MAINLINE DENOMINATIONS AND PENTECOSTAL – AFRICAN INITIATIVE CHURCHES: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Abstract

The day had done for the Africans to be responsive to the inner inspiration of the Holy Spirit on the call for special task or duty to perform to God in his salvation plan. Base on this, the researcher intends to delve into the critical analysis of the mainline denominations and the Pentecostal – African initiative Churches. The mainline churches are the well established churches that embarked on missionary activities into African countries from the Western world of Europe and America. These Church missionaries came to Africa to spread the good news of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world. Significant change of lifestyle in the life of the Africans were made, lots of people were converted but were not deeply rooted into the radical demands of the overzealous converts. Thus, the expectations of some new Christian converts who were, engrossed into the doctrine of the main denominations were not met, consequently, some Africans disintegrated from the mainline denominations, initiated new churches based on the cultures of the Africans, with much emphases on spiritual healings, prayers, miracles, visions and prophetic movements. The researcher uses critical analysis base on library research techniques to delve into the root causes of the springing up of the African initiative churches and the positive roles they play in the life of the Africans. This study is recommended to all Christendom in Africa to harmonize the system of worship for the promotion of unity.