RUNNING WITH THE PROPHECY: THE REDEEMED CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF GOD IN NORTH AMERICA, 1992-2005
Loading...
Date
2008-08
Authors
Adeboye, O.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Missionalia: Journal of the Southern African Missiological Society
Abstract
This article traces the spread of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (hereafter
RCCG), a leading Pentecostal Church from Nigeria to North America (NA), and analyses
its growth over a period of thirteen years. In reconstructing the history of the RCCGNA,
this study identifies an inherent tension between the universalism of the Christian
message and the particularism of the emerging immigrant church. It observes that the
RCCGNA is characterized by certain ‘exclusiveness’ despite its aspirations of reaching
out to other groups within the culturally plural American society. The article therefore
argues that the failure of the church to attract a multi-national, multi-racial congregation
made the leadership to rethink its strategy by adopting the prophetic rhetoric according to
which RCCGNA would become the world’s parameter for ‘re-defining greatness’. While
the paper discusses identity issues and boundary making in RCCGNA, it also examines
the mega projects launched to advertise this ‘greatness’. A critical issue that runs through
the article is the question of the suitability of the immigrant church in championing global
and universal causes particularly within a plural environment. The paper closes by
peeping into the future of the second generation of the immigrant church.
Description
Scholarly article
Keywords
Redeemed Christian Church of God , Pentecostal Church , Christian message , Church , Research Subject Categories::HUMANITIES and RELIGION::History and philosophy subjects
Citation
Adeboye, O. (2008). Running with the Prophecy. The Redeemed Christian Church of God, North America 1992-2005. Missionalia: Journal of the Southern African Missiological Society (Pretoria, South Africa), 36 (2/3), August/November, 2008, 259-279