Alioha’s Life and Contributions to Pentecostalism in Igboland (1912-1997)

 – Alioha’s Life and Contributions to Pentecostalism in Igboland (1912-1997) –

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ABSTRACT  

The aberrations that exist among Pentecostals in Igboland of Nigeria have created doubts on the minds of people on what true Pentecostal spirituality is all about.

The excesses which include monetization of anointing, flamboyant lifestyle of some Pentecostal preachers and prosperity gospel among others have caused some Christians to deviate from true Christianity.

The purpose of this research is to reconstruct and x-ray the life and contributions of George Nnoromchi Alioha (1912-1997) to Pentecostalism in Igboland with the view of tapping from the true Pentecostal spirituality that he exhibited which is instructive in correcting the excesses found among Pentecostals.

The method used for the research is historical and descriptive.

Oral interviews were conducted purposefully; library works and internet were used. Data obtained were described and critically analyzed. It was discovered that Alioha was a co-pioneer of an indigenous Pentecostal group in Nigeria;

preached holiness, Baptism in the Holy Spirit, Jesus second coming with passion and insisted on obeying and “stopping” where the Bible “stops.”

With the modern Pentecostals in Igboland gleaning from his life of holiness, persistence and contentment, and the Pentecostal fellowship of Nigeria monitoring the activities of the ministers under her umbrella, the excesses would be reduced,

giving room for true Pentecostal spirituality that would enrich and advance Christianity in Igboland and Nigeria as a nation. 

INTRODUCTION  

Many great religious men are unnoticed on accounts of political events, yet they help shape the fortune of church history and the prospect of the kingdom of God in many communities. George Mnoromchi Alioha, who lived between 1912-1997 was such a hero. Alioha was born at Ohokobe Afara Umuahia, Umuahia North (LGA) of Abia state in Nigeria. He received his primary education and conversion to evangelical Christianity at Old Umuahia in Abia State.

He was the first convert of Augustus O.Wogu– the human founding father of AG Nigeria- in Old Umuahia. He was also the first lay minister of AG Nigeria. Some books have been written that summarize the founding of some Pentecostal churches in Igboland. Some others are biography of some clergy men and lay people that helped in one way or the other to propagate the doctrines of their churches and establishment of new churches.

With Alioha, no book has chronicled the story of his life and especially his contributions to Pentecostalism in Igboland. Few 2 comments about him are found scattered in few books, but they do not form a wholesome portrait of him. It therefore became necessary that a work of this nature be embarked upon to reconstruct and x-ray his life with the view to highlight his contributions to Pentecostalism in Igboland, which made this research perculiar. 

The contextual factors of Old Umuahia community before Pentecostalism “hit” her in 1931 helped prepare Alioha for his lifejourney as a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Geographically, Old Umuahia is located within the capital territory of Abia State in Umuahia North LGA at kilometer 5 Umuahia Old-Aba road from Umuahia town. Seven villages make up Old Umuahia (Azubuike 2007:29). 

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