The NATIONAL PRAYER ALTAR
MARATHON PRAYERS
Monday 23rd Feb. – Sunday 1st March 2026
CHRISTIANITY IN NIGERIA: WHAT WENT WRONG?
Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them (Eph. 5:11, ESV).
From 20th – 22nd February 2026, the National Prayer Altar organized a prayer conference with the theme, “Christianity in Nigeria: What Went Wrong?” The conference examined the history of Christianity in Nigeria and the condition of the Church in Northern Nigeria, then sought to propose a way forward for the Church. Two questions for consideration stood out from the conference:
1. What went wrong with the Church?
2. What is the way forward?
Considering the size and enormous potentials of the Church of Christ in Nigeria, both questions are crucial. The Church is evidently the largest demographic group in the country, despite attempts to deny it. Christians constitute the most educated group in Nigeria, the most civilized, and the most internationally exposed. They constitute the largest group of academics, intellectuals, professionals, skilled workers, and marketplace entrepreneurs. Even the wealth of the country is on Christian owned lands. Given such advantages, if the Church should be facing existential threat, as it has been in the past seventeen years, it is prudent to examine what went wrong. How could a group that is evidently the strongest in the country become a prey? Presently, Christians are targeted for elimination, and the government has the audacity to deny genocide against Christians. The same government, while it was in the opposition in 2014, proclaimed internationally that genocide was being committed against Christians in Nigeria. It was a right-in-your-face insult added to injury, which the Christian community swallowed like the other acts of injustice against the Christians in Nigeria.
As its answer to the two focal questions, the Conference proposed as follows:
WHAT WENT WRONG?
Leadership
In the Nigeria Church, there is evident deviation from Christ-centred leadership. In Mark 10:42-45, Christ warned against the practice of the “rulers of the gentiles”. Leadership in the Church of Christ should be characterized by servanthood, not rulership. Unfortunately, “monarchy” and “dynasty” have been adopted as leadership patterns in the Church, contrary to the commands of Christ. Hence, Christian leadership has become dictatorial and unamenable to correction. In fact, those who seek to counsel brethren in leadership positions are often branded as being ‘confrontational’ and ‘rebellious.’ That is the attitude of monarchy. The Church lacks servant-leaders who are like Christ.
Added to this is the obsession of the clergy with mammon. The Islamists came into power through the enablement of Church leaders in 2015, 2019, and in 2023. A royal reception was given to Muslim presidential candidates at the National Christian Centre before the 2023 elections. The Church leaders did not welcome any of the Christian presidential candidates, even though eleven Christians were contesting. Tinubu was welcomed on 16th November 2022, while Atiku was received on 22nd November 2022. Those endorsements were influenced by mammon.
In February 2024, the National Prayer Altar published a prayer call entitled “CAMA 2000 & MATTERS ARISING”. In that prayer call, the response of Church leaders nationwide to the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) as it related to churches was examined. They reacted sharply when their interests were threatened. They held a nationwide virtual meeting to deliberate on the attempt by the government of Buhari to apply a law they perceived would threaten their control of their churches, and of course, the finances. They immediately engaged lawyers and went to court. They won the case because they responded appropriately. Arising from that CAMA incident, the prayer call in February 2024 listed the following observations:
1. The Church has the capacity to unite against a common foe.
2. The much-vaunted denominational division and rivalry amongst various Church groups can easily be surmounted.
3. Churches can resist the government and prevail.
4. The Church has the capacity to compel government to do what is right.
The question, then, and to date, remains, “Why have they not responded the same way to the killings of Christians in the North and in the Middle Belt?” Further still, “Why did some prominent Church leaders join the Tinubu government to deny the genocide against Christians in Nigeria?” A third question still outstanding is, “Why did the CAN President join Muslims to observe their Ramadan breaking of fast in March 2025, in violation of 1 Cor. 10:21?” To date, Church leaders act as if nothing was wrong with that action despite its weighty spiritual implications on Christianity in Nigeria. The entire Christian community seemed implicated in that worship of devils (v. 21).
It is evident, under Tinubu, that there is an Islamization agenda. The Islamists are progressing in their agenda not because they are stronger or more strategic than the Christians, but because the Church lacks Christ-centred leadership. Christian leadership has been commercialized, leading to a lack of “good shepherds” in the Church (John 10:11-14).
A vivid example, as addressed in last week’s Marathon Prayer Call, was the unwarranted public disclaimer issued by the eight principal officials of CAN, against Northern CAN. The Church leaders proved that all of them could, in unison, write and sign a letter to make a point. Why have they not written to the government of Nigeria to protest the killings of Christians and the sacking of Christian villages, sending millions of the displaced Christians into IDP camps? Why have they not written to international organizations and to the US government for intervention?
WHICH WAY FORWARD?
When one reaches the edge of a precipice, they should not talk of ‘moving forward.’ They should retrace their steps to find out where they missed the way. In such a case, the way forward is to go back.
1. Go Back to Discipleship
Many in vital positions in the Church are not genuine converts. “By their fruits ye shall know them” (Matt. 7:15-16). The obsession of church leaders with the ‘prosperity’ message should cease. It dulls resistance to financial inducement. Many church leaders see Christian leadership as a channel to acquire wealth. The Nigeria Church adopted prosperity as a major doctrine in the early 1990s. For over thirty years, which is a generation, focus has been on earthly wealth. After thirty years of prosperity messages in the churches, Nigeria earned the unenviable title of “poverty capital of the world.” God is not in that message. The gospel message is, “carry your cross”. There should be a return to discipleship.
2. CAN should Revert to its 2004 Constitution
CAN’s 2004 constitution offers two terms of three years each. The current five-year single term in the amended 2021 constitution does not give room for leadership appraisal. Under the 2004 Constitution, a leader that lacks capacity can quickly be set aside after three years.
3. Leadership Restructuring
The current arrangement in which the President of CAN is the head of the Executives, Chairman of President in Council, and Chairman of National Executive Committee (NEC), does not give room for checks and balances. NEC is supposed to be the supervisory body, yet the person to be supervised is also its chairman. In effect, the Executives report to themselves. There is no room for accountability. Somebody else should be the Chairman in NEC. That position can rotate amongst the five Blocs or, better still, if the clergy constitute the Executive, the laity should produce the Chairman in NEC, or vice versa.
4. A Christian Adjudication Panel
Christians should support the establishment of the Christian Adjudication Panel as a platform to resolve conflicts within the Church. Christians often go to secular courts to resolve conflicts, or on the social media to vent their grievance. The Church should consciously provide a platform for resolving disputes according to scriptural standards. The Christian Social Movement of Nigeria (CSMN) is building such a structure.
5. Funding
Efforts were made in 2014 to provide a central pool of funds for the Church. Those efforts were compromised by CAN officials. A central pool of funds is a necessity; it is not optional. Since Church leaders appear to be reluctant to do what is required to protect Christians, other Christian groups should step in, but they require funding. A Christian pool of funds is long overdue. The Christian Social Movement of Nigeria built the Lay Faithful Trust Foundation for this purpose. A minimum monthly donation of N500 by each Christian is required. This is a covenant responsibility. Details are available at www.layfaithful.org/donate
6. Involve Christian Professionals in Christian Leadership
At present in 2026, the clergy have already led the umbrella organization of Christians for 50 years. At the end of the 50 years, the Church is in greater distress. It is time to involve Christian professionals in Christian leadership. The laity have proven through their management of fellowships that they are able to promote unity amongst brethren, better than the clergy have done. If indeed the goal of the Church is “that they all may be one”, the lay leaders have proven that they can do the job.
If Nigeria Christians do not put the house in order, and consciously raise leadership that is capable, responsive, and accountable, the enemy will steadily emasculate the Church. It is good that Christians are praying, but faith without works is dead. God bless His Church.
PRAYER POINTS
1. John 10:11-14
Pray that God will raise good shepherds for the Nigeria Church who will provide leadership like Jesus Christ.
2. 2 Pet. 2:1-3
Pray that Jesus Christ will deliver His people from false teachers who merchandise the Church for pecuniary gains.
3. Mal. 3:2-3
Pray that God will purge and refine His sanctuary in every Christian assembly in Nigeria.
4. Luke 10:19
Take authority over the forces of darkness operating through men to defile and neutralize the Church.
5. Ps. 75:6-7
Pray that God will promote righteous and God-fearing men and women into positions of influence and leadership in the Church.
6. Titus 1:5-9
Pray for God to re-organize the Nigeria Church for effectiveness.
7. Luke 6:46
Pray for the spirit of obedience to come upon Nigeria Christians, both the leaders and the followers, to do the will of God.
Amen
