Nigeria, West Africa, 50 th Episcopal District of Pentecostal Assemblies of the World,
Incorporated. Bishop Charles Finnel, Diocesan

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Bishop Charles Finnel has served as the Diocesan Bishop of the 50 th Episcopal District of the PAW, Inc.
for over year. Charles M. Finnell was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, July 21, 1947. He was married to Vivian Y. Price on June
14, 1966, and they are the proud parents of two sons. Bishop Finnell was saved in 1968 under the pastorate of the late Bishop
Morris E. Golder, at Grace Apostolic church in Indianapolis, Indiana. He was called to the ministry in 1971. Bishop Finnell was
ordained in the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc., in 1976. In 1980, he founded and became Pastor of the Apostolic
Lighthouse Church in Bloomington, Indiana. For twenty-two years. s appointed as District Elder in 1988 and appointed to the
office of Suffragan Bishop in September 2003 by the 4th Episcopal Diocesan, the Honorable Bishop James E. Tyson. Today
Bishop Charles Finnell pastors Christ Temple in Indianapolis, Indiana.

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About the Country and Its Unique Characteristics and Challenges:

Western Africa borders the Gulf of Guinea, between Benin and Cameron. It is about six times the size
of Georgia; slightly more than twice the size of California The government continues to face the
daunting task of institutionalizing democracy and reforming a petroleum-based economy, whose
revenues have been squandered through corruption and mismanagement. In addition, Nigeria continues
to experience longstanding ethnic and religious tensions. Although both the 2003 and 2007 presidential
elections were marred by significant irregularities and violence, Nigeria is currently experiencing its
longest period of civilian rule since independence in1960. Nigeria is Sub Saharan Africa’s largest economy and relies heavily on Crude Oil as its main source foreign exchange earnings and government revenues. Nigeria’s economic growth has been driven bygrowth in agriculture, telecommunications, and services. Economic diversification and strong growth
have not translated into a significant decline in poverty levels; over 62% of Nigeria's over 180 million
people still live in extreme poverty. . It suffers periodic droughts; flooding, and serious overpopulation
and rapid urbanization have led to numerous environmental problems; urban air and water pollution;
rapid deforestation; soil degradation; loss of arable land; oil pollution - water, air, and soil have
suffered serious damage from oil spills.In addition, despite its strong fundamentals, oil-rich Nigeria has been hobbled by inadequate powersupply, lack of infrastructure, delays in the passage of legislative reforms, an inefficient property
registration system, restrictive trade policies, an inconsistent regulatory environment, a slow and
ineffective judicial system, unreliable dispute resolution mechanisms, insecurity, and pervasive corruption.