Project – Evangelical anointing for church planting, church growth and soul harvesting

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

The mission of the Church has always been the propagation of the gospel of Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. From the days of the apostles, the mandate to preach the gospel to all nations has remained the central purpose of the Christian faith. Jesus Himself emphasized this in the Great Commission, commanding His followers to “go into all the world and preach the gospel” (Mark 16:15). This divine mandate, however, requires more than human wisdom or persuasive speech—it requires the enabling power of the Holy Spirit. From the early Church, as recorded in Acts 1:8, believers were assured that they would receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them, empowering them to be effective witnesses.

The concept of evangelical anointing flows directly from this divine empowerment. It refers to the spiritual endowment of believers for evangelism, soul-winning, and the establishment of new congregations (Ojo, 2018). Through this anointing, believers are equipped to minister with authority, spiritual insight, and conviction that leads to genuine conversions. It is not a mere religious enthusiasm but a tangible spiritual grace that transforms ordinary individuals into powerful instruments for the expansion of God’s kingdom. The history of Christianity reveals that every major revival and expansion of the Church has been accompanied by a fresh outpouring of this evangelical anointing.

Within the Pentecostal tradition, evangelical anointing is closely associated with the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Pentecostals believe that this baptism produces boldness, spiritual gifts, and divine passion for soul-winning (Adeboye, 2019). This empowerment is not only for preachers but for all believers who yield themselves to the Holy Spirit’s leading. As such, evangelism becomes a Spirit-inspired activity rather than a routine religious exercise. This belief has shaped the evangelistic identity of Pentecostalism globally, where revival meetings, crusades, and street outreaches are seen as expressions of the Spirit’s work through the anointed Church.

In the Nigerian context, particularly in Lagos State, Pentecostal churches have experienced remarkable growth and multiplication since the late 20th century (Ukah, 2020). Lagos, being a cosmopolitan and economically vibrant city, has become a hub for Pentecostal evangelism and church planting. The city’s diverse population, urban challenges, and openness to new religious expressions have made it a fertile ground for evangelistic activities. Many Pentecostal churches have leveraged this context through Spirit-led outreach programs, media evangelism, and community-based ministries that attract thousands of converts each year.

Church planting, which involves establishing new worship centres or congregations, remains a central strategy for spreading the gospel and nurturing new believers (Adeyemo, 2017). It ensures that converts are discipled, cared for, and integrated into a spiritual community. In many Pentecostal movements, church planting is not only an administrative or organizational endeavor but a spiritual mission powered by divine direction. Pastors and missionaries often testify that they are called and anointed by God to establish new congregations in obedience to the Holy Spirit’s leading. Hence, evangelical anointing becomes the spiritual fuel that sustains the vision and perseverance needed to plant and grow churches successfully.

The evangelical anointing is therefore not merely an abstract theological concept but a dynamic reality that drives the expansion and sustainability of churches (Adejumo, 2021). It is the invisible force behind passionate preaching, effective soul-winning, and the manifestation of spiritual gifts that draw people to Christ. Through prayer, fasting, and the laying on of hands, Pentecostal believers seek this anointing as a mark of divine approval and empowerment for ministry. The result has often been explosive church growth, miracles, and revival movements that transform communities spiritually and socially.

The phenomenon of church growth among Pentecostal movements in Lagos—such as the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM), and Winners’ Chapel—illustrates how divine empowerment, visionary leadership, and effective evangelism can interact to produce exponential results (Ukpong, 2016). These churches have developed strong evangelistic cultures, with members actively engaged in outreach, missions, and discipleship programs. Their growth patterns reveal that church expansion is not solely dependent on human strategy but on the working of the Holy Spirit through anointed vessels.

In light of these realities, this study seeks to examine the role of evangelical anointing in church planting, growth, and soul harvesting among selected Pentecostal churches in Lagos. It will explore how the experience and expression of divine empowerment influence evangelistic activities and congregation expansion. By focusing on practical ministry contexts, the study aims to reveal how spiritual anointing translates into measurable outcomes such as membership increase, church multiplication, and sustained evangelistic momentum. Ultimately, it underscores the idea that genuine church growth is a product of divine partnership between God’s Spirit and human obedience in the task of evangelism.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Despite the proliferation of Pentecostal churches across Lagos, not all congregations experience consistent growth or vibrant evangelistic outcomes. While some ministries expand rapidly, others face stagnation, dwindling attendance, and internal decline. This uneven growth pattern raises important questions about the true drivers of church expansion. Many Pentecostal assemblies begin with enthusiasm and vision but fail to sustain momentum over time. The challenge is not merely one of attendance numbers but of genuine transformation, discipleship, and community impact. This inconsistency suggests that beyond organizational competence, there may be a deeper spiritual factor influencing the vitality and fruitfulness of church growth.

In many cases, churches struggling to grow often focus more on administrative efficiency, branding, or marketing strategies while neglecting the spiritual empowerment necessary for evangelistic success. Although management principles, financial accountability, and leadership training are important, these elements alone cannot produce authentic revival or lasting soul conversions. The New Testament emphasizes that effective evangelism flows from divine empowerment through the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8). Therefore, where evangelical anointing is lacking, church activities may continue outwardly, but the spiritual fire that attracts and transforms lives may diminish. This spiritual deficiency often manifests as reduced zeal for soul-winning, shallow discipleship, and declining moral influence within the church community (Gifford, 2017).

Furthermore, while Pentecostal theology emphasizes the role of the Holy Spirit in ministry, many churches have not systematically examined how evangelical anointing translates into practical evangelistic effectiveness. There is a tendency to assume that all Spirit-filled believers automatically operate under this anointing without intentional cultivation through prayer, fasting, and spiritual discipline. Consequently, the concept of evangelical anointing remains abstract in many congregations, lacking measurable expression in outreach, church planting, or discipleship outcomes. This disconnect between belief and practice presents a major gap in Pentecostal ministry, particularly in an urban context like Lagos where spiritual and social dynamics intersect.

Empirical research on the direct influence of evangelical anointing on church planting and soul harvesting is also limited in Nigerian Pentecostal settings. Much of the existing literature focuses on church growth strategies, leadership models, and organizational structures, often neglecting the spiritual dynamics that undergird sustainable expansion (Ukah, 2020). As a result, the academic understanding of Pentecostal growth remains incomplete without adequate consideration of the role of divine empowerment. There is a pressing need for contextual studies that explore how spiritual anointing shapes evangelistic productivity, especially among leading Pentecostal movements such as the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM), and Living Faith Church (Winners’ Chapel).

Additionally, the perceptions and experiences of pastors, evangelists, and church planters regarding the operation of evangelical anointing in ministry remain underexplored. Many ministers testify of receiving divine empowerment for evangelism, yet the ways they interpret, nurture, and apply this anointing vary widely across denominations. Understanding these variations could provide valuable insights into how spiritual empowerment impacts practical ministry outcomes. It would also help distinguish between emotional enthusiasm and genuine anointing that results in lasting transformation and church multiplication.

Therefore, this study seeks to fill this gap by investigating the relationship between evangelical anointing and measurable indicators of church growth and soul harvesting among selected Pentecostal churches in Lagos. By examining both spiritual and practical dimensions, the research aims to provide an empirical and theological understanding of how divine empowerment functions within contemporary Pentecostal evangelism. The findings will contribute to enriching pastoral ministry, revitalizing evangelistic strategies, and reinforcing the centrality of the Holy Spirit’s anointing in sustaining the mission of the Church in an increasingly complex urban environment.

1.3 Purpose of the Study

The main purpose of this study is to examine the role of evangelical anointing in church planting, church growth, and soul harvesting among selected Pentecostal churches in Lagos. Specifically, the study aims to:

1. Assess the understanding of evangelical anointing among pastors and evangelists.
2. Investigate how evangelical anointing influences church planting activities.
3. Examine the relationship between evangelical anointing and church growth in Pentecostal congregations.
4. Evaluate the impact of evangelical anointing on soul-winning and discipleship outcomes.

1.4 Research Questions

1. What is the level of understanding of evangelical anointing among Pentecostal pastors and evangelists in Lagos?
2. How does evangelical anointing influence church planting among selected Pentecostal churches?
3. What is the relationship between evangelical anointing and church growth?
4. In what ways does evangelical anointing affect soul harvesting and discipleship in Pentecostal ministries?

1.5 Research Hypothesis

The following hypothesis was formulated and tested in the study:
H₀: There is no significant relationship between evangelical anointing and church growth, church planting, and soul-winning among Pentecostal churches in Lagos.
H₁: There is a significant relationship between evangelical anointing and church growth, church planting, and soul-winning among Pentecostal churches in Lagos.

1.6 Significance of the Study

This study holds significant importance for both theological scholarship and practical ministry. Theologically, it seeks to enrich the understanding of how the Holy Spirit’s empowerment directly relates to the expansion and vitality of the Church in contemporary times. The doctrine of evangelical anointing, though widely preached in Pentecostal circles, has not been adequately explored within academic theology. By examining the biblical and experiential dimensions of this concept, the research bridges the gap between spiritual experience and scholarly reflection. It reinforces the conviction that the growth of the Church is not merely a sociological or managerial phenomenon but a spiritual process rooted in divine empowerment (Asamoah-Gyadu, 2019).

From a practical perspective, the study provides pastors, evangelists, and church planters with valuable insights on how evangelical anointing can be harnessed for effective evangelism and sustainable church growth. Many ministers engage in evangelistic activities without fully understanding the role of spiritual empowerment in ensuring lasting results. By highlighting how divine anointing operates in the context of church planting and soul harvesting, the study will help ministers recognize the need for personal spiritual renewal, prayer, and dependence on the Holy Spirit. It will also demonstrate that effective outreach is not achieved solely by human effort or strategic planning but through the Spirit’s enabling power that brings conviction, transformation, and conversion.

In addition, the research will serve as a resource for theological seminaries and ministerial training institutions seeking to develop more Spirit-centered curricula. Many seminaries emphasize biblical knowledge and pastoral management but give limited attention to the dynamics of spiritual anointing in evangelism. The findings of this study can therefore guide the design of training modules that integrate theology, pneumatology, and practical evangelism. By doing so, future ministers will be equipped not only with academic competence but also with spiritual empowerment essential for effective ministry in a complex and rapidly changing world.

Moreover, the study has sociological and missiological implications. In a diverse urban environment like Lagos, where social challenges, moral decline, and religious pluralism abound, the Church plays a vital role in shaping values and providing hope. Understanding how evangelical anointing influences church planting and growth can help the Church develop more contextual approaches to outreach that address both spiritual and social needs. Spirit-empowered churches tend to influence communities beyond their walls, promoting social transformation through education, charity, and moral reformation. Thus, this study will contribute to understanding how divine empowerment fuels both spiritual revival and societal renewal.

For church administrators and denominational leaders, the study offers practical recommendations on fostering environments that encourage the flow of evangelical anointing among ministers and members. By emphasizing spiritual disciplines, leadership development, and evangelistic training, denominations can create a culture of revival and mission-oriented ministry. The study’s findings can help leaders identify barriers that hinder effective soul-winning and church expansion, thereby guiding policy and practice toward Spirit-led growth rather than mere numerical increase.

Finally, this research contributes to the growing body of African Pentecostal studies by providing empirical evidence from a Nigerian context. As Pentecostalism continues to shape religious landscapes across Africa, understanding its theological foundations and practical dynamics becomes increasingly important. The insights gained from this study will therefore not only benefit local churches in Lagos but also contribute to global conversations about the role of the Holy Spirit in mission and church growth. In essence, the study affirms that the future of effective evangelism and sustainable church expansion depends on a renewed emphasis on evangelical anointing as the divine catalyst for transformation, revival, and harvest.

1.7 Scope of the Study

The study focuses on three selected Pentecostal churches in Lagos State, namely: the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM), and Living Faith Church (Winners’ Chapel). It covers activities related to church planting, membership growth, evangelism, and discipleship. The study emphasizes the period from 2015 to 2024, when Pentecostal expansion and missionary activities intensified in Lagos.

1.8 Limitations of the Study

The study may face limitations such as restricted access to accurate church records, subjective perceptions of spiritual anointing, and time constraints during fieldwork. Additionally, since the concept of anointing is spiritual, it may be challenging to quantify objectively. Nevertheless, qualitative insights will complement quantitative findings to ensure validity and reliability.

1.9 Definition of Key Terms

• Evangelical Anointing: The divine empowerment by the Holy Spirit for effective witnessing, evangelism, and ministry performance (Adeboye, 2019).
• Church Planting: The establishment of new Christian congregations in new locations or among new groups of people (Adeyemo, 2017).
• Church Growth: The measurable increase in church membership, spiritual maturity, and community impact (Wagner, 2010).
• Soul Harvesting: The process of winning converts to Christianity and nurturing them into committed disciples (Ukpong, 2016).
• Pentecostal Churches: Christian denominations emphasizing the experience of the Holy Spirit, spiritual gifts, and evangelism (Ojo, 2018).

Project – Evangelical anointing for church planting, church growth and soul harvesting