PREAMBLE:
The evolution and growth of the prayer movement in West Africa followed different tracks for the English speaking and the French speaking countries of sub-Saharan Africa. Two factors influenced this development in the region. Firstly, is their different colonial past and secondly, the influence of the Pentecostal and Charismatic revivals in the different countries.
The prayer ministries in the French speaking countries of Burkina Faso, Guinea, Chad, Mali, Niger, Cote D’Ivorie and Senegal grew slower because France that colonized them did not experienced any remarkable revivals that impacted her colonies. (France prides herself as the first daughter of the Roman Catholic Church. This explains the ascendancy of Catholicism in her colonies inspite of the 1905 law passed in the French parliament seperating the State from the Church). Historically too, there were different administrative arm twisting in the colonies against Protestantism. These factors help to explain why these colonized nations embraced the charismatic revival lately. On the other hand, the prayer ministries in the English speaking West African countries grew very fast because of their links to Britain and the United States who experienced various revivals and their missionary thrust impacted the English speaking countries. In addition, some of the English speaking countries of West Africa like Nigeria experienced great home grown revivals which arose out of intense prayers and was sustained by prolonged prayers.
The Prayer ministries in the English speaking West Africa have experienced tremendous growth since the past 30 to 40 years. This is so especially in Gambia, Ghana and Nigeria where we have some of the largest prayer gatherings in the world.
Some of the prayer ministries in West Africa are church or denominational based, while others are parachurch ministries. The origin and structure of each prayer ministry affects the way they operate. The denominational prayer ministries seem to emphasize on church growth, miracle service, and national prayers while the para-church prayer ministries are more missional, kingdom focused and prophetic in their approach to prayer.
THE NIGERIAN CHURCH SCENE:
The Nigerian Church, especially the Pentecostal ones, is a praying Church. The momentum in prayer has been partly induced by national challenges. The Nigerian church respond very intensely to various socio- political issues like security, terrorism, ethno-religious conflicts, among others. The Church prays for elections, national leaders, for the Great Commission, the Unreached People Groups, etc.
There are major prayer gatherings such as the monthly Holy Ghost nights which holds first Friday of every month at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, (RCCG) Camp on the outskirt of Lagos. This is perhaps, the largest prayer gathering on earth today. There is the Power Must Change Hands, a monthly fasting program by the Mountain of Fire and Miracle Church, which holds every first Saturday of the month at their Prayer City, on the outskirts of Lagos. Other Churches hold regular prayers in their Churches while some now observe 24/7 virtual prayers.
The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, the umbrella body and Christian Association of Nigeria, also from time to time mobilize their members to pray especially in the face of development such as elections or national security challenges. The CESM Watchman ministries who pioneered in the 1970s the rallying the Nigerian Church in monthly interdenominational prayers for the nation. This has been going on uninterrupted for the past 47 years! The Women Intercessors for the Church and the Nations (Wailing Women) is another prayer ministry pioneered by women with a global reach. They are a prophetic prayer ministry who teach their members to stand as watchmen over their cities, communities, to pray for the church and family.
It may be pertinent to mention The Experience, a worship music cum prayer gathering for Christians held every December organised by House on the Rock. It draws a large Followership more especially from the younger generation.
IT MUST BE ADDED THAT ALL THE 110 CITIES IN WEST AFRICA ARE PRAYER HUBS OF VARING REACHES, SPREAD, INTENSITY AND EMPHASIS.
PRAYER MOVEMENT IN GAMBIA AND SENEGAL:
Prayer is one of the consistent ministries of the Church both at local, denominational and inter-denominational levels. Below are some of the prayer organizations and activities in Senegal and Gambia.
SENEGAL: These prayer ministries are known to operate in Senegal.
1. Prayer Movement for Senegal led by Pst Jean Oscar Byock
2. Prayer for the 14 Regions and the heart of Senegal led by COLIM Ministries in Senegal headed by Pst Alfred & Bidemi Nwaneri
3. Wailing Women led by Mrs Affy Diop
4. Pentecostal Ministers Prayer meeting for Senegal and the nations particularly for Israel led by Apostle Coly
5. My Nation for Christ holds daily online prayers for Senegal led by a retired Senegalese Nurse Mrs Edith
6. Prayer journeys by Aglow for Christ.
7. Independence Day Prayer Meeting and several other formats of prayer including Global Day of Prayer were very active in times past but has since been discontinued.
GAMBIA:
We have also experienced many prayer movements in the Gambia. Some have continued but some have proven to be very seasonal, flourishing for a short time and ceasing not long after. However, in the Gambia, we have continued to enjoy testimonies of God’s answer to many issues arising from Prayers. It, however, remains that a more consistent prayer movement towards the evangelization of the Gambia need to be reinforced.
1. Independence Day Prayer Meeting has gone on for over 15years organized by the Evangelical Fellowship of the Gambia on Gambia’s Independence Day, February 15 annually.
2. Weekly Prayer for Gambia by Ministers organized by Pst Gideon Adeoye
3. Wailing Women
4. Feast of Esther Women’s Prayer meeting
5. The Intercessors for Gambia led by Begay Jabang holds the Gambia Prayer Wall that prays each day of August, each year.
6. Pastor’s Alliance started as a Prayer meeting but has coalesced into a Ministers network
7. Occasional Prayer events including a 24 hour Prayer event organized by Evangelical Fellowship of Gambia earlier this year regarding the Organization of Islamic Conference general Assembly that held in the Gambia earlier this year.
8. Christian Missionary Community International, The Church of Pentecost, Christian Missions Fellowship, Omega Church all have regular Prayer events that hold periodically for evangelization of the Gambia.
NAMES OF SOME OF THE PRAYER MINISTRIES IN WEST AFRICA
BURKINA FASO:
1, Prophet Emmanuel Sawadogo
International Center for Mission, Deliverance and Intercession (CIMID) Ouagadougou Burkina Faso
2. Mamadou Philippe Karambiri
935 Rue 2871 secteur 43 Arrondissement 10 Ouagadougou Burkina Faso
Tel:+226-25364333
Email :cie@fasonet
International centre for Evangelism
3. Emanuel KIEMTORE
Église Évangélique Grace Academy
Standard.graceacademy@gmail.
REPUBLIC OF CHAD:
1. *La Maison Tchadienne de Prière* [The Chadian House of Prayer]
Leader Samuel Nouba
Tel: + 235 66 21 01 02
NIGERIA:
1, The Watchman ministries
2, Intercessors for Nigeria
3, Gethsamane Prayer Ministries
4, Nigerian Prays
5, The Watchman Task force
6, Wailing Women
7, ThroneRoom Ministries
8, The Gatekeepers led by Kontein Trinya
9, And many others
GHANA:
1, Doxa Ministries a prayer ministry led by Mama Georgina Happy Crentsil in Accra
2, Abundant Grace Apostolic Ministry in Tema, Ghana, led by Apostle Felix Henry Dorwu
3, Aglow Intercessory-Accra
4, Women of Prevailing Prayer-Accra
5, Virtous Women of Prayer-Kumasi
6, Alpha Hour Prayer-Accra,led by Pastor Elvis Agyeman,an online Prayer
COTE D’IVORIE:
1- RÉSEAU DE PRIÈRE ATI
2- LES MAMANS À GENOUX
3- MOTHERS OF AFRICA
4- INTERCESSEUR POUR LA CÔTE D’IVOIRE (IPCI)
5- ARMÉE DE GÉDÉON (ADG) INTER
6- DYNAMIQUE DU REVEIL ( Europe)
7- CIRNA ( COALITION DES INTERCESSEURS POUR LE RÉVEILS DES NATIONS)
8- INTERCESSEURS AFRIQUE
9- SYNERGIE CAMEROON
10- WAILING WOMEN
11. ACTION MISSIONNAIRE INTERAFRICAIN (AMI)
12, AGENCE MISSIONNAIRE SERVICE CIVIQUE POUR MA PATRIE (AMSCP)
(It was formerly a prayer mvt uniquely for the Touaregs. Today they are doing both sending and praying for UPG’s.)
REPUBLIC OF BENIN
Children in Christ International (church)
Pastor Leopold AHOKPONOU, Cotonou. Benin Republic
NOTE, THE LIST OF PRAYER MINISTRIES IS BY NO MEANS EXHAUSTIVE. THIS LIST WILL BE UPDATED AS WE RECEIVE MORE INFORMATION.
AUSTEN C. UKACHI
Coordinator, Strategic Prayer Network of MANI
Coordinator, IPC ARPC
Compiled by Austen Ukachi, with input from Intercessors from across West Africa. June 2024
