Bringing Back the Gospel: Reverse Mission among Nigerian Pentecostals in Britain

Abstract This article discusses the concept 'reverse mission' in relation to Nigerian-initiated Pentecostal churches in Britain. It begins with a general discussion of the term 'reverse mission' before examining the discourse of reverse mission as it is employed by Nigerian Pentecostals in Britain. Finally, the article explores the actual achievements of Nigerian Pentecostals against the background of European secularism. It considers whether their presence is an indication of the re-emergence of religion as a social force in Britain. Studies of reverse mission sometimes measure success in terms of winning indigenous converts or adherents and consequently find migrant churches wanting. The article concludes that Nigerian Pentecostal churches are to some extent a social force in Britain and it suggests that the adoption of a broader conception of mission, which includes civic engagement, enables a more nuanced assessment of their achievements, at least as far as the British context is concerned.