In 1986, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian church of God, Pastor Enoch A Adeboye, asked for a birthday gift from God and requested for a miracle for each member of the church. God then instructed him to invite everyone to a special meeting called the "Holy Ghost Service". This subsequently birthed the beginning of monthly Holy Ghost Nights in Lagos, Nigeria.

Ten years later, Pastor Adeboye was praying concerning one of the Holy Ghost services when he was given a vision to start simultaneous services in the United Kingdom. This was to serve as a forum to bring together people to pray and birth revival in the UK and thus began the London Holy Ghost Festival of Life. The first London Holy Ghost Festival themed "The New Anointing" was held at the London Arena, Docklands on the 19th of April 1996, with Pastor Adeboye as the sole speaker. 

Since its inception, the programme has become the largest all night non-denominational gathering of people (in Europe) coming together as one voice in prayer and to celebrate God.

The programme starts in the evening and incorporates prayer, worship, teachings and manifestations of the power of God. At each event, thousands of people come together to pray for:

Revival The Nation (Government) The Church
The Youth and
The Individual