Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries
A Nigerian Pentecostal denomination known for deliverance ministry, intensive prayer, and international congregational expansion.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, commonly abbreviated as MFM, is a Nigerian Pentecostal denomination founded by Daniel Kolawole Olukoya in Lagos in 1989. The organization began as a prayer meeting held in Olukoya's living room and later developed into a large church network with congregations in Nigeria and branches in other African and Western countries. Its international branches have often served Nigerian and wider African diaspora communities. MFM's central religious identity is deliverance ministry. Rather than making prosperity teaching the primary focus of its public theology, the movement emphasizes prayer against spiritual oppression, demonic forces, ancestral influences, hidden obstacles, and what its teachings describe as foundational problems connected with family or ancestry. Its publications and services commonly use forceful, repetitive, Scripture-based prayer points and spiritual declarations. The organization describes this approach as training believers to engage in spiritual warfare; the language is militant, but the church distinguishes spiritual struggle from physical violence and teaches that its battles occur in the spiritual realm. The ministry's growth followed the acquisition and redevelopment of a large site near the University of Lagos. The first service at the location was held on 24 April 1994. Rising attendance created challenges of crowd management and geographic access, encouraging MFM to establish branches across Nigerian state capitals, local-government areas, senatorial districts, and other localities. The organization subsequently developed major facilities, including Prayer City along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway and an auditorium reported in the reference material to have capacity for approximately 100,000 people during special events. MFM's identity is also expressed through publishing, music, education, and sport. Its prayer books include Prayer Rain, Prayer Passport to Crush Oppression, and Pray Your Way to Breakthroughs. The movement has promoted organized musical activity, including orchestral and choral work, and launched the Mountain Top Conservatory of Music together with the Mountain Top Conservatory Choir and Philharmonic Orchestra. It is also associated with football and other sports activities, including MFM FC. The denomination imposes distinctive worship expectations in some settings. Women are described as being required to wear skirts and head coverings at services, while prayer meetings are often loud and highly participatory. Groups within the ministry use names such as Prayer Warriors, Men of Valor, Territorial Intercessors, and God's Violent Army, reflecting the organization's spiritual-warfare vocabulary rather than an endorsement of physical force. MFM has also attracted criticism and regulatory scrutiny. Its teachings on homosexuality have been criticized as stigmatizing, and a United Kingdom report described an undercover encounter in which an assistant pastor recommended fasting to a homosexual congregant. MFM said the conduct was not authorized and denied promoting conversion therapy. In the United Kingdom, the Charity Commission opened an investigation in 2018 over administrative and financial weaknesses, including failure to submit required accounts, and appointed an interim manager in August 2019. In the United States, former pastors became involved in a property dispute and made allegations concerning Olukoya and import duties; the reference material states that the dispute was ultimately resolved in MFM's favor. These controversies sit alongside MFM's continuing role as a major Nigerian Pentecostal institution centered on prayer, deliverance, and organized church expansion.
History
MFM was established in Lagos in 1989 by Daniel Kolawole Olukoya, initially as a prayer gathering in his home. The founding emphasis was on prayer and deliverance, with members seeking freedom from spiritual oppression and obstacles understood through a Pentecostal framework. The movement's teaching developed a strong spiritual-warfare vocabulary, encouraging believers to confront demonic forces, ancestral influences, and hidden powers through prayer and biblical declarations. As attendance increased, the group acquired a large site at an abandoned slum near the University of Lagos. The property was redeveloped into the ministry's international headquarters, and the first service there took place on 24 April 1994. The new location attracted a rapidly expanding congregation. To manage growth and make services accessible beyond Lagos, MFM developed a broad branch structure extending through Nigerian state capitals, local-government headquarters, senatorial districts, and local communities. The reference material describes the ministry as later reaching more than 300 churches in Nigeria, in addition to branches in African and Western countries. The denomination's institutional model combines congregational worship with specialized ministries, publications, prayer programs, music, education, and sport. Its sub-ministry Battle Cry Ministries reflects its emphasis on spiritual conflict. MFM literature includes widely circulated prayer books such as Prayer Rain, Prayer Passport to Crush Oppression, and Pray Your Way to Breakthroughs. These publications present prayer points and declarations intended to help believers address personal, familial, and spiritual difficulties. MFM's language of spiritual aggression is presented as metaphorical or spiritual rather than physical; the organization teaches against physical violence while encouraging intense prayer. Large-scale facilities became an important part of the ministry's public presence. MFM owns or operates Prayer City on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, near the international camp of the Redeemed Christian Church of God. The site includes a major auditorium reportedly capable of accommodating about 100,000 worshippers at special events. The ministry has also invested in music, including the Mountain Top Conservatory of Music, its choir, and its philharmonic orchestra. Music and organized sports are notable features of MFM's institutional culture, alongside conventional church services and prayer gatherings. The organization has maintained distinctive behavioral and liturgical expectations. Women are described as wearing skirts and head coverings at services. Prayer meetings commonly involve loud repetition of biblical claims, spiritual decrees, and commanding prayers. Internal groups carry names associated with prayer warfare, such as Prayer Warriors, Men of Valor, Territorial Intercessors, and God's Violent Army. MFM's leadership structure is headed by a General Overseer, who serves as the central theological and administrative authority, supported by assistant general overseers responsible for departments. The ministry's public history has included disputes and criticism. In Enugu, a worship center was judged by the state government to have been illegally constructed and was demolished in 2013. In the United States, former pastors who had left MFM became involved in litigation over a church building and made allegations concerning fraud and import-duty evasion; the property dispute was ultimately decided in favor of MFM according to the reference material. In the United Kingdom, the Charity Commission opened an investigation in 2018 over administrative and financial weaknesses, including failures to submit accounts, and appointed an interim manager in August 2019. MFM has also faced criticism over its teachings on homosexuality and statements by its leadership concerning Christmas. Despite these controversies, the denomination remains organized around prayer, deliverance, Pentecostal worship, and an extensive Nigerian and international branch network.
- 2019
Interim manager appointed in the United Kingdom
[1]The UK Charity Commission appointed an interim manager for the MFM charity in August.
- 2018
UK Charity Commission investigation
[1]The UK Charity Commission opened an investigation into administrative and financial weaknesses involving the MFM charity.
- 2017
United States property litigation
[1]A dispute involving former pastors and a United States church property was resolved in favor of MFM according to the reference material.
- 2013
Enugu worship center demolished
[1]An MFM worship center in Enugu was demolished by the state government after being judged to have been constructed illegally.
- 1994
First service at the Lagos headquarters
[1]The first service at the redeveloped headquarters site near the University of Lagos was held on 24 April 1994.
- 1989
MFM founded in Lagos
[1]Daniel Kolawole Olukoya founded the ministry as a prayer meeting held in his living room.
Products and positioning
A Pentecostal religious organization positioned around deliverance ministry, spiritual warfare, intensive prayer, apostolic signs, and practical member participation rather than primarily prosperity-focused preaching.
Religious publication
Prayer Rain
A widely circulated MFM prayer book associated with the denomination's emphasis on deliverance, spiritual warfare, and repeated Scripture-based prayer points. It is part of a broader body of Olukoya-associated publications intended for individual and congregational use.
Religious publication
Prayer Passport to Crush Oppression
A prayer-focused publication addressing oppression through MFM's deliverance-oriented theology. Its subject matter reflects the ministry's practice of organizing spiritual declarations and prayer points around perceived hidden or demonic obstacles.
Religious publication
Pray Your Way to Breakthroughs
A devotional and prayer publication attributed to Daniel Olukoya's body of deliverance literature. It presents prayer as a means of confronting barriers to personal progress and fulfillment within MFM's Pentecostal framework.
Music and Christian education
Mountain Top Conservatory of Music
A music-focused institution established at MFM headquarters. It forms part of the ministry's investment in organized musical training and performance, alongside the Mountain Top Conservatory Choir and Philharmonic Orchestra.
Religious campus and event facility
Prayer City
A large MFM site along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway used for worship, prayer gatherings, and major religious events. The campus includes a large auditorium reported in the reference material to accommodate approximately 100,000 people during special occasions.
Controversies
2018
UK Charity Commission investigation
The UK Charity Commission investigated the MFM charity over administrative and financial weaknesses, including failure to submit required accounts. An interim manager was appointed in August 2019.
2017
United States property dispute
Former pastors who separated from MFM became involved in litigation concerning a United States church property and made allegations including fraud and evasion of import duties. The reference material states that the property dispute was ultimately settled in favor of MFM.
2013
Demolition of Enugu worship center
An MFM worship center in Enugu was demolished by the state government after being judged to have been illegally constructed.
Criticism over homosexuality-related teachings
MFM's teachings about homosexuality have been criticized as stigmatizing. An undercover report described an assistant pastor recommending a three-day fast to a homosexual congregant. MFM said the conduct was unauthorized and denied promoting conversion therapy.
Brand decisions
1994
Expansion from a Lagos prayer group into a branch networkStrategyBackground
Rapid attendance growth at the new Lagos headquarters created challenges of access, crowd management, and organizational expansion.
Action taken
MFM developed branches across Nigerian state capitals, local-government headquarters, senatorial districts, and local communities.
Aftermath
The branch model enabled the ministry to expand beyond its original Lagos congregation and later establish international churches.
- Development of Prayer CityStrategy
Background
The ministry's large-scale prayer and worship activities required facilities capable of hosting major gatherings.
Action taken
MFM established a major site along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway known as Prayer City.
Aftermath
Prayer City became an important venue for large services and special events, including gatherings in an auditorium reported to hold approximately 100,000 people.
- Launch of the Mountain Top Conservatory of MusicProduct launch
Background
Music and organized performance are prominent elements of MFM's institutional culture.
Action taken
The ministry opened the Mountain Top Conservatory of Music and launched its choir and philharmonic orchestra.
Aftermath
The initiative broadened MFM's activities beyond worship and prayer into structured musical training and performance.
Sources2 sources
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