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Africa for Christ Closes in Lagos With Thousands Baptized and a Renewed Passion for Mission

Posted on Mai 13 2026

NIGERIA
Africa for Christ Closes in Lagos With Thousands Baptized and a Renewed Passion for Mission

[Photo: Pastor Paul Douglas and Pastor Ojewole officiating a baptism.]

Abraham Bakari, WAD Communication

LAGOS, Nigeria / May 13, 2026 — The Africa for Christ media evangelism campaign closed on Sabbath, May 9, 2026, at the University of Lagos Sports Center, ending two weeks of preaching, prayer, health education, family life enrichment, digital engagement and local church mobilization across Africa. Partial reporting records 23,492 baptisms during the pre-campaigns and 4,908 baptisms during the campaign period in the West-Central Africa Division.

A Continental Campaign Broadcast From Lagos

[Photo: A view of the hall in UNILAG Sports Center]

Held from April 26 to May 9, 2026 the campaign was broadcast live from Lagos and distributed through Hope Channel Africa, YouTube and other livestreaming platforms, on radio stations, local churches, and 25,092 Homes of Hope. Together, these represented more than 50,000 downlink centers and sites across the continent.
The initiative brought together the West-Central Africa Division, the Southern Africa–Indian Ocean Division, the East-Central Africa Division, Hope Channel International, Adventist World Radio, pastors, Bible workers, media professionals, musicians, digital missionaries and thousands of church members. Pastor Joseph Somers and Veronica worked with groundbreakers weeks before the program. Sister Gale Jones Murphy, the writer and composer of the theme song “All Our Hope” was present and powerfully used by God to lead the praise team.

“Arise in Hope”: More Than a Slogan

[Photo: Dr Gale Jones Murphy theme song composer]

The campaign’s theme, “Arise in Hope,” became more than a slogan. It shaped every layer of the initiative: the sermons, the music, the children’s segments, the health talks, the family life presentations and the digital response strategy. Night after night, Pastor Paul Douglas, main speaker for the series, presented Bible-based messages in a hall filled with worshippers, while thousands more followed from churches, homes and digital platforms across the continent.

As Pastor Douglas was interviewed on Arise News, a prominent Nigerian television, he quickly disclaimed any connection with political campaigns tagged “Renewed Hope” for the 2027 presidential election in Nigeria. He insisted that, “The purpose of Africa for Christ is not to promote politics, but to lift people’s eyes to Jesus. Where hardship is real and hope seems far away, Christ remains the living hope for every home, every city and every heart.”

The Living Word and Lives Surrendered

The closing Sabbath message, titled “The Living Word,” brought the series to a solemn and joyful conclusion. Baptisms took place every evening as new believers publicly committed their lives to Christ.

[Photo: Pastor Utsu Justin and his wife]

Among them were Pastor Utsu Justin and his wife, from a Sunday-keeping church, who came from Ado, Nasarawa State to be baptized. He had opened his home as a downlink center, and from there his members witnessed his baptism on television. Several of them have now decided to follow Jesus and the example of their leader.

Digital Reach : Nearly 2 Million Impressions
A strong support from Thembikosi Moyo, Director of World Church Platforms, made it possible to trace and measure the impact of the digital reach. According to the latest impact report, the campaign generated 1,987,897 YouTube impressions, 423,344 views and 81,823 hours of watch time. The QR code and short link created for audience response recorded 6,109 hits from 69 countries and territories, with 91.2 percent of listed traffic coming from Africa. The Thrive digital response system captured 2,202 contacts, 325 baptism decisions and 93 outstanding follow-ups.

Additional campaign updates reported more than 11,000 WhatsApp contacts, during the campaign period. The initiative reached audiences in English, French, Yoruba, Fulfulde, Pidgin, Twi, Igbo, Hausa, Kiswahili, Ewe and Portuguese/Criol.

A Frightening Incident and a Testimony of Protection
Organizers also recalled a storm on Sunday night, May 3. During the campaign, a heavy steel bar filled with concrete, weighing about 25 kilograms, fell from the roof in-between two persons. By God’s grace, no one was hurt. Elder George Egwakhe, chairman of the Steering Committee said God perfomed a miracle: “I am still in shock of what happened that night, that nobody died or had serious hurt is a miracle. I am grateful to God that the meeting went well.”

[Photo: Abraham Bakari, WAD Communication Director]

For the team, the incident was received as a solemn reminder that evangelistic mission often takes place in the midst of spiritual opposition. Yet the fact that no life was lost and no major injury occurred strengthened the conviction of many workers that God was watching over the campaign, the congregation and the production crew.
The incident also deepened the spirit of prayer among the teams. Leaders and workers continued the campaign with renewed vigilance, gratitude and confidence that the same God who had opened doors for the gospel was also protecting His people.

WAD Leadership Gives Glory to God

[Photo: Pastor Bassey E. O. Udoh, president of the West-Central Africa Division]

[Photo: Dr. Vincent Roger Same, executive secretary of the West-Central Africa Division]

Pastor Bassey E. O. Udoh, president of the West-Central Africa Division, described the closing as more than the end of an event. “Africa for Christ has shown what God can do when His people unite in prayer, media, mission and local church action,” Udoh said. “We praise God for every life surrendered to Jesus, but we also recognize that baptism is not the end of the journey. It is the beginning of discipleship, nurture and faithful service.”
Pastor Dickson Marfo Sarfo, Treasurer of the West-Central Africa Division, said the campaign demonstrated the strength of integrated mission and continental cooperation. Dr. Vincent Roger Same, executive secretary of the West-Central Africa Division “It has been a great success and an opportunity to thank God for those who were baptized. We congratulate all the technical teams that brought their expertise so that this program will be remembered for years to come.”

Hope Channel International Calls Viewers to Witness

[Photo : Vyacheslav Demyan Praying]

[Photo: Hope Channel Int. public recognition of Pastor Paul]

Pastor Vyacheslav Demyan, president of Hope Channel International, described Africa for Christ as a major evangelistic moment for West Africa and beyond.
“Because of Hope Channel, it was broadcast across Nigeria, all over Africa and all over the world,” Demyan said. “We witnessed many miracles. The Holy Spirit worked powerfully. Thousands of people decided to follow Jesus, to acknowledge Jesus as their Savior and King.”
Demyan also appealed to members and viewers to move from watching to witnessing.
“Today is the day,” he said. “Let’s unite our efforts to proclaim the message of hope, especially as we move toward the global media evangelistic initiative, OneVoice27. Be part of His mission. Share this message today.”
Pastor Douglas emphasized the role of technology in connecting proclamation to pastoral care. “Missional technology is removing barriers, expanding our reach and enabling immediate, meaningful connection with those responding to the Spirit’s call,” Douglas said.

Health, Family Life and Holistic Mission

[Photo: Dr. Chidi Ngwaba, health speaker]

The campaign was not limited to preaching. Each evening also included health or family life components, reflecting the Adventist understanding of holistic mission. Dr. Chidi Ngwaba, health speaker for the series, said the program gave him an opportunity to speak to Africa about one of its urgent needs.
“Africa is the richest continent on the planet,” Ngwaba said. “We grow rich crops, we have minerals, oil and so much more, but our health is suffering. That is the message I brought to Lagos and to the continent of Africa.” Ngwaba said he was encouraged to hear testimonies of practical lifestyle changes even before the campaign ended.

Babcock University and the Power of Institutional Support

[Photo: Prof. Tunde Ojewole, family life speaker]

Prof. Tunde Ojewole, vice chancellor of Babcock University and family life speaker during the campaign, said Africa for Christ brought together institutions, churches and young people in a memorable way.
“As Babcock University, we count ourselves as part of this great initiative,” Ojewole said. “Dozens of our staff were part of the team working to make it happen. It has been a life-changing experience and a course-correction program for us as a people. I've been an evangelist for some forty years of my ministry and I wanna say this program tops it all.”
He said, “I especially enjoyed the excitement around this program on social media among our young people and our membership generally.” Speaking to the newly baptized members, he added: “You have made the decision of your life and a decision for eternity. You are not alone. Hold on to your faith. Don’t stop coming, don’t stop praying, don’t stop praising. Hope to see you in heaven.”

Ground-Level Mobilization and Homes of Hope
For local leaders in Western Nigeria, the campaign was also a testimony of preparation, resilience and partnership. The Western Nigeria Local Coordination Committee, chaired by Ezekiel Adeleye with Sunday Ogunsanya, Edafe Daniel and Alabi John, coordinated local stakeholders, venue readiness, church participation, transport, accommodation and daily operations.
“This campaign has strengthened our churches and reminded our members that evangelism is not only a program on the stage,” Adeleye said. “It is the work of pastors, elders, youth, families, Bible workers, media teams and every believer who opens a home, shares a message or prays with a seeker.”
For newly baptized members, the campaign was deeply personal. “I came with questions, but I leave with peace,” one new member said. “I now understand that Jesus is calling me not only to believe, but to follow Him fully.”
Another described the appeal as life-changing. “When the call was made, I knew God was speaking to me,” the member said. “Today I have chosen Christ, and I want my family to know the hope I have found.”
Organizers said the closing now opens a new phase of ministry: follow-up, nurture, Bible studies, retention and integration into local churches. The campaign emphasized Homes of Hope—households, small groups and digital forums opened for prayer, Bible study and practical service—under the conviction that hope must be seen, not only heard.

Toward ONEVOICE27
As the final music faded in Lagos, leaders pointed toward ONEVOICE27, the global Adventist media evangelism initiative planned for September 2027. For many, Africa for Christ was more than a media event. It was a testimony of what can happen when preaching, health, family life, technology, music, prayer and local church action work together for one mission.
As Demyan summarized it, “Because of Jesus, hope starts here.” The message from Lagos was simple and urgent: Africa has heard the call to arise in hope, and the mission continues.