26/07/2026
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE HOLINESS EVANGELISTIC CHURCH
By Prime Bishop Chima Amadi, D.Min.
One early morning, in the beginning of July 1971, at about five o’clock in the morning, God spoke to me, Chima Amadi, and instructed me to start an evangelistic group and go on evangelism to Owerri main market. I revealed God’s instruction to me to a small bible study group I organised and taught in brother Augustine Akalonu’s room at 163 Tetlow road Owerri with mostly secondary school students in classes ranging from class one to class three. I sought for their cooperation in carrying out the divine instruction. As I tried to convince them to go with me, some of the brethren reminded me that they were students and would be pursuing their education.
I told them that the formation of the evangelistic organization will not prevent them from pursuing their education or getting the careers of their choices. I also told them that it takes about eight years to complete one’s education and after that, they can come back to the ministry. On the question of changing from their parents’ churches, I told them that the evangelistic group will not prevent them from attending church services with their parents since what I was introducing to them was a non-denominational organization. With that conviction and the agreement, the inaugural meeting for the formation of the evangelistic association was scheduled for Monday, July 26, 1971.I told them that the formation of the evangelistic organization will not prevent them from pursuing their education or getting the careers of their choices. I also told them that it takes about eight years to complete one’s education and after that, they can come back to the ministry. On the question of changing from their parents’ churches, I told them that the evangelistic group will not prevent them from attending church services with their parents since what I was introducing to them was a non-denominational organization. With that conviction and the agreement, the inaugural meeting for the formation of the evangelistic association was scheduled for Monday, July 26, 1971.
The organization was named “Jesus Saves Evangelistic Association.” But on Friday, July 30, 1971, being led by the Spirit of God, I changed the organization’s name to “Holiness Evangelistic Association.” On Monday, August 2, 1971, I explained to those present in the bible study my reasons for the change. “Holiness Evangelistic Association” from then on became the name of the evangelistic association. I continued to teach the attendees of the bible study on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and allowed them to attend Sunday church services in their parents’ churches.
The organization was named “Jesus Saves Evangelistic Association.” But on Friday, July 30, 1971, being led by the Spirit of God, I changed the organization’s name to “Holiness Evangelistic Association.” On Monday, August 2, 1971, I explained to those present in the bible study my reasons for the change. “Holiness Evangelistic Association” from then on became the name of the evangelistic association. I continued to teach the attendees of the bible study on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and allowed them to attend Sunday church services in their parents’ churches.
As I was instructed by the Holy Spirit, beginning on Tuesday, July 27, 1971, and the rest of that week, I took them out on a daily evangelistic outreach to Owerri main market to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to traders in the market. At the market, I grouped the brethren in twos to preach to the traders in each line of the market. We started from one end of the market to the other, the Lord Jesus Christ blessed our ministrations and some people that heard us were converted to Him. They promised to attend our meeting on Wednesday. We carried on the outreach through the rest of the week.
As I was instructed by the Holy Spirit, beginning on Tuesday, July 27, 1971, and the rest of that week, I took them out on a daily evangelistic outreach to Owerri main market to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to traders in the market. At the market, I grouped the brethren in twos to preach to the traders in each line of the market. We started from one end of the market to the other, the Lord Jesus Christ blessed our ministrations and some people that heard us were converted to Him. They promised to attend our meeting on Wednesday. We carried on the outreach through the rest of the week.
On Wednesday, several people that we spoke to attended our bible study and I taught them. More came on Friday, more came the next Monday. Soon Brother Augustine Akalonu’s room was full of new converts for Jesus Christ. As more people came to the bible study, I moved them outside of Brother Augustine Akalonu’s room.
When it was no longer convenient for me to continue teaching the attendees in front of brother Augustine Akalonu’s room, I began to look for another place to hold the bible study. Soon after, I had an agreement with the leadership of St. Clement African Episcopal Church to use their abandoned building at No. 11 School road. I took members of Holiness Evangelistic Association and cleaned up the building at No. 11 School road and moved in. Our first meeting at St. Clement African Episcopal Church was on October 1, 1971.
When it was no longer convenient for me to continue teaching the attendees in front of brother Augustine Akalonu’s room, I began to look for another place to hold the bible study. Soon after, I had an agreement with the leadership of St. Clement African Episcopal Church to use their abandoned building at No. 11 School road. I took members of Holiness Evangelistic Association and cleaned up the building at No. 11 School road and moved in. Our first meeting at St. Clement African Episcopal Church was on October 1, 1971.
Soon, I created classes for converts according to their maturity in their knowledge of Christ. Meanwhile more and more people continued to attend our bible study sessions. God used our entry into St. Clement African Episcopal Church’s building to stabilize the Holiness Evangelistic Association.
As the number grew, I developed a teachers’ class to prepare some teachers from among us. After I graduated the student teachers, I split the group into new life class and classes one to four. Class one a, and b, were the new life classes; class two a, and b, were doctrinal classes; class three a, b, c were the growth classes, and class four was the mature class. Most of the brethren who graduated from the first teachers’ class became evangelists and later Pastors in Holiness Evangelistic Church and other churches.
As the number grew, I developed a teachers’ class to prepare some teachers from among us. After I graduated the student teachers, I split the group into new life class and classes one to four. Class one a, and b, were the new life classes; class two a, and b, were doctrinal classes; class three a, b, c were the growth classes, and class four was the mature class. Most of the brethren who graduated from the first teachers’ class became evangelists and later Pastors in Holiness Evangelistic Church and other churches.
Many of the brethren went to their home towns and preached the gospel to their kindred. Many invited the Holiness Evangelistic Association to come to preach and form groups for their people. We went to several places and formed Holiness Evangelistic Association Bible Union groups for them. Years later, we changed our name from Holiness Evangelistic Association to Holiness Evangelical Mission and then to Holiness Evangelistic Church.
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