Evangelical Church of West Africa
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The Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA) is one of the largest non-governmental organisations in Nigeria, reaching about five million people. ECWA is a partner church of the international Christian Mission Organisation: Serving In Mission (SIM). It was founded in 1954 when the SIM-related churches (initially in Nigeria) came together to form an indigenous body.[1] Since that time, mission stations, Bible Schools, academic schools, and medical programs have been transferred to ECWA leadership.
Throughout Nigeria but especially in the central regions, ECWA churches are growing rapidly, Some some churches have experienced as much as 400% growth in the last several years including those churches in the Northern (traditionally more Islamic) parts of the country are also growing.[1] There are currently more than five thousand ECWA congregations with more than five million attenders and a church membership of over three million people.
ECWA has started eight Bible colleges and fifteen theological training institutes. ECWA's Medical Department co-ordinates a wide network which includes four hospitals, a Community Health Programme with over 110 health clinics, a Central Pharmacy and the School of Nursing and Midwifery.[2] It is also involved in radio, publications for outreach and discipleship, rural development, urban ministries, and cross-cultural missions.[3] There are more than 1600 missionaries from ECWA churches who serve in Nigeria and other countries with the Evangelical Missionary Society (EMS), the missionary arm of ECWA.[1]
