The Beginning of the Revival
Shortly after the Biafran War ended in January 1970, three young Igbo men began a ministry that would transform their communities. They preached that Jesus is Lord. They proclaimed that He died on the cross for our sins. They also taught that people could receive salvation through faith in His blood.
Their message centred on repentance and salvation through Jesus Christ.
“The hour of freedom has come!” one participant recalled years later.
Three members of one of the prayer houses that had spread across Igboland sparked the revival. They were Stephen Okafor, Raphael Okafor, and Arthur Oriuzu.
Stephen and Raphael were in their twenties, while Arthur was much older. All three belonged to a prayer house in Ufuma. Over time, they became leaders within the group.
Conflict with the Prayer House Leadership
At first, the three men did not realise that some practices within the prayer house were wrong. They also remained unaware of other practices that they might have recognised as erroneous.
Nevertheless, they continued to preach the truths of Scripture at the Ufuma prayer house. Eventually, they began to recognise the errors around them. Once their eyes opened, they started speaking openly against those practices.
Initially, they hoped to reform the prayer house. Therefore, they focused on preaching what they believed to be the true Gospel.
However, their message created tension with the prayer house leader. Their preaching continued to expose what they considered deception within the group. As the conflict intensified, the leadership forced them to leave.
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The Public Statement and Misunderstanding
After leaving the prayer house, the three men issued a public statement to explain and defend their position.
Many people, however, criticised them. Some even called them enemies of the truth because they opposed practices that others considered beneficial.
Despite the criticism, the three men remained determined to present what they believed to be the truth. Their statement sparked considerable controversy. Although many misunderstood their position, they resolved to continue preaching what they called the “gospel of freedom.”
They soon left Ufuma for Awka-Etiti, Raphael Okafor’s hometown. There, they agreed in prayer to devote themselves fully to preaching the Gospel.
They also longed to see the power of the Holy Spirit transform people’s lives. As they later expressed it: “We were not interested in mere religion; we wanted something that would transform people’s lives and meet their needs.”
Baptism of the Holy Spirit and Early Crusades
The three men began studying Christian literature that shaped their understanding of the Holy Spirit. They read tracts from the Apostolic Faith Church about the baptism of the Holy Spirit. They also read publications by T. L. Osborn and Gordon Lindsay, which they obtained from Sydney Elton.
Afterward, they entered periods of fasting and prayer. Then, one day, while worshipping together at home, they believed the Spirit of God fell upon them.
Soon afterward, they began their first series of evangelistic crusades in Awka-Etiti. From there, they travelled to nearby towns and villages.
They printed handbills and invited people to their meetings. As their evangelistic work continued, small fellowship groups emerged in Ojoto, Nnewi, Amichi, Oko, and other towns and villages.
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J. M. J. S. Emesim’s Visit and the Fire of Revival
In August 1970, Stephen Okafor invited J. M. J. S. Emesim, whom some later called the “Apostle of Pentecostalism” in north-western Igboland, to speak at one of their campaigns in Awka-Etiti.
His visit had a powerful impact. Emesim “set the whole area ablaze,” and scores of people caught the fire of revival during the meeting.
Later that year, the three men felt compelled to visit fellow believers in Umuahia, where the revival fire had first begun.
However, the immediate post-war period brought severe hardship. Money and food were scarce. Despite these difficulties, the three men decided to make the journey.
They walked from Awka-Etiti to Umuahia, a distance of about 150 kilometres.
The Historic Walk to Umuahia
People later described this journey as the “historic walk.” It became one of the major highlights of their ministry.
As they travelled toward Umuahia, they sang along the way. They also preached in marketplaces, on streets, and wherever they found people willing to listen.
They stopped strangers and asked them direct questions: “Where will you spend eternity?” They also asked: “Do you know Jesus?”
Many people responded to their message. Some communities welcomed them, while others chased them away.
Nevertheless, they continued their journey.
After reaching Umuahia, they eventually moved on to Onitsha. Once again, the journey proved significant and became another important chapter in the story of the revival.
Date: 16th August 2022
Title: The Igbo land Revival
Source: A Heritage of Faith: A History of Christianity in Nigeria
Author: Ayodeji Abodunde
