timelygospelpro 
Introduction:
Before Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola of the Christ Apostolic Church… before Moses Orimolade of the Cherubim and Seraphim movement… before any of the notable figures within Nigeria’s Aladura revival, there was a man named Garrick Sokari Braide. A man largely forgotten in modern gospel circles, yet one whose fire, miracles, and prophetic anointing helped lay the very foundation of indigenous revival in Nigeria. This is the remarkable story of Nigeria’s first charismatic healing prophet.
Early Life and Calling
Garrick Sokari Braide was born in the late 1800s in Obonoma, a town located in today’s Rivers State, Nigeria. He came from a traditional background—his father was of Ijaw origin and his mother from the Kalabari ethnic group. Like many in the Niger Delta at the time, his family practiced idol worship.
But young Garrick’s life took a different turn in 1890 when he enrolled as an inquirer at CMS St. Andrew’s Church in Bakana. His spiritual discipline stood out even as a child. He was known for fervent prayers, often seen lying prostrate in the church in deep devotion. It was evident to many that God’s hand was already on him.
After completing baptismal classes, he was baptized in 1910 and confirmed in 1912. It was during a communion service in the same year that he had a divine encounter that changed the trajectory of his life. He saw a brilliant light and heard a still small voice say, “Garrick Braide, Jesus died for you. Have you been washed in the precious blood?” By dawn, the voice returned, commissioning him: “Are you prepared to be my servant to witness to mankind the saving truths of the gospel?”
The Rise of a Healing Prophet
Empowered by this divine call, Garrick Braide launched into ministry under the mentorship of Moses Kema. What followed was nothing short of a spiritual revolution. He began preaching with great power, drawing multitudes across the Niger Delta and beyond. His healing ministry was legendary—countless testimonies of deliverance from sickness and demonic oppression followed his meetings.
By 1916, Bishop James Johnson—Assistant Bishop of the Diocese of Western Equatorial Africa—wrote of Braide:
“A recent widespread report of cures, alleged by many to have been obtained through prayers, drew large numbers of sick persons, Christians and non-Christians alike, to him from different parts of the Delta.”
People traveled from far regions, even the Igbo hinterlands, to receive healing and salvation. Braide’s message was simple but powerful: sin brings sickness, and repentance brings healing. He denounced idol worship, alcoholism, and urged his followers to embrace holiness, fasting, and prayer.
Revival, Reform… and Resistance
Braide’s revival caused sweeping change in the Niger Delta. CMS records show that in 1909, there were only 92 baptized Christians in the area. By 1918, that number had grown to 11,964. The number of inquirers also rose from just 300 to over 7,000. In fact, Braide’s ministry had the highest conversion rate in all of Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and East Africa combined at the time.
However, this wave of revival did not come without cost.
His uncompromising stance against alcohol posed a major threat to colonial interests. At the time, the alcohol trade—especially gin—was a cornerstone of colonial revenue. Braide’s influence caused gin consumption to plummet, cutting weekly trade profits drastically and triggering a budget deficit of over £500,000 by 1916. British colonial administrators, including Lord Frederick Lugard, were outraged. Lugard accused Braide of using religion to obstruct European trade and stir political dissent.
At the same time, Braide began to face growing resistance from church authorities, traditional leaders, and even his own mentor. His popularity surged, and with it came an entourage of admirers who began to sing praises not to God, but to Braide himself. Some began to call him the “Second Elijah.” Reports also emerged of his followers burning down shrines without permission and collecting money and artifacts from locals in the name of Christianity. Others went so far as to drink water from his bath or collect soil from his footsteps, believing it carried healing power.
Bishop Johnson and other church leaders began to raise concerns about the cult-like behavior and Braide’s growing pride. His rejection of correction—even from Moses Kema—only fueled the tension.
Persecution and Imprisonment
In 1916, a petition from local chiefs urged Bishop Johnson to officially recognize Braide as a prophet. Over 2,000 people gathered in anticipation, but Johnson refused. That same year, colonial authorities—already furious with Braide’s impact—acted. He was arrested, tried, and sentenced to six months in prison on charges of incitement. Though released on bail, he was re-arrested in November of the same year and remained imprisoned until early 1918.
Despite public outcry from journalists and church leaders like Samuel Ajayi Crowther’s grandson, S. E. Cookey, efforts to secure his release failed. The extended imprisonment broke Braide both spiritually and physically. After his release, he faded into obscurity and died on November 15, 1918.
Legacy of a Revivalist
Garrick Braide’s life ended in controversy, but his impact is impossible to erase. He was the first major Nigerian figure to pioneer a healing and prophetic ministry outside missionary control. His followers went on to establish the Christ Army Church in 1916—a denomination that still exists today.
Braide’s ministry was uniquely African, bold in its confrontation of sin, systemic oppression, and spiritual darkness. He catalyzed one of the earliest grassroots revivals in Nigeria—reaching fishermen, farmers, chiefs, and commoners alike. Though pride and human weakness crept in toward the end, Braide’s legacy is not one of failure but of fire.
Conclusion: A Reminder for Our Generation
Garrick Braide reminds us that God uses ordinary men to accomplish extraordinary things. His story is a mirror—revealing how zeal must be balanced with humility, and how spiritual power can be both a gift and a test. He stood against empire, tradition, and even his church hierarchy, to follow the voice of God.
Before Babalola.
Before Orimolade.
There was Garrick Braide—Nigeria’s first healing prophet.
If this story inspired you, feel free to share it with others. Let us reclaim our gospel history and honor the pioneers who paved the way for the revival fire we enjoy today. Drop a Comment
Listen to Audio
The voice of God is a way of directive for His children, soul winning and evangelism should be paramount to every Christian, this should be accompany with miracles, demonstrations of God’s power, blessings, grace and glory.