Here is a kaleidoscope of worship in the Pentecostal ‘Mega’ churches which increasingly play a prominent role in the lives of the members, in Nigeria.
The Guardian reports the electric atmosphere during these church services and the tremendous size of these crowds:
‘congregations sometimes reaching 200,000, Nigeria’s Pentecostal churches use vast hangar-like structures to cram in worshipers.’

In his project ‘God is Alive’, Andrew Esiebo takes the reader on a journey, observing worship in some churches, via a photo-documentary

All photo: Andrew Esiebo/Guardian
Worshipers gather during a prayer service in the 1km sq auditorium of the Redeemed Christian Church of God. Founded in Nigeria in 1952, it’s one of the fastest growing Pentecostal churches in the world.


All photo: Andrew Esiebo/Guardian
A man shouts as he worships during the annual ‘Holy Ghost Crusade’ organized by a German evangelist in Nigeria

All photo: Andrew Esiebo/Guardian
As congregations are so large, mass is often held in a series of buildings, some resembling hangars, and are markedly different to the cathedrals built by traditional Christians.

All photo: Andrew Esiebo/Guardian
Pentecostalism traces its contemporary roots to early 20th-century America. It places special emphasis on the direct experience of God

All photo: Andrew Esiebo/Guardian
Point of sale machines are used for collections during a service

All photo: Andrew Esiebo/Guardian
The wife of the leader of the Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries leads the Sunday service in Lagos. She is shown on screens across the auditorium

All photo: Andrew Esiebo/Guardian

Worshipers trade gospel leaflets made to look like dollar bills

All photo: Andrew Esiebo/Guardian
A man yells in response to the words delivered by the leader of the Redeemed Christian Church of God

All photo: Andrew Esiebo/Guardian
The leader of the Redeemed Christian Church of God instructs members to raise their hands in the direction of the altar to connect to God

All photo: Andrew Esiebo/Guardian
Worshipers congregate at the mega church

All photos: Andrew Esiebo/Guardian