By Emmanuel Onuoha

The late ’70s and ’80s ushered in a strong wave of revival movements and radical pentecostalism
which spread like wild fire across Nigeria and beyond, shaking the very fabrics of the major
orthodox churches in Nigeria at that time. The Roman Catholic Church appeared to have been
the most hit as many of the youths came under a new spiritual awareness, which they ran
vigorously with, causing many sleepless nights to the church leadership, who were at a loss on
how to contain the flaming fire of charismatic pentecostalism spreading fast across the church.

The once-sleeping giant had been woken up from sleep as the onset of the charismatic renewal
movement was beginning to affect the mode of conservative religious practices which the church
was hitherto known by. Holding fellowship and bible study meetings aside from Mass, singing
songs of praise and worship, with clapping of hands, beating of drums, loud praying, including
praying in tongues, which were all foreign to the church practices, were beginning to find their
way into the church. Much as these appealed to the youths, the clergy and the elderly were very
uncomfortable at the development and fought it with much resentment and vehemence. The
more they tried to repress these charismatics in the various dioceses and parishes, the faster the
fire spread and as the years rolled by, the church had to accept the reality that had come upon
her and worked out ways of controlling what they regarded as the excesses of these Catholic
Pentecostals.

With time, the charismatic movement became an acceptable group in the Catholic
church and today, almost every parish in Nigeria has its own charismatic group and many of the
clergy have caught the bug and are running with it. It is no longer strange to have Catholic
congregations that erupt in loud praises and worship, with clapping of hands and beating of
instruments, even during Mass. Some even hold healing services, vigils, crusades and other
evangelistic activities, all aimed at winning souls for Christ and expanding the kingdom of God.
It is from the prism of these enduring changes which have come to stay and which have positively
affected thousands of Catholics, especially in Nigeria, that we will take a closer look at the man,
Dr. Cosmas llechukwu.

Now, 70, Pst. Cosmas llechukwu, who is the General Overseer of Charismatic Renewal Ministries
and the General Secretary of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), was a major actor in
the charismatic revival that broke out in the late ’70s. He rode through the tides and turbulence
that came with the movement in the early days, piloted the ship successfully and today has a lot
of heart-warming testimonies to share regarding the impact of the charismatic movement in the
Nigerian church.
llechukwu was in his early twenties studying Micro-biology at University of Ife, now Obafemi
Awolowo University, when the Charismatic movement was brought into Nigeria by the chaplain
and parish priest of the Catholic community at University of Ife at that time, Rev Father Richard
Farmer. An American Dominican priest, Fr. Farmer had gone on holiday to his homeland in the
US when he had an encounter with the burgeoning charismatic movement, which began in the United States. He became born again and got filled in the Holy Spirit. On return to Nigeria, he shared his experience with his Dominican brothers in Lagos and Ibadan and finally at his base in Ife, he started the God is Love Community, the Charismatic group, which became an attraction point for many of the parishioners, especially the students. It was in this group that the young llechukwu surrendered his life to Jesus Christ and never looked back since then.

In the charismatic group, unlike in the traditional church, Holy Ghost baptism, life in the spirit and gifts of the Holy Spirit were emphasized. Members could express their giftings in prophecy, teaching, singing, prayers and other ministries. The pulpit ministry was no longer for the priest alone, but opened up to members (the laity) according to their gifts.
With time, llechukwu, who eventually became the leader of the God is Love Community and some other vibrant young members of the group, started experiencing the workings of the Holy Spirit in superlative dimensions, with clear revelations, signs, wonders and miracles following. They received specific directions from the Holy Spirit on the evangelistic work He wants to use them to accomplish, which was summed in this form: “prepare Me men for the great harvest in the Catholic Church and teach them what it means to have authority”. Hence, they gave themselves to much praying and fasting, bible studies and spreading of the gospel amongst Catholics primarily. One distinct instruction they had then was to reach out to young Catholics in other institutions of higher learning in Nigeria. So, these young student-evangelists started crisscrossing the length and breadth of Nigeria forming Charismatic groups on Campuses. This led to the birth of the National Charismatic Students Fellowship, which became the platform through which the student groups held major conferences and life-transforming activities.

Brother Cos llechukwu, as he was popularly addressed in those days, graduated from Ife in 1984and was posted to Jos, Plateau State, for his one-year National Youth Service Corps programme and his primary posting was to the office of then Bishop Gabriel Ganaka, of blessed memory, who was one of the early Nigerian Bishops to embrace and support the Catholic Charismatic movement. After the Youth Service, llechukwu was faced with the choice of making career decisions that would guide his life. Though his father, Chief P.J.O. llechukwu1, an influential Nnewi indigene, had secured a juicy job for him with one of the biggest transport companies of that age, he eventually decided against secular work, as he was convinced God wanted him to continue in ministry, which was facing a lot of challenges at that time.
This decision was a very costly one as he had to leave home without family support and without sure means of livelihood. All he knew was that he heard the call clearly from God and he was ready to run with it to any level, cost what it may. He relocated to Owerri, Imo State and linked up with his core charismatic friends from God is Love Community Ife, who had also graduated. They started a fellowship group named Graduates Charismatic Fellowship (GCF), which was later opened up to non-grduates and students, necessitating a change of name to Charismatic Renewal Ministries (CRM).

Despite severe oppositions and persecutions, the fire of revival continued to spread through their activities and thousands were getting saved, healed, delivered from demonic bondages and being established in faith. Today, that small group has grown large and blossomed to over 600 branches across Nigeria, Africa, Europe and Asia. More importantly, many other charismatic groups, who caught the fire of revival stoked by llechukwu and his group, have sprung up across the nation, doing much exploits for God, fulfilling the great harvest vision which the young evangelists received in 1980.

A dynamic and very focused leader, over the years, Dr. llechukwu has gone ahead to improve himself in ministry, academics and social impact. Equally, he has pioneered impactful missionary and community development activities in the rural areas of Nigeria and several African countries through the platform of the Missions Aids International. He obtained a Master’s degree in Theology from West African Theological Seminary and a Doctor in Ministry in Transformational leadership from Bakke University, USA. Apart from being the pioneer General Overseer of the Charismatic Renewal Ministries, he is the Founder and Chairman of African Centre for Christian Leadership and was once Imo State Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). Before he became the General Secretary of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, he was PFN’s Vice President, South East. Also, he is the Chairman, Global Governing Council of International Ministers Fellowship (IMF), a global network of churches and ministries in over 23 countries in Africa, UK and USA. Additionally, he is on the board of Reference of Oral Roberts University, Tulsa and a member of the Governing Council of West African Theological Seminary (WATS), Lagos. He is also a Public Affairs commentator and Convener of The Change We Need Nigeria Initiative (TCWNNI).

An avid reader and prolific writer, Pst llechukwu has authored many books including: The Church of His Vision, Pray or Perish, Understanding the Ministry of Intercession and Breaking Forth with Kingdom Power. He is married to Dr. Adeola llechukwu, a partner in the ministry since the early days of the revival from Ife. Together, they have four children and three grandchildren.
Indeed, the story of the charismatic revival in Nigeria cannot be complete without telling the story of this humble servant of God, Cosmas Ilechukwu.

• Onuoha lives in Abuja.