the Lord expects us to obey the governing authorities. We must believe that He can over-rule wrong decisions for the multiplication of His kingdom. ``Wane ne zai hana bishara? Ba mutum!’’ Who can hinder the gospel? No man!!!
L. The resurgence of African traditional religions, Islam, and secret societies are polluting the minds of many who succumb to the temptations of these false hopes!
M. Many Christians do not trust each other. Some refuse to work with one another.
N. Many new mission organization are hindered because of poor management.
Conclusion - In 35 short years, Nigeria will probably be the fourth largest country in the world with 400 million people. Today, it has the fourth largest number of evangelical Christians in the world. If people are willing to go to the lost, become missionaries, and plant new churches. Nigeria will probably become the largest Christian country in the world!!!
Many Christians can assist missionaries, if the men will just make themselves available to God to go and make disciples of these unreached groups for the Lord Jesus Christ. Eventually, Nigeria may become the country which is sending the most missionaries to other countries throughout the world. All of the resources of heaven are willing to back Christians if they will simply believe, obey, and go preach the gospel to the whole world!
Jesus said; ``The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few, pray therefore to the Lord of the harvest that He would send workers into His fields!’’ (Matt. 9:38)
Study Questions
1. How did various missionaries work together to conduct evangelism and plant churches in Nigeria?
2. What were some of the factors that hindered the planting and growth of the church in Nigeria?
3. Describe the work of several indigenous efforts for outreach and church planting in Nigeria?
4. Describe para-church organizational contributions to the growth and outreach of the church in Nigeria?
5. What are some factors that have historically contributed to the growth of the church?
6. How can the church change its strategy to use the lessons of history in advancing the kingdom of God in Nigeria?
7. What are some of the remaining challenges for the growth of the church in quantitative and qualitative means in Nigeria?
