The Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM) is a Pentecostal denomination that was founded in Yaba, Lagos State, Nigeria, in 1989. Today, MFM has churches in several countries around the world.
Founding and Early History
MFM was founded in July 1989 at the home of Dr. D. K. Olukoya in Lagos, Nigeria. The first service had 25 people in attendance.
Soon after completing his Ph.D. in the United Kingdom, and while working at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Dr. Daniel Kolawole Olukoya (DKO) summoned a prayer meeting. This was on a Wednesday in 1989. 24 brethren showed up at the meeting. After that meeting, the voice of providence kept calling for subsequent meetings. At these meetings, the power of God came down and verifiable miracles began to happen in the lives of the attending brethren.
With more and more people attending the prayer meetings, a larger location was required. The prayer meetings moved to 60 Old Yaba Road, Yaba, Lagos.
International Headquarters
The prayer group was offered and purchased an abandoned slum located at 13 Olasimbo Street, Onike, Yaba. It was a fairly large piece of land near the second gate of the University of Lagos. That slum has now been transformed into the International Headquarters of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries of which Dr. Olukoya is the General Overseer.
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Even at the new location, believers and those seeking help kept coming leading to a very large congregation. This situation posed a challenge of crowd, growth and expansion management to the leadership of the church.
The prayer group purchased a large site at an abandoned slum near the University of Lagos and converted it into the International Headquarters of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, of which Olukoya is the General Overseer. At the new location, worshippers and those seeking help kept coming, leading to a very large congregation. This situation posed a challenge of crowd, growth and expansion management to the leadership of the church.
MFM owns a large expanse of land along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway called Prayer City, located close to the international camp of the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
Expansion and Global Reach
From humble beginnings in the home of Olukoya, MFM has grown to over 300 churches within Nigeria and branches in African and Western countries.
Thus, under the direction of the Lord, MFM evolved a strategy of a network of branches in every state capital, local government headquarters, senatorial district and locality. Till this day and across the world, MFM branches spring up as one of the fastest growing churches of this generation. International church branches first started in London before spreading to the United States, Canada, the rest of Europe, the Caribbean, Africa and Asia.
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MFM describes itself as "a do-it-yourself gospel ministry, where your hands are trained to wage war and your fingers to do battle" (see also Psalm 144:1, 18:34).
Ministries and Beliefs
Unlike a few popular charismatic and Pentecostal African initiated ministries promoting prosperity gospel, MFM's leadership and its sub-ministry, Battle Cry Ministries, place emphasis on deliverance ministry and prayers against the works of demonic forces.
It instructs and teaches members how to deal with their foundation (issues stemming from one's parents and ancestry), ancestral spirits, and hidden evil and spiritual forces hindering progress toward the fulfilment of their "destiny", resulting in a theology that promotes practices dominated by prayer points to free individuals from hidden bondages.
Prayers tend to be repetitions of faith-based claims, spiritual decrees and commanding prayers often directly from Scriptures and proclaim that safety lies within Jesus Christ.
Absolute holiness within and without as spiritual insecticide and pre-requisite for heaven is openly taught.
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MFM is an end-time church where we build an aggressive end-time army for the Lord. The priority in MFM is for people to make heaven.
MFM is headed by a General Overseer, who is also the main theologian of the church.
Core Beliefs:
- The One True God, ETERNAL EXISTENT in three Persons.
- The Salvation of Mankind is through the Redeeming Work of Jesus Christ and the Regenerative Work of the Holy Spirit.
Objectives:
- To turn the joy of our enemies to sorrow. That is why we would always have a Deliverance ministry wherever we are.
- To build an aggressive end-time army for the Lord.
- To build up heavenly-bound and aggressive Christians.
MFM Rockville, Maryland
The Group was officially named Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries-Rockville, Maryland on June 3rd 2012 when it became a branch and moved to Maryvale Elem School,1000 1st st, Rockville, MD 20850.
Through these operations,the branch has established several departments and also involved in great crusades/deliverances and community revival programmes promoting the 3 fold ministry on salvation,deliverance and healing of our dear Lord Jesus Christ which relatively got the branch moving forward by fire!!!!
Recently, The church is doing a lot in the work of aggressive evangelism and has printed over 20,000 flyers on salvation going from door to door, shop to shop, etc, propagating the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Leadership
Dr. D.K. Olukoya and Dr. Mrs. Sade Olukoya lead with vision and faith. Dr. Daniel Kolawole Olukoya (DKO), after earning his Ph.D. in the United Kingdom and serving at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, began a small prayer meeting in his living room in 1989 with just 24 attendees.
Today, under Dr. Mrs. Sade Olukoya is the International Coordinator of the MFM Women's Foundation and wife of the General Overseer. A talented artist, illustrator, and musical performer, she empowers women through literacy and skill acquisition programs while contributing her creative gifts to the ministry.
Pastor Ademola S. is the Senior Pastor in charge of Mountain of Fire And Miracles Ministries (MFM) Dallas, a fast growing power ministry church in the metroplex.
Practices
As with many Plain dress churches, all women are required to wear skirts and headcovers when attending MFM services in any location.
The Mountain of Fire is also known for its optimum dedication to music (e.g., orchestras, guitar choir) and sports.
Controversies
In 2019, Pastor Daniel said at the church Headquarters in Lagos State that it is "unbiblical" to celebrate Christmas as there is no such word in the Bible and neither did the Bible state that Christ was born on December 25. He said "If you really study the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, there is no word like Christmas. The Bible only recorded that the Shepherds were taking care of their flocks during a very cold season when they sighted the star that announced the birth of Jesus Christ.
In 2017, the church had some legal battles with former pastors who separated from MFM and claimed a church building in the United States.
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