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Brief History of the Charismatic Renewal Ministries in the Catholic Church.
It all started in 1967 among some Roman Catholic students in American University (Duquesne). These Students in prayer retreat were seeking and thirsty after the Holy Spirit. They were challenged by the more of the Holy Spirit among non-Roman Catholic Students in the same campus. In this prayer meeting, suddenly they were baptised in the Holy Spirit and they began to speak in tongues. From there other Catholics who came in contact with them had the same experience when they were prayed for by the laying on of hands.
By 1973, the movement was introduced in Nigeria by a Dominican Priest Rev. Father Richeal, a lecturer in the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University). It is from this group and similar ones in theDominican community at Ibadan and Lagos as well as some group in Owerri that the movement spread across the entire country. Today, it exists in virtually every Catholics parish and institution of higher learning.
Brief History of the Charismatic Renewal Ministries (CRM)
CRM is the work of God and it began in the heart of students who were members of “God is Love Community” a Catholic Charismatic Renewal Movement Group at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University). On the prophetic level, God has been speaking to born again Roman Catholics in various ways and at different times and occasions of his intension to gather unto him a people of praise within the Catholic fold. This burden lead to the formation of a prayer cell in November 1979, which met every Saturday to pray and fast and fast for a new move of God among Roman Catholics. In answer to this Prayers God spoke on the 18th of Feb. 1980, a prophecy that soon became the Vision of CRM.
The Prophecy reads:
“Start preparing the people for the great harvest in the Catholic Church. The harvest is ripe at now, but the labourers are few, I don’t want men who are prepared but not faithful. I want men with faithful and obedient hearts. This is what I mean by you keeping my Church, feed my flock, you have to make them understand what it means it means to have authority. You are my Children, I the Lord of Host I have begotten thee. I am your Father, you are my Children. I have called you all for the Glory of my name. I want you to show the devil that you are my Children, my Own Children, the Children of the Most High God, Alpha and Omega, I am the Lord.
You have to love one another all of you, because love covered a multitude of sins. It is when you have love for another you will agree as one as the apostles did and then you shall do great and mighty things in my name. I want you all to prepare for the great battle. The devil knows and he is planning for you all. I want you all to learn to wait for me.I don’t mean going on a fast but waiting to hear me speak to you.
Ask me if you are not sure of what to do, i will explain to you. You are my Children, why do you fear to talk to me? Did I not make all things for the glory of my name? You had better learn to speak, you have to speak, you just have to talk, and then I will know you are really sincere.
Take not into account what the enemy may be planning to do, for I am greater than he, I will be with you always to perform what I want you to do for the glory of my name. My glory I never shall give to any other for I am the Lord.
My own dear Children, I will always lead you on. Listen to my voice for the sheep knows the voice of the master. Learn to know when I want to speak to you and listen, listen attentively for it is for your own good. I love you all. I guard over you all jealously for you are mine, my very own”.
These words of prophecy became the thrust of the National Catholic Charismatic Students, the first national expression of the work of the Ministry. Many other events took place in the mid-eighties that further substance to the vision as well as the need for the CRM to stand out distinctly with its unique Identity and mission.
Today, the work has blossomed in virtually every state of Nigeria outside Nigeria, CRM exist in five (5) other Countries such as Germany, Britain, S/A, Togo, gainsaid,Liberia, Tanzania, America, Cameron. CRM will reach anywhere Roman Catholics are found. The zeal of the Lord will do it.
God desires that all would be saved.
You are within His reach.
Welcome Home.
A Place Where You Belong
The Charismatic Renewal Ministries Inc. is God’s idea. The prophetic birthing of the Charismatic Renewal Ministries occurred on the 18th February, 1980, at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University). The Lord commissioned the CRM to start preparing men for a great harvest in the Catholic Church. The Ministry has since been committed to this in obedience to the Lord. The Ministry was led by God to adopt the Core Group system of Leadership. This is a plural or group leadership and shared responsibility. The leader of the General Core Group (the highest leadership body of the ministry) ipso facto becomes the leader of the Ministry and her Chief Executive Officer, otherwise called the General Overseer.The current General Overseer is Dr. Cosmas Ilechukwu, who is also the National Assistant General Secretary of PFN and on the board of reference of Oral Roberts University USA.
Our structure and
tiers of leadership
MEET OUR AMIABLE GENERAL OVERSEER – COSMAS ILECHUKWU
Dr. Cosmas Ilechukwu was born to the family of Late Chief P.J.O. Ilechukwu of Olie-Uru,Umudim Nnewi in Anambra State, on the 27th September 1954.He is the first in the family of 10 children.He attended both his primary and secondary Schools at Nnewi. Before gaining admission into university, he served as an auxiliary teacher with National Secondary School, Nnewi where he taught Mathematics, Chemistry and Biology in 1976-1977 academic session. He studied Micro Biologyat the University of Ife, now ObafemiAwolowo University,Ile-Ife OSUN State in 1977-1984. He also attended Imo State University where he obtained PGD in Public Administration. His theological education began with his obtaining M.A in Christian Leadership from West African Theological Seminary (WATS), Lagosand Doctor of Ministry in Transformational Leadership from Bakke graduate University, Seattle Washington State U.S.A.
CONVERSION AND PREPARATION FOR MINISTRY
Being born into a Roman Catholic family, he was so proud of his religion and was ardent and dogmatic inthe defence of his faith in his religion and grew up with a disdainful view of non-Catholics. But the tide of events changed in his days at Ife when the moments of his life was defined. There at Ife, he got born again in November 1977, called and prepared for Ministry which is thepassion of his life now. His experience became a living commentary of the word of Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away behold, all things are become new”. He was indeed a new creation. A Few months later, he went through the Life in the Spirit seminar where he was graciously baptized in the Spirit. Immediately, it dawned on him that he will spend the rest of life helping Catholics share in this ineffable experience of new birth. This has been the defining passion of his Ministry to date.
He did not have a normal student career in the university simply because he was not a normal student. God used the experience of those years on the campus to prepare him for ministry. Upon his graduation in 1984, he went into full time ministry beginning with the National Youth service
BIRTHING OF CHARISMATIC RENEWAL MINISTRIES
The seed of what is now known as the Charismatic Renewal Ministries was the word of prophecy from God on the 18th of February 1980 which commands us to “start preparing men for a great harvest in the Catholic church..” God gave him an understanding of this vision and the mandate to pursue it leading to the founding of Charismatic Renewal Ministries 1984.This ministry became a major catalyst for the revival that swept through the Catholic Church in Nigeria in the eighties. Catholic youths inflamed by the Holy Spirit in different campuses spread the fire of revival to all the nooks and crannies of this nation.
AT SIXTY
Looking back, the past sixty years of his life, is filled with praise for a life fully dedicated to the vision of catalyzing revival and preparing men for the great harvest in the Catholic Church. It is life juxtaposed with moments of struggles and successes, travails and triumphs. He can be compared to a man in the arena “whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; who does actually try to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion and spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly. Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though chequered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the grey twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat” (Teddy Roosevelt).
Still looking back, we have a strong cause to thank God for the opportunity He has given to us to have this man as our leader. Thus we look back with a sense of awe at the amazing wonders of God’s grace that has transformed a timid Catholic boy into a useable instrument in the expansion of His kingdom.
Today, Dr. Ilechukwu is not only the General Overseer of the Charismatic Renewal Ministries Inc. He is the Founder and Chairman of African Centre for Christian Leadership, former Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Imo State. He is also the Deputy National Secretary of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), the Chairman Global Governing Council of the International Ministers Fellowship (IMF) a global network of churches and ministries in over 23 countries in Africa, UK and U.S.A. He is on the board of Reference of Oral Roberts University, Tulsa, USA and a member of the Governing Council of West Africa Theological Seminary (WATS), Lagos. He is an avid reader, a prolific writer,and also a gifted teacher of the Word; he has been in Ministry for close to four decades.Dr. Ilechukwu has authored several books including ‘Understanding the Ministry of Intercession’, ‘Pray or Perish’, ‘Breaking Forth with Kingdom Power’, ‘You can make the Difference’, ‘The Church of His Vision’, amongst others.
HIS FAMILY
He met Miss AdeolaOlugunna in 1978 in the Charismatic Fellowship at the University of Ife. A series of events ensued that coalesced in their getting married on the 22nd of April 1989. God blessed their marriage with four wonderful children: a girl, Chidera and the boys: Nzubechukwu, Chibuokem, and Kosoluchukwu. One cannot ask for a better family for he has the very best of what God can offer a man as a family. Their marriage is celebrating 25 years of sweetness and of going from glory to glory.
CONCLUSION
What can we say in all of these; our General Overseer is a man blessed by God and his story is akin to the one that the devil does not know what to do with because he just would not give up. Our G.O’s passion has been to be functionally relevant for the purpose of God as long as he lives and to do his very best and to help others do the same. We foresee visions of new possibilities of greater service to God and mankind. According to Richter, an 18th Century German humorist; “Like a morning dream, life becomes brighter and brighter the longer we live and the reason for everything appears clearer. What has puzzled us before seems less mysterious, and the crooked path looks straight as we approach the end.”
From the inception of the ministry God led us to adopt a core group system of leadership. He told us the new wine is found in the cluster (Isaiah 65:8). We understand this cluster as a group of people working in synergy towards the accomplishment of clearly defined objectives. This also better represents the apostolic example of church leaderships as we can see in the New Testament. The core group system is plural or group leadership and responsibility. It is a system where the gifts and calling of God on individuals determine their leadership roles. The leader of the general core group ipso facto becomes the leader of the Ministry and its Chief Executive Officer, otherwise called the General Overseer. Every corporate expression of the Ministry follows this pattern of leadership. The General core group in concert with the General Overseer constitutes the highest policy making organ of the Ministry that guides her Global activities. The tiers of leadership include General Core Group, National Core Groups, Regional Core Groups. State Core Group, Departments and
Committees
We’d love to see you discover your part in God’s family along with us!
Our ministries are church related organisations put in place and manned by dedicated and passionate members to accomplish our christian mandate here on earth
Each department fulfills a unique role within the church for the spiritual and physical wellness of members and community. ministries serve the members of the congregation.
We invest in youths because we are convinced that tomorrow’s church is in their hands. More and more of our young people are exposed to drugs, AIDS and other societal vices. The gospel is the most effective weapon to check and reverse this trend.
We believe in catching them young. The children are our only permanent deposits for the future. Their spiritual, intellectual and mental development is top on our priority list. The CRM of tomorrow will be determined by the quality of investment we made on our children now. We maintain hundreds of children clubs in different parts of Nigeria and beyond.
Challenges of providing leadership in activities that aid the expansion and advancement of the kingdom. King David had men that were ready to die for him. Men who gave him water from the well of of Bethlehem without caring about the jeopardy of their lives. In the CRM, Jesus the King of kings has men who are loyal and committed to him and ready to enforce the principles of his kingship. These are called the Kings men.
It is evident globally that the women constitute the life wire of the Church now. Right from the unset of this commission, God warned us to be careful to assign responsibilities to people only in recognition of His anointing evident on them. We recognize and encourage women to use their gifts in the service of God. In addition, we are determined to raise virtuous women whose lives will reflect the glory of our Saviour and Lord. The CWL is concerned with everything that pertains to women’s well-being.
This department is concerned with the evangelizing and discipleship of students in tertiary institutions. We maintain a group in almost all the Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education in the country.
This department reaches souls through ministrations in music. The Revival Voice Choir leads worship in our programs.
This department provides formal training for our leaders and ministers. We are driven with the conviction that training is a veritable means of making human energy productive to God’s glory. Our theological school (GHTI), which currently offers Post Graduate Diploma in Theology, Bachelor of Acts in Theology, Ordinary Diploma in Theology and Certificate in Theology is a full pledged Bible and Pastoral Training Institute/Seminary. You can visit our page Great Harvest Theological Institute
This department oversees the production of reading materials such as books, magazines newsletters and tracts to aid the accomplishment of the vision of the Ministry. It also packages messages in cds, vcds and audio tapes and equally takes charge of all media and publicity-related matters.
This department oversees the production of reading materials such as books, magazines newsletters and tracts to aid the accomplishment of the vision of the Ministry. It also packages messages in cds, vcds and audio tapes and equally takes charge of all media and publicity-related matters.
- African Missions
- CRM Rescue Foundation
- Great Harvest International