		<div class="wpcnt">
			<div class="wpa">
				<span class="wpa-about">Advertisements</span>
				<div class="u top_amp">
							<amp-ad width="300" height="265"
		 type="pubmine"
		 data-siteid="109460728"
		 data-section="1">
		</amp-ad>
				</div>
			</div>
		</div><p><span style="color:blue;"><span style="font-size:x-large;">Here is a kaleidoscope of worship in the Pentecostal &#8216;Mega&#8217; churches which increasingly play a prominent role in the lives of the members, in Nigeria.</span></span><br />
<span style="color:blue;"><span style="font-size:x-large;">The Guardian reports the electric atmosphere during these church services and the tremendous size of these crowds:</span></span><br />
<span style="color:blue;"><span style="font-size:x-large;">&#8216;congregations sometimes reaching 200,000, Nigeria’s Pentecostal churches use vast hangar-like structures to cram in worshipers.&#8217;</span></span><br />
<span style="color:#999999;"><span style="font-size:large;"><span style="font-size:large;"><br />
In his project <span style="color:black;"><b>&#8216;God is Alive&#8217;</b></span></span></span><span style="font-size:large;"><span style="font-size:large;">, </span>Andrew Esiebo takes the reader on a journey, observing worship in some churches, </span><span style="font-size:large;">via a </span><span style="font-size:large;"><span style="font-size:large;">photo-documentary</span></span></span><br />
<img src="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/66b05667c3538e8c1ca8ac7ed66d95b776705adc/0_0_1500_1001/master/1500.jpg?w=700&;q=85&;auto=format&;sharp=10&;s=245250aa2e40faa009bdbba8bb510e3e" alt="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/66b05667c3538e8c1ca8ac7ed66d95b776705adc/0_0_1500_1001/master/1500.jpg?w=700&;q=85&;auto=format&;sharp=10&;s=245250aa2e40faa009bdbba8bb510e3e" width="640" height="426" /><br />
<span style="font-size:x-small;"><i>All photo: Andrew Esiebo/Guardian </i></span><b><br />
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. </b><br />
<a name="more"></a><br />
<img class="shrinkToFit" src="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/819bc170529cecda6555db61e4c5c086fcf042f7/0_0_749_1123/master/749.jpg?w=700&;q=85&;auto=format&;sharp=10&;s=4e244ee864af803a3cd8e5c31ebf44d5" alt="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/819bc170529cecda6555db61e4c5c086fcf042f7/0_0_749_1123/master/749.jpg?w=700&;q=85&;auto=format&;sharp=10&;s=4e244ee864af803a3cd8e5c31ebf44d5" width="426" height="640" /><br />
<span style="font-size:x-small;"><i>All photo: Andrew Esiebo/Guardian </i></span><b><br />
A man shouts as he worships during the annual ‘Holy Ghost Crusade’ organized by a German evangelist in Nigeria</b><br />
<img src="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a3d385133b2c9fb26f8197ec039f1709b09ae3d1/0_0_1500_1000/master/1500.jpg?w=700&;q=85&;auto=format&;sharp=10&;s=4a5edfd734644b2fbc30db31121edb0d" alt="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a3d385133b2c9fb26f8197ec039f1709b09ae3d1/0_0_1500_1000/master/1500.jpg?w=700&;q=85&;auto=format&;sharp=10&;s=4a5edfd734644b2fbc30db31121edb0d" width="640" height="426" /><br />
<span style="font-size:x-small;"><i>All photo: Andrew Esiebo/Guardian </i></span><b><br />
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.</b><br />
<img src="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/822b10a66bf669b1bd1b1f8d5e14b980b2f0ef68/0_0_1500_1000/master/1500.jpg?w=700&;q=85&;auto=format&;sharp=10&;s=1eeb14b5b4c97d04ef016d05b4663209" alt="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/822b10a66bf669b1bd1b1f8d5e14b980b2f0ef68/0_0_1500_1000/master/1500.jpg?w=700&;q=85&;auto=format&;sharp=10&;s=1eeb14b5b4c97d04ef016d05b4663209" width="640" height="426" /><br />
<span style="font-size:x-small;"><i>All photo: Andrew Esiebo/Guardian </i></span><b><br />
Pentecostalism traces its contemporary roots to early 20th-century America. It places special emphasis on the direct experience of God</b><br />
<img src="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/95ebf9d43e0f7b1087defc4b2cb1c16f9d718429/0_0_1500_1000/master/1500.jpg?w=700&;q=85&;auto=format&;sharp=10&;s=e5309e2cd86b08559cd40f48cff34ec2" alt="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/95ebf9d43e0f7b1087defc4b2cb1c16f9d718429/0_0_1500_1000/master/1500.jpg?w=700&;q=85&;auto=format&;sharp=10&;s=e5309e2cd86b08559cd40f48cff34ec2" width="640" height="426" /><br />
<span style="font-size:x-small;"><i>All photo: Andrew Esiebo/Guardian </i></span><b><br />
Point of sale machines are used for collections during a service</b><br />
<img src="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/9e4a9369666542a36ddebbc1722c37c3ea70b1a9/0_0_1500_1001/master/1500.jpg?w=700&;q=85&;auto=format&;sharp=10&;s=fc4552df1aebe4650e0af3046eee4a77" alt="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/9e4a9369666542a36ddebbc1722c37c3ea70b1a9/0_0_1500_1001/master/1500.jpg?w=700&;q=85&;auto=format&;sharp=10&;s=fc4552df1aebe4650e0af3046eee4a77" width="640" height="426" /></p>
<div class="gallery2__figcaption">
<div class="gallery2__caption"><span style="font-size:x-small;"><i>All photo: Andrew Esiebo/Guardian </i></span><b><br />
A woman falls on the floor after a spiritual experience</b></div>
</div>
<p><img src="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/1665c99c0dd2a79c37c0f3581da2b248d762cd2b/0_0_1500_1000/master/1500.jpg?w=700&;q=85&;auto=format&;sharp=10&;s=05c9ae639905330f18150fb848ce3492" alt="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/1665c99c0dd2a79c37c0f3581da2b248d762cd2b/0_0_1500_1000/master/1500.jpg?w=700&;q=85&;auto=format&;sharp=10&;s=05c9ae639905330f18150fb848ce3492" width="640" height="426" /></p>
<div class="gallery2__figcaption">
<div class="gallery2__caption"><span style="font-size:x-small;"><i>All photo: Andrew Esiebo/Guardian </i></span><b><br />
During the monthly prayer service of Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries, pastors kneel down to seek forgiveness and prayers from their leader after they controversially left the church</b></div>
</div>
<p><img src="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/95049fb99aade11a3b5d3a95399da24829c5a027/0_0_1500_1000/master/1500.jpg?w=700&;q=85&;auto=format&;sharp=10&;s=4ed47ffe720e39bfe7504616ee1f8995" alt="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/95049fb99aade11a3b5d3a95399da24829c5a027/0_0_1500_1000/master/1500.jpg?w=700&;q=85&;auto=format&;sharp=10&;s=4ed47ffe720e39bfe7504616ee1f8995" width="640" height="426" /><br />
<span style="font-size:x-small;"><i>All photo: Andrew Esiebo/Guardian </i></span><b><br />
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</b><br />
<img src="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/cca58b884d9ff67f45c886f5f5b82d5e68e4a8c2/0_0_1500_1000/master/1500.jpg?w=700&;q=85&;auto=format&;sharp=10&;s=7fd22603bda3fcdf6416f9a852057cad" alt="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/cca58b884d9ff67f45c886f5f5b82d5e68e4a8c2/0_0_1500_1000/master/1500.jpg?w=700&;q=85&;auto=format&;sharp=10&;s=7fd22603bda3fcdf6416f9a852057cad" width="640" height="426" /><br />
<span style="font-size:x-small;"><i>All photo: Andrew Esiebo/Guardian </i></span><b></b></p>
<p>Worshipers trade gospel leaflets made to look like dollar bills<br />
<img src="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/347f466e38c314e02028e112ab4b315e061b7777/0_0_1500_1001/master/1500.jpg?w=700&;q=85&;auto=format&;sharp=10&;s=350460b8db07295634d4b4a1068ac32c" alt="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/347f466e38c314e02028e112ab4b315e061b7777/0_0_1500_1001/master/1500.jpg?w=700&;q=85&;auto=format&;sharp=10&;s=350460b8db07295634d4b4a1068ac32c" width="640" height="426" /><br />
<span style="font-size:x-small;"><i>All photo: Andrew Esiebo/Guardian </i></span><b><br />
A man yells in response to the words delivered by the leader of the Redeemed Christian Church of God</b><br />
<img src="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/0fa7335e80365c363ceef87a9079e2b5c8a49969/0_0_1500_1000/master/1500.jpg?w=700&;q=85&;auto=format&;sharp=10&;s=f33b941637975a73c73e653eb9cd37cd" alt="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/0fa7335e80365c363ceef87a9079e2b5c8a49969/0_0_1500_1000/master/1500.jpg?w=700&;q=85&;auto=format&;sharp=10&;s=f33b941637975a73c73e653eb9cd37cd" width="640" height="426" /><br />
<span style="font-size:x-small;"><i>All photo: Andrew Esiebo/Guardian </i></span><b><br />
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</b><br />
<img src="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a41cc5033c97d4b26c795e032ae10c628e966910/0_0_1500_1000/master/1500.jpg?w=700&;q=85&;auto=format&;sharp=10&;s=cf65575d392e65376e65f1533c7d4df2" alt="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a41cc5033c97d4b26c795e032ae10c628e966910/0_0_1500_1000/master/1500.jpg?w=700&;q=85&;auto=format&;sharp=10&;s=cf65575d392e65376e65f1533c7d4df2" width="640" height="426" /><br />
<span style="font-size:x-small;"><i>All photo: Andrew Esiebo/Guardian </i></span><b><br />
Worshipers congregate at the mega church</b><br />
<img src="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/cd92e61907673d2dccebeea874d42f1b5f4a7104/0_0_1500_1000/master/1500.jpg?w=700&;q=85&;auto=format&;sharp=10&;s=b124e0d4270fed8788e1fb099313a732" alt="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/cd92e61907673d2dccebeea874d42f1b5f4a7104/0_0_1500_1000/master/1500.jpg?w=700&;q=85&;auto=format&;sharp=10&;s=b124e0d4270fed8788e1fb099313a732" width="640" height="426" /></p>
<div class="gallery2__figcaption">
<div class="gallery2__caption"><b><br />
Members of the congregation pray during a service</b></div>
</div>
<p>All photos: Andrew Esiebo/Guardian</p>

