RUNNING WITH THE PROPHECY: THE REDEEMED CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF GOD IN NORTH AMERICA, 1992-2005

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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