The Founding Vision of RCCG and the Enduring Legacy of Pa Josiah Olufemi Akindayomi
By HeadlineNews.News
Any attempt to trace the origins of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG)—now a global religious movement with presence in over 190 countries—must inevitably begin with the humble yet resolute figure of Pa Josiah Olufemi Akindayomi. Born in July 1909 in Ondo State, southwestern Nigeria, to a family steeped in idol worship, Akindayomi’s spiritual journey is a compelling story of divine calling, visionary obedience, and global impact.
THE EARLY HUNGER FOR GOD
In a society dominated by traditional deities, the young Akindayomi felt a profound stirring for a God larger than the idols of his environment. This thirst led him to the Church Missionary Society, where he was baptized in 1927—a decision that marked the beginning of a lifelong spiritual pilgrimage.
In 1931, his quest deepened when he joined the Cherubim and Seraphim Church, a movement that embodied Pentecostal revivalism. It was here that he first claimed to hear a divine call: “You will be my servant.” Yet like many reluctant prophets, he delayed obedience, venturing into various businesses that repeatedly failed.
It wasn’t until 1938, after years of struggle, that Pa Akindayomi finally yielded. He experienced what he called a “definite relationship with God,” confirmed by a series of scriptural revelations—Jeremiah 1:4–10, Isaiah 41:10–13, Romans 8:29–31—ushering him into a life of full surrender.
THE BIRTH OF RCCG
Pa Akindayomi remained within the Cherubim and Seraphim fold until 1947, when he became dissatisfied with certain doctrines he believed were inconsistent with Biblical truth. Five years later, in 1952, he established a small house fellowship—The Glory of God Fellowship—in Willoughby Street, Ebute-Metta, Lagos.
In a visionary encounter, he claimed God revealed to him the name “The Redeemed Christian Church of God.” Despite his illiteracy, he was miraculously able to write the name exactly as shown in English. This supernatural validation became the foundation of what he declared to be a covenant with God: that the church would spread worldwide and endure until Christ’s return.
“I will provide all that the church needs if it obeys Me,” Pa Akindayomi reported God as saying.
That promise, rooted in unwavering faith and obedience, continues to shape RCCG’s operations.
A LEGACY OF DIVINE ORDER
In 1973, a young university lecturer, Enoch Adejare Adeboye, joined the church. Unknown to him, he had already been marked as Pa Akindayomi’s successor—fulfilling a prophecy the founder received that his successor was “not yet in the church.”
By 1975, Pastor Adeboye was ordained, and by 1980, following Pa Akindayomi’s death at age 71, he assumed leadership as General Overseer. The baton had been passed, not by popularity or politics, but by prophecy and divine instruction.
FROM A ROOM IN LAGOS TO THE NATIONS
- Today, the RCCG is one of Africa’s largest and most influential Pentecostal churches:
- 190+ nations with churches in North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East
- Monthly Holy Ghost Services at the Redemption Camp along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, attracting over 500,000 people
- Over 40,000 parishes globally
- Strong presence in educational, social, and humanitarian work
The church’s growth under Pastor Adeboye has fulfilled Pa Akindayomi’s original vision, confirming the words of Hebrews 11:13—“These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off…”
AN ABRAHAMIC CALLING
Pa Akindayomi’s story mirrors that of Biblical patriarchs like Abraham, Moses, and Elijah—men who heard God clearly, walked by faith, and handed over the mantle to worthy successors. His rare capacity to discern divine timing, submit to God’s will, and entrust the future to the next generation, remains a shining example of spiritual leadership in Africa.
“The true mark of greatness,” says Dr. Gloria Adebajo-Fraser, MFR, a governance and perception management expert, “is when visionaries plant trees whose shade they may never sit under. Pa Akindayomi did just that—for Nigeria and the world.”
CONCLUSION: A MAN AHEAD OF HIS TIME
Josiah Olufemi Akindayomi may not have had formal education or political power, but he possessed something even rarer—a heart fully yielded to divine purpose. His ability to hear God, obey Him despite the cost, and lay a global foundation with little earthly resources, proves that true greatness is not measured in worldly accolades but in eternal impact.
The church he planted from a modest Lagos room now reaches the four corners of the earth. And as RCCG continues to grow under Pastor Adeboye, Pa Akindayomi’s voice echoes from eternity: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course…”
Reference from: Agbonmagbe Remilekun Kazeem. ” The Historian”
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