Archbishop John Praise Becomes AEA West Africa President …Says Leadership is Divine Responsibility
To confirmed Nigeria’s strategic spiritual leadership position across the continent, Archbishop John Praise Daniel, one of the country’s sought after evangelical leader and the immediate past National Deputy President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), have been elected in a keenly contested election during the 13th General Assembly of the Association of Evangelicals in Africa (AEA), held at the organizations continental headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, from May 21st to 24th, 2025. He was elected for a four-year tenure as the President of the AEA, West Africa Region.
The significant Assembly attracted the presence of over 300 leaders from 51 African countries as participants, including pastors, theologians, youth and women leaders, and heads of churches, who convened with the theme, “Living the Kingdom Agenda in Turbulent Times.” of Evangelicals in Africa
Archbishop John Praise, a seasoned preacher, prophetic intercessor, conference speaker, apostolic father, and church administrator, is the presiding Archbishop of Dominion Chapel International Churches and the Chairman of the Northern Coalition of Bishops and Apostles (NOCOBA). A frontline Christian advocate and leadership mentoring, who’s election as the regional presidency of AEA in West Africa is a strategic moment for West Africa and Nigeria’s growth in shaping Africa’s evangelical future.
He is a reflection of his wide acceptability and credibility across denominational lines. As the new regional president, he is expected to serve his tenure with humility, diligence and power of the Spirit.
With Archbishop Dr John Praise Daniel election as regional president, he also become a member of the Board of the Governing Council of AEA and as expectations are high for greater revival, institutional reform, and regional cohesion in the years ahead, this new leadership blend is a generational shift with experience, spiritual authority, and global relevance.
“Leadership is a divine responsibility. West Africa is entering a new season of spiritual influence, unity, and transformation. I am humbled by this call to serve and believe the Church must now rise as a voice of hope and moral clarity,” Archbishop John Praise said after his confirmation.
Meanwhile, in his keynote address at the 13th General Assembly, the AEA immediate past President, Bishop Dr. Goodwill Shana called on the African Church to rediscover and reclaim its prophetic identity and take full responsibility for the continent’s future.
He lamented that, “We have growing churches, but stagnant societies, we have abundance of resources, yet our people live in poverty. We have the largest Christian demographic in the world, and yet with little transformation to show for it”.
He described today’s rapid church growth on the one hand and the persistence of moral, economic, and political dysfunction on the other as an “oxymoronic dilemma” that demands sober self-evaluation.
“There is no other continent as blessed in abundance and diversity as Africa, yet, this blessing has not resulted in economic, political, or technological transformation. We are the most Christian continent on earth, yet we continue to struggle under the weight of systemic dysfunction.”
Citing the examples of Zimbabwe, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Kenya, Shana emphasized that Christian demographics have not translated into societal change. “In nations where Christians make up a significant majority, corruption, poverty, weak governance, and violence still thrive”, he said.
He stressed that, “To get the Africa God wants, we need the African Church God wants with spiritual fervor and deep reflection on the nature and witness of the Church.”
Among other elected top of the new leadership structure includes, Bishop Dr. Jean Libon Li Likeng from Cameroon was elected President of the AEA, Archbishop Engineer Elias Taban Parangi of South Sudan was elected as the Chairman of the AEA Governing Council, and Regional President for North East Africa Region, Bishop Bobó Gomes Có, North West Africa Regional President, Rev. Dinah Ratsimbajaona, Indian Ocean Island Regional President, Rev. Dr. Master Oboletswe Matlhaope, Secretary General, CPA Phyllis Mutua, Treasurer and others.
