Mapping Evangelical Christianity in the North Central Zone: Growth Patterns, Challenges, and Opportunities

The North Central geopolitical zone of Nigeria represents one of the most complex religious landscapes in sub-Saharan Africa, characterised by significant Christian-Muslim population overlap, ethno-religious conflict history, and dynamic church growth across evangelical traditions. This study provides a systematic analytical mapping of evangelical Christianity in the North Central zone, examining growth patterns, denominational distribution, challenges, and opportunities from 2010 to 2023. A mixed-methods analytical design was adopted, combining secondary data analysis of church membership statistics from major evangelical denominations in Plateau, Niger, Nasarawa, Kwara, Benue, Kogi, and Abuja FCT with qualitative interviews conducted with 25 denominational leaders and church planting coordinators. Church growth data were analysed using growth rate calculations, geographic distribution mapping, and denominational health indicators. Results reveal significant growth in newer indigenous Pentecostal churches compared to historical mission churches. Rural church growth exceeds urban growth rates in most surveyed states. Conflict disruption has negatively impacted growth in Plateau, Benue, and Nasarawa States. Leadership quality and financial sustainability are the most consistently reported growth-limiting challenges. The study makes an original analytical contribution by providing the first systematic evangelical mapping of the North Central zone, and recommends the creation of a North Central Evangelical Church Research Centre to maintain ongoing growth data and coordinate strategic planning.

Keywords: evangelical Christianity, North Central Nigeria, church growth, mapping study, denominational analysis