The Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM) Guitar Choir has marked 20 years of ministry, standing out as one of Nigeria’s most innovative gospel music groups.

The group reflects the influence of MFM General Overseer, Dr Daniel Kolawole Olukoya, a music aficionado, teacher, and composer whose works range from highlife to classical and traditional music, and his wife, Dr Folashade Elizabeth Olukoya, on music within MFM and the wider body of Christ.

With their “unbridled love and intense passion” for music as a spiritual tool, the Olukoyas view it as a means to engage young people, help them fulfil their God-given purpose, and keep them from idleness. Their backing in resources, training, and platforms has made the group’s growth possible, leaders say.

“They see music as a spiritual thing and a tool for deliverance, spiritual well-being, and battle,” a church source noted. Dr Olukoya and his wife describe music as “carrying spiritual power, soothing power, healing power, and emotional power.”

That passion shows in the high-quality performances of several MFM choirs, which have won local and international awards.

How it started The choir’s leader, Dr Joseph Olubukola, a doctorate holder in Music, said the vision began two decades ago and has been “nurtured and watered by God using the General Overseer, Dr Olukoya, and his wife.”

The group started in 2006 with 13 teenagers whom he trained. Dr Olukoya endorsed it in his office on Monday night, July 3, 2006. The choir got a boost that same year when Dr Olukoya bought 30 guitars for its first official ministration, held on September 3, 2006.

“The concept of Guitar Choir has to do with a conglomeration of guitars at various levels, acoustic, bass and lead, codified into various music genres for evangelism,” Olubukola said.

He added that the Guitar Choir is an evangelical, spiritually based choir that accommodates singing, playing, and dancing with performative gestures.

Global Reach

Over the years, the group has ministered in South Africa, Uganda, Côte d’Ivoire, Cotonou in the Benin Republic, Togo, Cameroon, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Guyana, and Ghana.

Transit countries for music evangelism include Brazil, Barbados, and Panama City. Its scope covers Guitar Reggae, Guitar Highlife, Guitar Jazz, Guitar Orchestra, Classical Guitar, Guitar Percussion, Guitar Praise, Bluegrass, Ukulele Orchestra, and Mandolin Orchestra. Artistic concepts and performance arts are incorporated for dynamic ministrations.

Personal testimony

Olubukola, 47, from Osun State, said he was led to MFM by a 1997 revelation where he saw himself in the MFM International Headquarters as a teenager, though he had never been to Lagos nor heard of the church. He came to Lagos in 1998, founded the church, and joined the choir.

Through selfless service, Dr Olukoya noticed him in 2001, and he became music ministry staff. He was endorsed as overall head of Guitar Choir in 2006 and now serves as overall chairman of MFM Music Ministry worldwide.

“If God could bring people who have not heard about the church through revelations and make them prosper in the place, God is truly here in MFM,” Olubukola said.

Mentorship and Impact

Under Dr Olukoya’s mentorship, Olubukola, also a composer, has produced about 100 songs for the choir. “The majority are his compositions, while some are by the members and a few are cover songs,” he said.

“Our wonderful Daddy, Dr Olukoya, and our Mother, Dr Folashade Olukoya, have mentored a lot of us.

Many teenagers in the choir who are now successful academically, doing well in their careers, maritally settled, and fulfilling God’s given purposes and destinies are products of Dr Daniel Kolawole Olukoya and his wife,” he said.

Some who joined as members are also climbing up to the leadership cadre. With the mentorship of Daddy GO, this group has mentored children from age 7 for about 18 years. Some are now getting married and doing well,” he added. Through Dr Olukoya’s support, the choir runs platforms like the annual ‘New Song Challenge.’ The 5th edition will be held in the last quarter of 2026.

Uniqueness

Olubukola said the choir’s uniqueness is its instrumentation: “We use only guitars for accompaniment without keyboards, drums or horns in our ministrations for 20 years to the glory of God. We generate percussive sounds from the strings and from beating the box of the guitar.”

The choir combines children, teenagers, youth, adults, and the aged, from 4 to 82 years old, in mass ministrations, concerts, prayer meetings, and other programmes.

Objectives and Support Objectives include using guitar music for soul winning, taking youth off the street to engage them with skills in guitar, singing, playing, and dance, edifying the body of Christ, and using biblical messages to inculcate morals.

“We encouraged members to have a sound education and carve a niche in their careers. We have free skills and vocational training,” Olubukola said.