CAC Revival Fire: Bringing Back the Passion

The Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) was born from a fire: a holy, transformative fire marked by miracles, deliverance, prayer, and fasting. Across many Nigerian towns, that flame of revival touched lives and uprooted spiritual strongholds. Yet today, many wonder if that fire has dimmed. This article explores what made that early blaze so powerful, what has cooled it, and how believers can reignite the fire of their fathers within CAC.

The Origins of the Flame

At the center of CAC’s beginning stands Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola. In the late 1920s, following a season of fasting, prayer, and prophetic encounter, a revival burst forth in 1930 at Oke-Oye, Ilesa. Blind eyes opened, the lame walked, leprosy was healed, and thousands traveled great distances to witness and partake in the move of God.

But this revival did more than heal bodies, it transformed hearts and communities. Villages became places where holiness was demanded, idolatry was renounced, and traditional beliefs were challenged. The call was not just to attend church, but to live differently, to pray, fast, and embrace miracles as normal; knowing that walking with God requires sacrifice.

Babalola’s revival was built on several pillars:

• Prayer, fasting, and sacrifice: Deep spiritual disciplines prepared believers for God’s move.
• Holiness and consecration: Separation from sin, living for God in every aspect of life.
• Miracles and divine healing: Signs of God’s active care, not showmanship.
• Unity of purpose: Despite differences, leaders and believers shared a mission and sacrificed together.

These pillars fueled a movement that brought grace, transformation, and growth—from Ilesa to Odo-Owa and beyond.

Signs of Cooling: What Dimmed the Flame?

No fire remains bright without care, and over the years, several challenges have cooled CAC’s revival flame:

• Institutionalization and bureaucracy: As CAC grew, the focus shifted toward maintaining structures and programs. Time once spent in prayer increasingly moved to meetings and administration, diluting the urgency for revival.
• Materialism and wealth emphasis: Early leaders lived simply, focusing on spiritual needs. But with growth, some ministries began emphasizing financial prosperity and programs, sometimes at the expense of holiness and sacrifice.
• Divisions and leadership tensions: Unity gave way to disputes over leadership, theology, and authority. Factions and legal battles hurt the church’s collective identity and caused disillusionment.
• Spiritual laziness and faith drift: Once marked by fervent prayer and fasting, many congregations now settle for routine services with less commitment to spiritual disciplines, reducing the experience of miracles and expectation.

Why Revival Still Matters

Revival is more than history, it is vital for today:

• Spiritual integrity in a secular age: In a world marred by corruption and moral decline, a revived church living in holiness is a powerful witness.
• Cultural transformation: Revivals reshape communities—reducing crime, superstition, and selfishness while promoting justice and compassion.
• Youth hunger: Younger generations crave authenticity and radical faith, not programmed religion. Revival rooted in genuine encounter speaks deeply to them.
• Legacy and testimony: Remembering the fathers’ fire inspires courage and hope, reminding CAC not to rest on past glories but to forge new testimonies.

How to Revive the Fire: Practical Steps

Revival begins with choice and discipline. Drawing from CAC’s heritage and current calls, here are key steps:

• Return to prayer, fasting, and repentance: Not for show but from brokenness and humility before God.
• Holiness as lifestyle: Emphasize personal integrity, moral discipline, and accountability.
• Expect miracles: Share testimonies and stories to build faith and expectation.
• Unity and cooperation: Leaders must set aside ego and work together for revival.
• Leadership that models sacrifice: Leaders living humility, generosity, and prayer inspire the congregation.
• Doctrinal clarity and discipleship: Sound teaching and mentoring preserve revival’s foundation.

Sparks of Renewal Today

Signs of revival remain. The Centenary Building Foundation Laying Ceremony at Ikeji Arakeji in June 2025 symbolized rebuilding on the 1918 revival’s foundation.

Read Also: Challenges Faced by CAC Heroes of Faith — A Balanced Look

Movements like Remnants for Revival and Unity express growing hunger for spiritual integrity and deeper devotion. Preaching increasingly calls believers to “walk like the fathers” and “reset the altar.”

Honest Realities and Challenges

Despite hope, obstacles remain:

* Comfort culture resists the cost of revival disciplines.

* Prosperity teachings overshadow spiritual depth.

* Leadership conflicts distract from mission.

* Varied expectations of revival sometimes cause disillusionment.

* Generational gaps challenge the transmission of heritage.

Lessons from “The Fathers”

The early CAC leaders teach timeless truths:

• Obedience unlocks miracles: Babalola’s response to God’s call brought revival.
• Sacrificial devotion is key: Prayer, fasting, and giving show seriousness to God.
• Holiness is the atmosphere for the Spirit: Sin is not taken lightly.
• Public testimony builds faith: Miracles and healing validate God’s power.
• Unity multiplies power: Shared mission and sacrifice sustain revival despite hardship.

A Call to Revival: From Memory to Movement

Reviving the fire is a choice and a movement, starting with a few determined believers. It grows when churches reclaim spiritual disciplines, leaders trust God beyond budgets, and congregations expect God’s power.

If CAC desires revival today, practical steps include:

1. Establish regular seasons of prayer and fasting.
2. Teach the history and testimonies of early CAC leaders.
3. Encourage spiritual accountability and mentorship.
4. Reject materialism as the measure of revival.
5. Promote unity among leaders and believers.

Conclusion

Reviving the fire of our fathers in CAC is challenging, demanding humility, faith, and sacrifice. Yet, the alternative, a faith proud of legacy but weak in power—is far worse.

The heritage is rich, the flame was real, and the stories are true. Will CAC allow that fire to burn again? Will believers answer the call to deeper prayer, holiness, unity, and sacrifice?

When the fire returns, it will not only warm memories, it will burn away darkness, heal the land, and restore spirit, soul, and body.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Content Credit | Dada Blessing

Image Credit | ministryark.com