What is Church Growth in African Context?
Church growth in African context is the contextualization of Church growth teaching and principles to situations that are peculiar to Africa and African ministers. From our research, we discovered that Church growth teachings in American, Korean and British context doesn't work much in Africa situations, simply because our Church structure is a little bit different. We are therefore set out to contextualize the teachings in a biblical and culturally relevant way. African Pastors and Church leaders therefore will find it easy to apply and practise.
What is the Pedigree of the Founder?
He is from Pentecostal and conservative holiness background. He was a Christian and Church member for several years until the Lord called Him into pastoring in 1988. He pastored for 8 years before venturing fully into Church Growth teachings. He was able to combine years of experience as a pastor with lots of research into Church problems and stagnation. These have made our teachings so relevant, time-tested and field-proven.
How does your Ministry operate?
Our ministry operates majorly through conferences, training and consultancy. We organise conferences for pastors, ministry leaders on various aspects of Church growth, leadership and ministry issues. We also provide specialized training on Church leadership today. We consult for Churches that require our services on a yearly basis.
What is International Institute of Church Growth?
It is the training arm of our ministry. Here we provide professional, educative, practical and relevant information to pastors and Church leaders on the dynamism of bringing sustainable growth to the Church of today. These training are more in-depth and all encompassing than what we give out in conferences and seminars. The institute offers the following strategic courses:
* Advanced Diploma in Church
* Growth. Graduate Diploma in Church Leadership.
* Post-Graduate Diploma in Church Growth.
* Doctorate in Ministry and Church Growth.
* Plus specialized course for senior pastors, overseers and Church founders.
Most of the courses are still classroom based. But we offer distant learning to those who can't make it to the course center through special arrangement.
When did International Church Growth Ministries Begin?
The ministry started fully in December 1994 with a seminar for pastors in which 22 people were in attendance. Today, hundreds and thousands of pastors, ministers and Church leaders have benefited and are still benefiting from the ministry.
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What is the source of your Funding?
This ministry is God-funded. It started with N800 naira ($6) way back 1994. Through prudent management of resources, we have been able to carry the ministry. Most of our monies have come from the little token of registration fees charged during our conferences, course sessions and sales of books, resources and tapes. So far, there is no financial support from anyone, both home and abroad. It has been the grace and favour of the Lord. Are we open to financial support from people? Of course yes. Because we could do much more with good support from kind-hearted and well-meaning people.
What Impact has your Ministry made?
The results have been tremendous and amazing. Stories upon stories of turn around of Churches, transformations of minister's lives and avoidance of crisis in Churches keep on piling up in our office. In actual fact, when the temptation to quit was very strong, it was these testimonies that kept us going. Everyday we receive phone calls, SMS, E-mails and verbal affirmation of growth, change and turn around of individual Church leaders and of their Churches, not only in Lagos , but across Africa . God has deemed it fit to use our books, tapes, resources and materials to bless and edify His leaders and Churches around the world.
Are you only for Pastors and Churches?
Our primary audience is pastors and Churches. But we don't stop there, we focus also on Men Matters, Youth Seminars, Leadership, Women Leaders, Family and Finance. Our resources cover these areas and we organise meetings along these areas also. People that are not pastors and Church leaders also benefit from our ministry resources.
What Resources do you have?
Our resources cover almost every area of Church life. Books, booklets, seminar materials, audio tapes and video tapes and VCD's are all available for purchase at a minimal fee. They cover wide range of issues and subjects relating mostly to personal growth and professional growth of people, especially Church leaders.
Are you in Alliance with other Christian Bodies?
We believe strongly in Networking. We therefore liaise with other Christian ministries where it is possible for joint conferences and meetings. We welcome networking with sincere, genuine and honest ministries who have similar vision with us.
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