Our History — RCCG DTCE Global

LIVE NEWS

Mountain Movers Convention 2026 — August 3–7 Glory Arena · RCCG Camp · Lagos–Ibadan Expressway FREE REGISTRATION — All Children, Teens & Teachers New Sunday School Manuals Now Available for Download DTCE Expands to Three New Nations in 2026 Open Heavens for Teens — May 2026 Edition Out Now New Zeal Sunday Manual Now Available for Download — Available in English, French, German, Dutch & Bavarian Mountain Movers Convention 2026 — August 3–7 Glory Arena · RCCG Camp · Lagos–Ibadan Expressway FREE REGISTRATION — All Children, Teens & Teachers New Sunday School Manuals Now Available for Download DTCE Expands to Three New Nations in 2026 Open Heavens for Teens — May 2026 Edition Out Now New Zeal Sunday Manual Now Available for Download — Available in English, French, German, Dutch & Bavarian

How It Began

From a Single Classroom to a Global Family

Like the Redeemed Christian Church of God itself, the Directorate of Teens and Children Education traces its roots to the early 1970s — a single Children's Sunday School, one congregation, no classification, no structure. Just children, and the seed of something God was about to grow.

Our Visionary Founder

Pastor (Mrs.) Folu Adeboye

Mother in Israel · MGO · Chairperson, DTCE Global

Teaching & Vision

Addressing Junior Church coordinators worldwide

Pastor (Mrs.) Folu Adeboye at a programme

Celebration

Annual Children's Day party

Pastor (Mrs.) Folu Adeboye — a moment of prayer

Intercession

A life of prayer & faith

"She took on the care, safety, and spiritual growth of an entire generation — with no documents, no handover notes, only the call of God."

Wilberforce Street, Yaba, Lagos · 1982

The Commission

In 1982, the Church's Secretary, Baba Olonade, invited a young Pastor (Mrs.) Folu Adeboye to his office and handed the entire Children's Department over to her — with no documents, no handover notes, only trust and the call of God. From that single act of obedience, a mighty global tree began to grow.

The Growth

From one congregation in Yaba to a ministry now active in 198+ nations, the Directorate of Teens and Children Education has carried the same mandate for over four decades: win the souls of teens and children for Christ, and teach them the Word so they may grow in the Lord.

More Moments with MGO

Scroll

Pastor (Mrs.) Folu Adeboye with children at a convention

With the Children

Convention gathering

MGO with the children she has devoted her life to serving.

Pastor (Mrs.) Folu Adeboye at a ZEAL manual launch

The ZEAL Manuals

A curriculum she wrote alone

For 20 years, MGO personally authored every Junior Church Sunday School manual.

Pastor (Mrs.) Folu Adeboye at the 73rd RCCG Annual Convention

73rd Convention

Auditorium unveiling

At the dedication of the world's largest children's auditorium — 40,000 seats.

Pastor (Mrs.) Folu Adeboye with global coordinators

Global Leadership

With continental coordinators

Meeting with DTCE leaders from across Africa, Europe, the Americas, and Asia.

Annual

Convention — Glory Arena

The annual convention she founded continues to draw hundreds of thousands every year.

Pastor (Mrs.) Folu Adeboye and Daddy G.O.

The Adeboyes

Partnership in ministry

Together, Daddy and Mummy G.O. have given the Junior Church its home, its structure, and its vision.

"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." — Proverbs 22:6

The Journey

Eight Moments That Shaped Us

A timeline of obedience, expansion, and grace — from a single Sunday School class to a structure spanning continents, zones, regions, and parishes across the world.

1970s

The Beginning

A Single Sunday School

The story begins humbly in the early church era — a single Children's Sunday School congregation with no classification, meeting at the RCCG headquarters on Wilberforce Street, Yaba, Lagos. No structure, no curriculum, no name beyond "the Children's Department." Just a room full of children, and the seed of something God was about to grow.

1982

The Sacred Handover

A Commission Without Documents

The Church's then Secretary, Baba Olonade, invited a young Pastor (Mrs.) Folu Adeboye to his office and handed over the entire Children's Department to her — with no documents, no handover notes, only trust. This single act of obedience and humility became the foundation upon which the modern DTCE Junior Church was built, and it is the moment we trace our commission to.

Early Years

Taking Root

CRM Schools Open in Lagos

MGO established CRM Schools in Ebute-Meta and Iwaya, Lagos — an initiative that greatly strengthened the growth of the Junior Church across RCCG. In due course, these schools expanded nationwide, becoming a model that countless parishes would adopt as the Junior Church took root across Nigeria.

20 Years

Writing the Word for Children

The Birth of the ZEAL Manuals

For twenty years, MGO personally wrote, classified, and produced the Junior Church Sunday School Manuals — known today as ZEAL — before inviting others to join the work. Today, ZEAL covers every stage of childhood: Infant (0–3), Toddlers (4–5), Lower Children (6–8), Upper Children (9–12), Teens (13–15), and Super Teens (16–19) — a complete curriculum carrying a generation from cradle to calling.

A Global Structure

Formalisation

DTCE Becomes a Directorate

The Children's Department grew into what is now the Directorate of Teens and Children Education (DTCE) — a formal structure mirroring the Mission itself, organised into continents, zones, regions, countries, internal zones, areas, and parishes. Pastor (Mrs.) Folu Adeboye now serves as Chairperson, with Dr Dare Ajayi as Global Director, supported by Assistant Directors Pastor Mrs Foluke Irukera (Teens) and Pastor Ayotunde Olumide (Children).

Glory Arena

A Home of Our Own

A Worship Centre for 150,000

At the Redemption City Headquarters, Daddy and Mummy G.O. provided a befitting worship centre for teens and children — Glory Arena — with more than eight halls for various age groups, accommodation, a clinic, and a capacity of over 150,000 teens, children, and teachers. It became the home of every major national Junior Church programme: Convention, Congress, sports, seminars, and conferences.

73rd Convention

A New Milestone

The World's Largest Children's Auditorium

Daddy and Mummy G.O. went further still — building what is described as the world's largest children's auditorium, with an initial seating capacity of 40,000. It was unveiled and used for the first time during the 73rd RCCG Annual Convention, a testament to how far God has brought this ministry, and a sign of how much further He intends to take it.

Today

Still Growing

198+ Nations and Counting

What began as one classroom in Yaba is now a ministry upheld in 198+ nations across every continent, with new countries joining Junior Church programmes every year. The vision that started with a single act of obedience in 1982 continues to expand — and the Lord continues to advance His church globally, one child at a time.

In Memoriam & In Honour

Those Who
Laid the Foundation

None of this was built alone. From the very first pioneer teen teachers to the faithful labourers of Ebute-Meta — many now with the Lord — the Junior Church stands today on the shoulders of men and women who served quietly, faithfully, and without recognition. We honour them.

Pioneer Teen Teachers

Personally appointed by Pastor (Mrs.) Folu Adeboye · MGO

Pastor Mrs Adetola Oretayo

Pioneer Teen Teacher

Pastor Tunde Bakare

Pioneer Teen Teacher

Kunle Omo Alafin Orun

Pioneer Teen Teacher

Pioneer Teachers — Ebute-Meta, Lagos

The faithful labourers who built the first local foundation

25+

FAITHFUL

Pastor David Kuo

Pastor Samuel Olonade

Mama Olowo

Mrs Iyabo

Pastor Alonge

Pastor Lawrence

Pastor David Ayoade (Iron Bender)

Late Pastor Babajide Akinrinde · With the Lord

Mummy Odeyemi

Mummy Odesola

Late Segun Taiwo · With the Lord

Sister Omoniyi

Isaiah Adeyemo

Isaac Dada

Mummy Ayeni

Sister Obe

Sister Subaru

Sister Odewunmi

Sister Ademulegun

Dr Kumolu

Mustapha

Sister Kadiri

Pastor Jacob Oni

Pastor Gideon Babalade

Pastor Adeoti

…and many others known to God

Coordinating Pastors

Those who served alongside MGO in the early years

Pastor John Nwaoney

Coordinating Pastor

With the Lord

Late Pastor David Duncan

Coordinating Pastor

With the Lord

Late Pastor E. O. Odeyemi

Coordinating Pastor

Raised in the Junior Church

Children of the ministry who went on to lead and serve globally

Notable Alumnus

Pastor Kunle Ajayi

Intercontinental Overseer of Music · The Redeemed Christian Church of God

Kunle Omo Alafin Orun

Raised in Junior Church

Sister Aina of the Solo Choir

Raised in Junior Church

Tunde Olonade

Raised in Junior Church

"Their names may not fill arenas, but heaven knows every one of them. They are the reason this ministry stands."

DTCE Global · Est. 1982

How We're Organised

From Parish to Planet

DTCE mirrors the structure of the Mission itself — a single, unbroken chain of qualified coordinators stretching from the smallest local parish to every continent on earth, all working toward one goal: winning teens and children for Christ.

Global Hierarchy · Largest to Smallest

Global reach

Continents

6 continents

Zones

Regions

198+ nations

Countries & Provinces

Internal Zones

Areas

Where it all begins

Parishes

Every local church

Every level is led by a qualified DTCE coordinator — from parish to continent.

Global Leadership Team

Chairperson · MGO

Pastor (Mrs.)
Folu Adeboye

Visionary founder and lifelong Mother in Israel of the DTCE Junior Church — overseeing the Directorate's global direction as Chairperson since 1982.

Global Director

Dr Dare Ajayi

Appointed by MGO to lead the day-to-day administration of the Directorate — providing strategic oversight under the Chairperson's vision and direction.

Assistant Directors

Pastor Mrs Foluke Irukera
&
Pastor Ayotunde Olumide

Pastor Mrs Irukera — Teens Affairs

Pastor Olumide — Children's Affairs

Coordinating operations and programmes across every continent for both the Children's and Teens departments.

Our Mandate — The Same Since 1982

"To win the souls of teens and children for Christ, and to teach them the Word of God so that they may grow in the Lord."

What We Do, Every Year

Programmes That
Carry the Vision
Forward.

From the very first Camp Meetings to today's Annual Convention, DTCE's calendar has always been built around one purpose — gathering children and teens into the presence of God to win them for Christ, and teaching them the Word so they may grow in the Lord.

FLAGSHIP

Annual Convention & Holy Ghost Congress

Flagship Annual Event

The largest annual gathering of Junior Church teens, children, and teachers — held at Glory Arena, Redemption City, drawing over 150,000 attendees. The heartbeat of the DTCE calendar.

Camp Meetings

Immersive retreat gatherings that have anchored the Junior Church calendar from its earliest days — creating life-changing encounters with God for children and teens.

Teens Global Summit (TGS)

A dedicated platform raising a generation of teenage leaders — equipped with the Word, anchored in faith, and prepared to influence their world for Christ.

Family Weekend

A weekend built for parents, children, and teens to encounter God together — strengthening the family as the first and most important unit of discipleship.

Bible & Sunday School Quiz

A Scripture knowledge competition that ignites a love for the Word across every age group — from local parishes all the way to continental finals.

Coordinators' & Teachers' Training

Equipping every teacher and coordinator — from parish level to continental — with the tools, theology, and techniques to serve the next generation with excellence.

Sports & Games

Wholesome, Spirit-filled recreation — building teamwork, character, and fellowship among children and teens across parishes, zones, and continents.

MGO's Annual Children's Party

A beloved tradition started by Pastor (Mrs.) Folu Adeboye — a celebration of every child in the Junior Church, filled with joy, gifts, and the love of a mother who never stopped showing up.

Children's, Fathers' & Mothers' Day

Annual celebrations honouring children and the families who raise them — affirming that the home and the church are partners in building the next generation.

Our Mandate · Est. 1982

"To win the souls of teens and children for Christ, and to teach them the Word of God so that they may grow in the Lord."

DTCE Global · Pastor (Mrs.) Folu Adeboye

44+

Years of Programmes

198+

Nations Reached

150K

Convention Capacity

Age-Group Curricula

Built for the Mission

Spaces Built for Glory

God has used Daddy and Mummy G.O. to build physical homes for this ministry — places where children, teens, and teachers can gather, rest, learn, and encounter God in safety and in numbers once unimaginable.

Our Home

Glory Arena
Redemption City

150,000+ capacity · 8 age-group halls · Clinic · Accommodation

Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria

Emmanuel Park

Emmanuel Amusement Park

A wholesome recreational environment for children, teens, and adults, with rides and relaxation areas. During major programmes, it is opened free of charge to children and teenagers from Glory Arena.

Visit Website

150,000

Glory Arena

The dedicated worship centre for teens and children at Redemption City — over eight halls for various age groups, accommodation, a clinic, and capacity for more than 150,000 people during major programmes.

40,000

World's Largest Children's Auditorium

Recently built by Daddy and Mummy G.O. with an initial seating capacity of 40,000, and used for the first time during the 73rd RCCG Annual Convention.

Through the Lens