The RCCG Abundant Life, BALTIMORE, is one of the numerous parishes-(800 STILL COUNTING) of the Redeemed Christian Church of God in North America and Canada.
The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) has a vision to spread the Word of God to the ends of the earth. It is a Bible believing church, where the teaching and a missionary approach emphasize the proper conduct and moral behavior of people.
The church has an appeal to all types of people worldwide, with a determination to teach people in their various geographical areas, stages of secular life and levels of spiritual development.
The General Overseer of the church is Pastor E.A. Adeboye.
RCCG North America Today
In North America, there are over 800 parishes (Dec. 2015) spread in various Cities and States of USA and Canada. Also, there are parishes in the Caribbean states of Haiti and Jamaica. There are parishes in South America, the Middle East, Australia, etc
1st Parish in North America Started on April 5, 1991
Mentored by the General Overseer of RCCG, Pastor E. A. Adeboye, Pastor Fadel started the first parish of RCCG in North America – Winner’s Chapel, Detroit in 1991.
Today, God is still doing marvelous deeds through The Redeemed Christian Church of God, worldwide. One of the well-known programs of the church is the Holy Ghost Service, an all-night miracle service that holds on the first Friday of every month at the Redemption Camp at Km. 46, Lagos - Ibadan expressway. The average headcount of those who attend the Service is in millions. The Holy Ghost Service now holds all around the world monthly but is led by Pastor Adeboye, half-yearly in London. Similarly, Pastor Adeboye leads these services in Washington DC and Toronto, Ontario, Canada once in a year and once in Europe every two years.
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH:
April 4, 1952 - RCCG Was Born
By 1952, he felt totally persuaded to leave the church. He started at Willoughby Street, Ebute-Metta, Lagos a house fellowship called, the Glory of God Fellowship. Initially there were nine members but before long the fellowship rapidly grew as the news of the miracles that occurred in their midst spread. Pa Akindayomi also had a vision of words that appeared to be written on a blackboard. The words were "The Redeemed Christian Church of God." Amazingly, Pa Akindayomi who could not read or write was supernaturally able to write these words down.
In this visitation, God also said to him that this church would go to the ends of the earth and that when the Lord Jesus Christ appeared in glory, He would meet the church. The Lord then established a covenant with Pa Akindayomi, synonymous to the Abrahamic covenant in the Bible. He said that He the Lord would meet all the needs of the church in an awesome way if only members would serve Him faithfully and be obedient to His Word.
It is upon this covenant that the Redeemed Christian Church of God was built. Thus, the Redeemed Christian Church of God was born in 1952, destined by the Lord Himself to take the world for Him. The church continued to meet at 9 Willoughby Street until they could acquire some land thereby witnessing relocation to the present site of the Headquarters of the church at 1-5 Redemption Way, Ebute-Metta, Lagos (formerly 1a, Cemetery Street).
May 4, 1973 - A Mathematics Lecturer Joined the Church
Sometime in the early 70s, God had spoken to Pa Akindayomi about his successor. The Lord told him that this man, who was not a member of the church then, would be a young educated man. Thus, when a young university lecturer joined the church in 1973, Papa could recognize him in the Spirit as the one that the Lord had spoken about in the past. This man, Enoch Adejare Adeboye who was then a lecturer of Mathematics at the University of Lagos soon became involved in the church. He became one of the interpreters translating Pa Akindayomi's sermons from Yoruba to English.
March 14, 1975 - Pastor Adeboye was Ordained
Pastor Adeboye was ordained a pastor of the church in 1975.
November 2, 1980 - Pa Akindayomi's Death
Papa was preparing to meet his Creator. He sent for Pastor Adeboye and spent several hours sharing with him details of the covenant and the plans of the Lord for the church. Even though a year before this, the Lord had revealed to Pastor Adeboye that he would be Papa's successor, it was still too difficult for him to fully contemplate such an awesome responsibility. Pa Josiah Akindayomi was 71 years old when he died.
November 22, 1980 - Pastor Adeboye Succeeds Pa Akindayomi
Amidst controversy, Pastor Adeboye's appointment was formalized by the reading of Pa Akindayomi's sealed pronouncement after his burial.
July 4, 1981 - Church Explosion
Since 1981, an open explosion began with the number of parishes growing in leaps and bounds. At the last count, there are at least about 4000 parishes of the Redeemed Christian Church of God in Nigeria. On the International scene, the church is present in other African nations including C'ote D'Ivoire, Ghana, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Gambia, Cameroon, and South Africa. In Europe, the church is fully established in the following countries: United Kingdom, Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Germany, Greece, France, Switzerland, Austria, Denmark, Sweden and Norway.
Our Mission.
As received by the General Overseer (G.O.), Pastor E. A. Adeboye, and communicated to the Headquarters leaders, our vision and mission statement shall remain intact, with a qualifying addendum in view of the peculiarity of the demography in the North American region. They are as follows:
• To make heaven.
• To take as many people with us.
• To have a member of RCCG in every family of all nations.
• To accomplish No. 1 above, holiness will be our lifestyle.
• To accomplish No. 2 and 3 above, we will plant churches within five minutes walking distance in every city and town of developing countries and within five minutes driving distance in every city and town of developed countries.
We will pursue these objectives until every Nation in the world is reached for the Lord Jesus Christ.
ADDENDUM:
For planting new parishes in North America & Caribbean countries, the location to any existing parish must be at least 10 minutes driving distance.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
John 3:16-17 ESV
Our Departments.
THE CHOIR DEPARTMENT
The Choir is one the oldest groups in Church history. It is of the Priesthood, dating back to the Old Testament Worship. It comprises a group of musicians that sing and play musical instruments to lead worship in God’s presence. In the Old Testament, the Choir was usually made up of the Sons of Levi who led worship in the Tabernacle. This rite was their sole obligation - 1Chr.15:16, 6:31-35, 2Chr 7:6.
Because music has an eternal function in worship of Jehovah God, the Choir also becomes relevant in the New Testament Church – Rev.5:11, Matt. 26:30, Acts 16:25
In RCCG, the Choir at the local church level is headed by a Choir Co-coordinator who may have an Assistant; both reporting to the Minister-in-Charge of the Choir in the Parish. The department usually comprises Lead Vocalists, Back-up Singers and Instrumentalists. They are always at liberty to organize themselves and their activities for optimized productivity.
THE TEACHING DEPARTMENT
The Teaching department, like the Choir, has one of the oldest obligations in the Priesthood right from the Old Testament period. Most of the Old Testament prophets were teachers. When Jesus Christ came, He was also a teacher, besides other things. This group is made up of trained, educated and informed bible teachers who regularly assist the Pastors to educate the church morally and spiritually. Their impact on church spiritual growth is highly critical.
In RCCG, the teaching department comprises the Sunday School Unit and the Children/Teenagers’ Teachers. The teaching department also includes units like the Believers/Baptismal Class and Workers-in-Training Class.
THE PRAYER BAND DEPARTMENT
This group is called the Prayer Warriors or the Power House. This is due to the obligations fostered on them. Though every Christian has the obligation to pray, this group is specifically saddled with the obligation to pray for the church and “lift up the hands of Moses” – the Moses in this case being the Pastor-in-Charge at various levels of administration of the church.
THE USHERING DEPARTMENT
They administer security, orderliness and the observation of protocols in all church events. Welcoming members, guests and visitors into the church auditorium or venue of church events and politely directing them to their seats.
Getting the venues of church events ready before the events
Their responsibilities are large. The group is led by a Head Usher.
THE SANITATION DEPARTMENT
Cleanliness, they say, is next to Godliness. The Sanitation department is a very important unit without which the church premises will become a refuse dump. This unit is not as conspicuous, attractive and sensational as some of the other departments. However, the impact of what they do or fail to do does have immediate effects on the atmosphere of worship in any event of the church – because God is holy.
The unit is led by a Head of Sanitation
MEDIA DEPARTMENT
This is another unit that works behind the scene, unnoticed until something goes wrong with the microphone, the speaker or any of the public-address system. This unit is saddled with the responsibility of ensuring that all the public-address systems at the venue of a church event are working all the time.
Recording and production of church events. They help with the audio/video recording of events in the church for duplication and record keeping.
WELFARE DEPARTMENT
This department that organizes welfare programs and harnesses all available resources within the church to provide for the needy in the church.
Organizes for funds and other resources to meet the need of people within the church
Specifically identify individuals who need material assistance and arrange to meet their needs
Give support to the Pastorate to assist the poor, widows and the needy within the church.
EVANGELISM/DRAMA/FOLLOW-UP DEPARTMENT
Evangelism is said to be the heartbeat of God, and it is the Great Commission. The church has the obligation to carry out this mandate. To achieve this, the church must develop realistic strategies and be well organized in her efforts.
The Evangelism Department helps to organize and manage church resources in respect of this. This department comprises other subunits such as Drama group and Follow-up group. It is headed by a Head of Evangelism.