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Item Mission Strategies of the Evangelical Church of West Africa Among the Maguzawa in Kano and Katsina States, 1954 – 2007(2013) Ajamu, T. K.The Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA) is a church that recorded remarkable proselytising success among the Maguzawa in Kano and Katsina States despite the people‟s resistance to Islam or Christianity. This achievement notwithstanding, little attention has been paid to the history and strategies adopted by the church to Christianise the Maguzawa. This study, therefore, investigated the evangelistic strategies the ECWA deployed in the Maguzawa communities in Kano and Katsina States from 1954-2007, with a view to assessing their impact on the communities. The study was premised on Donald McGavran's People Movement theory which emphasises multi-individual conversion. Data for the study were collected through interviews, church records and questionnaire. Oral interviews were conducted with 80 purposively selected respondents, clergy (40) and the laity (40). Four hundred copies of a questionnaire were randomly administered; out of which 372 were retrieved from 74 Pastors, 36 students of ECWA Theological College, Tofa, and 96 church members in Kano State; and 73 pastors and 93 church members in Katsina State. Qualitative data were subjected to critical and historical analysis, while quantitative data were analysed using percentages. The ECWA adopted seven mission strategies among the Maguzawa. The first was the empowerment of the laity in frontline evangelism, making it possible for the ECWA to reach wider prospective converts between 1954 and 1980. To consolidate the faith of the converts and raise their social level, literacy classes were organised which led to the people‟s social and political mobility from 1954 till date. Third, medical services were introduced as the church‟s response to transmissible diseases, leading to unprecedented improvement in the people‟s health conditions (1954-1990), including awareness about HIV/AIDS (1996 to date). Fourth, to penetrate the social restrictions to Hausa women, Women‟s Fellowship (1954 to date) was organised which increased women participation in grassroots evangelism. Fifth, theological education was introduced in 1970 to professionalise the leadership of the indigenous churches and systematise their church planting strategies. Sixth, to attract new converts, conversion celebrations were introduced in 1977, which consolidated ecumenical ties among the various denominations in Maguzawa communities. Seventh, the church collaborated with Radio Nigeria in 2004 to broadcast the programme, Bangaskiyar Krista to preach to people yet to be reached through personal contact. A total of 86.6% respondents agreed that the empowerment of the laity enhanced the conversion prospects of the ECWA; 93.6% that literacy classes led to a new social order among the Maguzawa; 100% that ECWA medical services complemented government health provisions; 94.6% that women‟s fellowship enhanced women evangelism; 90.9% that theological education broadened the ECWA leadership skills. Also, 95.5% concurred that conversion celebration strengthened the faith of converts; and 85.8% that the radio broadcast provided avenues for mass media evangelism. The seven strategies adopted by the Evangelical Church of West Africa among the Maguzawa, shrunk into evangelistic, educational, medical and media strategies, served as veritable means of Christianising and sensitising the people in social and political terms. The adoption of these strategies by other churches will enhance further proselytisation work in Northern NigeriaItem The Healing Ministry as a Catalyst of the Growth of Christ Apostolic Church in Southwestern Nigeria, 1943-2000(2014) Adedapo, B. A.Divine Healing, which is healing without orthodox medicine, has over the years played a dominant role in the growth of Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) in Southwestern Nigeria. Despite this role, previous studies have focused on its theological significance and changing trends, with little emphasis on its impact on the growth of CAC Therefore, this study examined the healing ministry in CAC Southwestern Nigeria (1943-2000), with a view to assessing its large contributions to the numerical growth of the church in the areas of membership, size of ordained ministers and church branches. The study was premised on Kohlberg’s theory of growth and development. In-depth interviews were conducted with purposively selected 20 ministers, 20 evangelists, 30 faith-home workers, 20 church medical doctors, 30 male and 30 female members in selected healing centres of the church in Lagos, Ibadan, Ikeji-Arakeji, Efon-Alaaye, Ede and Akure, where CAC thrived. Also, 534 copies of a questionnaire were administered to purposively selected 349 members and 185 ministers in the centres. Church records at the General Headquarters in Ibadan were consulted. Data were subjected to historical analysis and percentage scores. Ignorance causing a lingering epidemic between 1925 and 1943 facilitated membership growth in CAC. Records from the church’s headquarters indicated that between 1943 and 1962, membership grew from 62,103 to 82,755 in Lagos, Ijebu-ode and Ibadan centres, due to healing testimonies traced to the survival of the epidemics. Church records, complemented by 58.0% of interview responses, indicated that between 1943 and 1959, over 50.0% of converts to CAC in the Ekiti and Ondo axis were attracted by healing. About 63.8% of the questionnaire respondents agreed that the membership size of 297,482 between 1963 and 1983 was connected to five dead people raised in Ijesaland. Despite this success, the death of 33 persons, compounded by government’s denial of death certificates to their families between 1959 and 1996 caused downward patronage for the CAC healing ministry. However, in 1983, the renewed emphasis on efficacy of water sourced from Ariran Brook at Ikeji-Arakeji which accounted for the healing of 40 persons between 1990 and 1992; the lift of embargo on orthodox medicine by the church authority in 1997; and improved services in the faith-homes, culminated in the membership swell of 500,000 in the year 2000. Increased healing campaigns and establishment of three seminaries in Ede, Lagos and Ile-Ife, facilitated ministerial growth between 1943 and 1962, raising the number of ministers from 24 to 40. Between 1963 and 1982, more healing manifestations increased the number to 402, and their impactful zeal for healing brought the number to 2,504 in year 2000. Church records at the headquarters indicated that healing practices progressively led to branch expansion: 76 (1943), 497 (1962), 1,602 (1982), and 4,682 (2000). The healing ministry in Christ Apostolic has largely contributed to the growth of Christ Apostolic Church in Southwestern Nigeria between 1943 and 2000. Thus, the healing ministry proved to be an indispensible instrument for membership drive, ministerial formation and church growth