Dr Paul Enenche, the General Overseer of Dunamis International Gospel Centre, has recounted the challenges faced by the ministry during its inception 30 years ago, noting that many critics predicted its failure.
Speaking during the 30th-anniversary celebrations of the ministry, Enenche stated that the organisation was initially dismissed by observers who did not believe the ministry would survive its early stages.
He specifically addressed the social stigma attached to the ministry in its formative years, noting that critics categorised the congregation as belonging only to the lower socio-economic strata of society.
“When this ministry started, many people didn’t give us any chance of survival, any chance of anything. Some wrote us off from scratch,” Enenche said. He questioned the motives of those who attempted to forecast the ministry’s future, adding that at one point, detractors claimed the church was comprised only of “strugglers” and the “masses” rather than the upper classes.
The expansion of Dunamis International Gospel Centre
The reflections come as the ministry marks three decades of operation, a period during which it has transitioned from a small gathering into one of Nigeria’s most prominent Pentecostal organisations. The ministry’s growth is most visible in its current headquarters, the Glory Dome in Abuja.
The Glory Dome is widely recognised as one of the largest church auditoriums in the world, designed to accommodate massive crowds and serving as a central hub for the ministry’s global operations. The scale of the facility stands in stark contrast to the early years described by Enenche, where the ministry faced skepticism regarding its long-term viability.
Dunamis has moved from being a local congregation to an institution with significant influence across Nigeria and the wider African continent. The ministry’s expansion has seen it establish various programmes, including media outreach and social intervention schemes, which have expanded its reach beyond traditional Sunday services.
The ministry’s ability to maintain growth despite early criticism highlights the shifting landscape of religious institutions in Nigeria, where large-scale Pentecostal ministries have become major social and economic entities. While Enenche focused on the spiritual survival of the church, the physical infrastructure of the ministry now represents a significant capital investment in the Nigerian religious sector.
The ministry has not released a specific roadmap for the next decade of operations, but the anniversary serves as a milestone for its current administrative leadership. The focus remains on the continued expansion of its various outreach arms and the maintenance of its large-scale worship centres.
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