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BRIEF HISTORY OF APOSTOLIC FAITH CHURCH WORK IN ADO EKITI

The blaze of the light of the Apostolic Faith Church carried by the Late Rev. T.G. Osokoya,

burning brightly across Nigeria, first appeared in Ekiti land in the early 1950s, when he

visited the place on Evangelistic Mission as the first Africa Overseer.

Some young men, who were later joined together to pioneer the Gospel work in Ado Ekiti,

received the light of the Gospel at different locations. Rev. Bolaji Pelu, Bro. Aduloju, Late

Rev. G. Johnson and Bro. David Fadijo all got saved in Ibadan, while Late Rev. Gideon

Olaleye later got saved in Akure.

Rev. Pelu was posted to Ado Ekiti as Assistant Divisional Officer in May, 1967 while Late

Rev. G. Johnson was posted to Akure about the same time. Apostolic Faith work started as a

group in Bro. Pelu's sitting room at the Barracks' Quarters. The group started going to Akure

for services on Sundays where Bro. Aduloju and Rev. Johnson were already holding

meetings. Visible in the group and in the early meetings in Ado Ekiti were Late Sis. Comfort

Oyindamola Pelu and her daughter, Modupe; Sis. Adunni; Bro. David Fadijo; Sister Bose

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Alagbalaowo and her elder Sister Sola; Bro. and Sis. Tunji; Bro. Jacob Fadijo, who was

following his brother (David Fadijo); Sister Grace Fakorede (now Ogunleye) who came

through her elder sister (Rachael Fakorede) and was staying with the Pelus. Late Bro. and Sis.

Olaleye who were living in Akure but working in Ado-Ekiti and who later came from Akure

on the advice of Rev. Pelu. Towards the end of 1968, Bro. Aworeni also came from Abeokuta

to join the group. Early 1969, Rev. Timothy Osokoya came for a second tour of the old Ondo

State, with his group, among who was Late Rev. Akinboye (who became the first Overseer in

Ondo State). From Akure, he went to Ekiti Parapo College, Ido Ekiti where Sister Rachael

Fakorede already had some school girls as a group. Rev. Osokoya thereafter came to Ado

Ekiti and asked Bro. Pelu to lead Ado Ekiti group as a Sunday School Teacher.

Bro. Pelu was transferred back to Ibadan in 1970 by the government but he still continued to

visit the group at Ado-Ekiti. The church then moved to a cocoa store, secured by Bro.

Aworeni in Odo – Ado. Sunday services were then held at the centre with the assistance of

Bro. G.O Johnson from Akure. On Bro. Pelu's final move to Ibadan, Late Bro. Gideon

Olaleye took over as the Pastor of the church in Odo-Ado in 1971 assisted by Bro. Michael

Opoola. Many souls were added to the church and the need to have a permanent place of

worship became necessary.

In 1978, Late Bro. Gabriel Akinware donated his carpentry workshop, located in the present

Okesa Church, for the use of the church and the church moved to Okesa Street, Ado Ekiti. At

Okesa, the church witnessed rapid growth spiritually and numerically under the Late Pastor,

Bro. Gideon Olaleye and the Pioneer Overseer for Ondo and Ekiti States, Rev. F. A

Akinboye.

The sudden home call of Bro. Gideon Olaleye in December 1981 appeared devastating

humanly speaking, especially for a young, vibrant and growing church. However, Bro.

Olaleye, was a visionary, caring and prayerful Pastor and had laid a strong spiritual

foundation that actually gave birth to the present site and the physical structure that rose from

it. These foundational successes cannot also be separated from the then state Overseers (Old

Ondo State) who supervised the Gospel activities in Ekiti land. From 1977 – 1982, Rev. E. O.

Aina and from 1982 – 1986, Rev. M. B. Kunle.

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In January, 1982, the task of pastoring the church, the development and movement to this

headquarters site fell on Rev. Oye Ogunyemi who had worked closely with the Late Pastor.

In spite of the expansions in Okesa church, the place became too small for the congregation.

The first part of this land was purchased from Aro family of Odo Ado. The need to acquire

the second part of the land became imperative as a convenient access road was needed but the

land belonged to an individual; late Dr. Lawrence Omolayo. As God would have it, the

owner, who had been an invitee of Late Bro. Olaleye, was healed miraculously of a serious

ailment after much prayers from the church. He had a willing mind to compensate the team or

the Pastor with a gift but the Pastor turned it down. In his appreciation to God, he surrendered

the land when he saw the need. He went ahead to demolish his bookshop to give way to the

present road from the gate and then surrendered all existing buildings within the premises for

the church's use and ownership.

The first design of this building was first presented to the Okesa congregation in October,

1987 after its approval. The foundation-laying ceremony was subsequently performed on

May 2nd, 1988 by the Late Rev. J.O Soyinka, the then second Africa Overseer of the

Apostolic Faith Church. At the foundation laying ceremony, Rev. Soyinka had prophetically

reiterated that the church would be completed with faith and prayers.

For a start, the construction of the present children's hall commenced and by 24th of

December, 1989, the first service was held by the then State Overseer, Late Rev. S.A Adeliyi

assisted by the church pastor, Rev. Oye Ogunyemi.

The initial foundation construction activities moved speedily for a time. While this

construction work was on, the other branch churches were springing up all over Ekiti land, as

people of God started sharing the light in their various communities. Ado Ekiti eventually

gave birth to a new Odo Ado church as well as Okesa and Ureje branch churches. Late Rev.

S.A . Adeliyi supervised the work as State Overseer from 1987 – 1998. The work was halted

for a period of nine years after the construction reached an initial stage of the roof-gutter.

Rev. M.A Ajayi took over from Late Rev. S.A Adeliyi in 1998 and served as the Overseer of

Ondo-Ekiti State till 2005; while Rev. Soji Oni became the Pastor of Ajilosun Church in 2003

when Rev. Oye Ogunyemi was transferred to Owo after about two decades of dedicated and

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meritorious service to God. In 2005, Ekiti District was created out of the old Ondo/Ekiti

District and Reverend M. A. Ajayi who was at that time in Akure moved to Ado Ekiti as the

new District Overseer.

On Sunday, the 17th of February 2008, in a combined service of the four branch churches in

Ado Ekiti, God ignited a revival fire that liberated the building project. The people of God

resolved no longer to linger. The State Overseer, Rev. M. A. Ajayi, mobilized the

congregation to give generously to the completion of the church building. With a captivating

display from the Youth Department and the Elementary Sunday School Children and the

beautiful architectural design of the church building on display, the children of God were

moved to tears and a pledge of a total of 23million Naira was made the same day.

That year the roofing was done. However, the finishing became another big challenge. It was

at this critical point that Rev. Emmanuel Adebayo Adeniran became the District

Superintendent of West and Central Africa of the Apostolic Faith church work in 2010. The

same year, Rev. M. A Ajayi became the Regional Overseer for Ado-Ekiti Region comprising

Ekiti, Ondo and Osun Districts. Rev. Jacob Omoniyi Fadijo became the Ekiti District

Overseer in November, 2011. At the retirement of Rev. M.A .Ajayi, in October 2013, Rev.

Folorunsho Ajayi became the Acting Regional Overseer of Ado Ekiti Region. God moved the

District Superintendent to challenge the people towards the completion of the building. With

the help of God and the assistance of the WECA Headquarters, the people rose up with

determination as one body to contribute and to work towards the completion of the building,

the result of which we see today.

Our thanksgiving goes to the Almighty God who has made all things possible and to the

District Superintendent for the God-given vision on this project. Appreciation also goes to the

Board of Trustees of the Apostolic Faith and the Management at the WECA Headquarters for

the strong financial, material and technical assistance in the restructuring and general

completion of the building. We like to specially acknowledge with much gratitude the

Infrastructure Development Directorate at the WECA Headquarters for their repeated visits to

the project and the sound technical advice. It is also necessary to place on record our

appreciation to all children of God at home and abroad who contributed in no small measure

towards the achievement of this great feat. We pray that God will bless all who in one way or

the other was an instrument in God’s hand towards the completion of this project.

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