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BRIEF HISTORY OF THE APOSTOLIC FAITH WORK IN ABEOKUTA

The Beginning

In 1954 Late Rev. Timothy Gbadebo Oshokoya and his team brought the Gospel into Abeokuta, with a revival

programme at the present Itori-Oke Branch Church, which used to be known as Church of the Lord, Aladura,

under the leadership of Late Brother Isaac Oluwatade Sokeye.

After a few weeks of reading the Apostolic Faith Sunday School lessons to the congregation, some of the people

agreed to embrace the doctrines of the Bible as preached by The Apostolic Faith. The Church of the Lord,

Aladura (led by Brother Sokeye) therefore decided to affiliate with the Apostolic Faith and a document to this

effect was signed by both parties. The Church building document was eventually handed over to Rev. T. G.

Oshokoya and the name of the Church was changed to The Apostolic Faith in 1954. The affiliation service was

conducted by Rev. T.G. Oshokoya in 1955. It was from the church location at Itori-Oke, Abeokuta, that the

headquarters of Apostolic Faith in Ogun District moved to the present location at Oke-Abetu which we are

dedicating today.

Growth of the Church in late 1950s

Late Brother Johnson Aribigbola was in charge of the church when it changed to The Apostolic Faith Church. He

came regularly from Lagos to hold services (meetings were held during the week on Tuesdays and Fridays). Late

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Brother Isaac Oluwatade Sokeye later resigned from his secular job to assist him in pastoring the church. Our

present Regional Overseer, Rev. Emmanuel Oluyemi Aina, joined this newly established Apostolic Faith Church

in 1955.

Brother Sokeye carried extensive and expansive evangelistic campaign to towns and communities in and around

Abeokuta. Some of the towns he reached and where Apostolic Faith groups were established included Olugbo,

Obafemi, Kemta, Anipupo, Olibori etc. These groups fed Apostolic Faith Church – Itori-Oke with members as

they migrated from the suburbs to town. Rev. E.O. Aina was very useful in the spread of the Gospel in and around

Abeokuta.

Need for a new church location

As the Gospel was advancing in and around Abeokuta and its environs, the Itori-Oke Church building became too

small for the congregation hence the need for a bigger and more befitting building. Furthermore, neighbouring

community members were disturbing with social activities, parties and festivals such as “egungun”

(masquerades). They were hostile at times. These affected Church Services at times as the church is located

within a choked-up community.

The Growth of the Church Under Various Pastors

In 1964, Rev. Francis Adisa Akinboye was sent from Lagos to pastor the church. Rev. Akinboye, a musician and

trombonist, worked on music development in the church. While he played the trombone, his wife Sister Remi

Akinboye played the organ. He started music training for church members and within a short time, there was a

standing choir for the church. Among choir members at that time were Bro. Oludotun Oladeinde, Bro. Edward

Sokeye, Sister Victoria Aina, Late Sister Matilda Onada and Sister Dupe Ojo among others. During Rev.

Akinboye’s tenure, Rev. E.O. Aina assisted him. Brother Sokeye, who was also at Abeokuta was later posted to

take charge of the Gospel work at Cotonou, Republic of Benin in 1968. Rev. Akinboye was the pastor until he

was posted to take charge of the Gospel work in Kwara State in 1969.

Before becoming resident pastor in Abeokuta in 1971, Late Rev. Ezekiel Adeoye Oshobowale came from Ijebu-

Ode to oversee the church at Abeokuta from 1969. On assumption of office at Abeokuta, as the first Overseer of

the Apostolic Faith in Ogun State, he started working on how to bring Apostolic Faith Church buildings in

Abeokuta up to Apostolic Faith Church standard. He procured building materials like gravel, granite, sand,

blocks, iron rods, toilet fittings and iron windows. He would take team members to the river side to dig for gravel.

Part of the granite/gravel was transported to Lagos for building the Tabernacle at Anthony Village, Lagos. The

remainder of these materials was used in the building we are dedicating today. God also helped him to start the

construction of the Mission House at Ijeja in 1976. This was completed in 1978 shortly before his death.

God helped Rev. Oshobowale to start aggressive Sunday School Children Collection activity in Abeokuta. This

collection yielded fruit with increase in Sunday School children’s attendance and resulted in the building of the

Children’s Hall during his tenure.

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It was in 1972 during the period of Late Rev. Oshobowale that the first effort to get a bigger place of worship was

made. After several efforts, a 4-acre piece of land was donated by a church member along Ayetoro road. The

church had started building on the site when Late Rev. T.G. Oshokoya came visiting and advised against the area

for a church as he said it was too far from Abeokuta city centre. This was the situation when Rev. Amos Oladele

Adeoye took over upon Rev. Oshobowale’s death on January 21, 1978.

Rev. Amos Oladele Adeoye became the pastor as well as Ogun State Overseer in 1978.

Aggressive evangelistic campaign took Rev. Adeoye to towns like Owode-Egba, Idogo, Eruwa, Ogunmakin etc.

From these places, worshippers were brought to Apostolic Faith Church, Abeokuta, for Sunday services. A big

Bedford Lorry (Plate No. 1906) was purchased. Because of the growing size of the congregation, the main church

building was extended by using lean-to roof with corrugated iron sheets to expand to the left side of the building.

Further in the search for a suitable land location for a new church building, in 1979, the Oke-Abetu land where

the present building stands was purchased. It used to be an uncultivated idol forest called “Orisa Oliye” forest.

The land was sold to the church with the intention of just making money as the sellers believed that nobody could

venture to enter and develop it. People never knew the church could start any work on it. Even though many

devilish and terrifying things were found on the land during clearing but God took control. Up till today,

Apostolic Faith is held in high esteem as a God’s Spirit filled church for being able to occupy this piece of land.

In 1982, Rev. Emmanuel Oluyemi Aina who had been posted to Ijebu Ode at the arrival of Rev. Oshobowale in

1971 and later to Akure, was transferred back from Akure to oversee the Gospel work in Ogun State. Rev.

Adeoye was then moved to Kwara State.

The supervising building engineer was Rev. E.O. Aremu while late Rev. Joseph Olusanya was the Works

Superintendent on full time basis from 1991 till his death on January 13, 2005. Late Brother Olufemi Oladipupo, a

devoted carpenter and Late Brother Joseph Olorunlose were of immense assistance in the work. Of particular note

also has been the supervisory role of Brother Clement Oyesile who is with us today.

The foundation laying of this building was done by Late Rev. Josiah Olubode Soyinka, the then Africa Overseer,

in 1991 with the support of other members of the Board of Trustees.

During the tenure of Rev. E.O. Aina, the present Library Hall together with the offices in the basement were

constructed and the concrete floor slab was cast in 1994. Thereafter, the present Children’s Hall deck was cast

half-way in 1996 while the platform was constructed in 1997. Plastering of the inside of the Children’s Hall as

well as the construction of the pews used there were also done.

Rev. E.O. Aina, who is well grounded in the Scriptures was mightily used of God to enrich Ogun State with the

WORD in his time. Being a lover of music and a composer, his contributions to the development of music in the

State can never be forgotten.

Rev. Titus Ayorinde Obatusin became the Ogun State Overseer in 1998. God assisted him to complete the second

half of the decking of the Children’s Hall, the construction of the rear retaining wall and the completion of the

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Auditorium block wall up to lintel level as well as the gallery. Thereafter, evangelism was boosted with the

purchase of two Gospel Buses the Hiace and the Zion Train.

Rev. Michael Omoworare Onayemi, a seasoned builder, became the State Overseer in the year 2004. God helped

him to do the roofing of the building within a short time. Some other gigantic tasks which God achieved through

Rev. Onayemi included the plastering of the interior of the whole building, construction of the Girls’ Hostel, the

big underground Reservoir, the toilets at the second basement and the commencement of the Apostolic Faith

Secondary School, Abeokuta, in September 2006.

Rev. Julius Oluwasanya Ajayi took over as the Overseer of the Gospel work in Ogun State in 2007. God used him

to construct the present platform, the railings to the gallery, the main entrance doors to this auditorium as well as

the Aluminum windows.

He did the fencing of the right side of the Oke Abetu land when land speculators threatened. Outside plastering of

this building commenced immediately after the visit of the current District Superintendent, Rev. Bayo Adeniran,

to Oke Abetu in October 2011. He challenged the workers and spurred them into action by giving his own

personal “widow’s mite”. Thank God that the people accepted the challenge and the work never stopped since

then until its completion.

With the assumption of duty of Rev. Bamidele Olusegun Adeliyi as the Ogun District Overseer, in November

2011, the work has grown tremendously. The finishing of numerous items of works. (i.e. ceiling, fencing, toilet

completion, electrification, church offices etc.) and various church furniture (i.e. additional pews, plastic chairs,

and renovation of ministers’ chairs) to dedication level were accomplished by God’s grace during his tenure.

Branches of Apostolic Faith in the District also increased from 39 to 50. In Abeokuta city alone, there are 5

branches. There also 6 Sunday School Centres at present in the District.

The contributions of the WECA headquarters to the completion of this edifice such as the supply of all the tiles

used for floors and toilets, painting etc. cannot be over-emphasized. The support received from the Ibadan

Regional headquarters is also worthy of mention.

This report will not be complete without mentioning the unrelenting spirit with which the congregation in Oke

Abetu and branches in the District assisted in the work. Appreciation also goes to many people too numerous to

mention who contributed in one way or the other towards the completion of this work. We pray God to reward

them with Heaven at last. Amen.

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