Late Rev. Dr. Charles Osueke
The Assemblies of God Nigeria (AGN) is one of the foremost Pentecostal bodies that shone the lights of conservative preaching to its most refined grade. It played a significant role in shaping the nation’s religious, moral, and social bearings.
With a firm adherence to sound doctrinal stances, AGN influenced individuals, families, communities, states, the nation, and beyond in profound ways. This article explores how these conservative doctrines affected Nigeria and the diaspora. It will focus on moral education, social cohesion, national development, message type, and the jaw-dropping record of one of our illustrious fathers.
1. AGN Promoted Moral and Ethical Standards
AGN’s conservative doctrines emphasize experiential knowledge of God, holy living, integrity, and strict obedience to biblical teachings. These principles were instrumental in fostering a culture of morality among its adherents. By attacking societal vices such as corruption, immorality, and dishonesty, AGN encouraged personal and communal accountability. Members grew up living exemplary lives that reflected their faith, thereby serving as role models to their communities.
The emphasis on moral living manifested in family lives. AGN’s teachings on marriage and parenting stress the sanctity of marriage and the importance of raising children in a godly manner. This contributed to strengthening the moral fabric of families within the church and beyond. By this, their members influenced their extended families and social networks.
2. AGN Strengthened Social Cohesion
AGN’s conservative stance played a vital role in uniting diverse ethnic and cultural groups within Nigeria. It promoted a shared identity that was rooted in Christian values. The church created a sense of belonging and unity among its members. This inclusiveness served as a microcosm of the broader Nigerian society. It demonstrated that unity can be achieved despite ethnic and cultural differences.
The church’s commitment to community service further enhanced social cohesion. AGN’s programs, which including medical outreaches, educational support, and disaster relief efforts, touched many people’s lives irrespective of religious or ethnic affiliations. These initiatives reinforced the importance of empathy, compassion, and collective responsibility in nation-building.
3. Influencing National Development
Through its conservative teachings, AGN contributed significantly to Nigeria’s development in areas such as education and leadership. The church’s emphasis on discipline and hard work inspired many members to excel in their professions and public service. They produced leaders who lived their lives according to Christian tenets. Through this means, AGN was able to indirectly contribute to corruption reduction while promoting good and transparent governance.
AGN’s commitment to education was also monumental. Its establishment of schools and theological seminaries provided quality education to thousands of Nigerians. These institutions do not only impart academic knowledge; they also instill moral and spiritual values to their students. This act prepared students to contribute positively to society.
AGN Was A Benchmark To Many
Other non-AGN religious bodies saw AGN as the benchmark for their religious thrusts and goals. Do you know that AGN became so popular in Nigeria as a church that it produced the most nationally trustworthy members? It’s on record that back then, once an AGN member found himself in a job opening interview, the moment the interviewer discovers that such a one was from AGN, that was automatic employment? Do you know of this? That was how high AGN was revered then by the world and sinners alike.
It is in the archives that there was a time when AGN Sunday School Manual was the material many churches – I think more than 150 of them – used for their Sunday Schools. While some people argued that this was because those organizations do not have printing press as AGN did, the question is: Why then did they not write their own manual and have AG print them for them? Instead, they chose to order AGN SS Manual, took them to another printing house and have the cover changed.
5. AGN Messages Seemed to Be Scarce In The World
How many of you can remember the year our late Pa. Osueke told us his story with African preachers and some big religious names in the USA? What was the problem? They offered him big bags full of dollars just to make a single request. After the carnival that lasted for some days, which they claim was to celebrate such a great servant of God from Africa, the day finally came. God instantly warned him to ignore all the noise and pay close attention to everything they would say then.
A powerful orator was chosen. The man painted his speech very well before he slammed the hammer on the spot: The large cash was to encourage his ministry and help him fast-track the development of the facility AGN had at Okpoto. They just wanted to make a request of him to help them do one thing.
The Request Was Outrageous and God Cautioned Him About It
They asked Osueke to adjust his messages, because they could not preach the ways he did. He should make some little shifts so that he can sound like them and they like him. That would result in a harmony of the gospel messages in Africa and in the West. Osueke humbly turned down the huge dollars and their request. Then he told them: “If the spirit that gives me the messages I preach is the same that is in you, you should not have trouble preaching like I do.” Instantly, he rose up from there and left, leaving them amazed.
It was in the same journey that he sat with a man on the plane, who was a leader of a dreaded cult in Nigeria. The man was going to the US to join forces with other members just to fight one enemy they had. They were already on a fast because they wanted to make sure a church in Nigeria fells. And guess which church the man mentioned? It was AGN. God so arranged things that the man ended up sitting with the leader of the church his cult wanted to bring down; all because of its national impact in Nigeria. There he mentioned all their plan and how serious the matter was to them. Osueke came and summoned National Prayer that year for Assemblies of God, Nigeria.
6. Challenges and Criticisms
While AGN’s conservative stance has had many positive impacts before, it has not been without challenges. Modern critics argue that some conservative doctrines, particularly those regarding gender roles and interfaith relations, many times limited the church’s inclusivity and adaptability to a rapidly changing world. Being as it may then, AGN’s commitment to its principles still led it to maintain a distinct identity and remained a beacon of stability and direction for its followers.
Unfortunately, as years crawled by, AGN began to listen to the critics mentioned above. It began to scrap some of its strict rules and now, the question becomes: Is AGN as formidable as it used to be before? Can AGN boast of ministers in the mold of Osueke today, whom money cannot buy, even if they are intrinsically poor? You reading this article; ask yourself the questions and try to answer it: Is AGN today, commanding the kind of authority it wielded back then in Nigeria and beyond? Something has to be done!
Conclusion
The Assemblies of God Nigeria’s former unwavering commitment to conservative doctrines profoundly influenced Nigerian society. From promoting moral and ethical standards to fostering social cohesion and contributing to national development, the church left an indelible mark on the country and beyond.
While it faced challenges in balancing tradition with modernity, AGN’s impact continued to be a testament to the transformative power of faith-based organizations. But that was then. The unfortunate part now is: People judge the current AGN with these past spiritual exploits. And it seems most leaders in the church today don’t give a damn about that. May God help AGN to bounce back in Jesus’ name. Amen.
References
- Adogame, A. (2010). Pentecostalism and the Politics of Community Formation in Nigeria. Leiden: Brill.
- Kalu, O. U. (2008). African Pentecostalism: An Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
- Ukah, A. F. (2007). “The Redeemed Assemblies: Pentecostalism and Governance in Nigeria.” Journal of Modern African Studies, 45(4), 1–24.
- Assemblies of God Nigeria Official Website. (2023). Retrieved from www.agnigeria.org
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