BRIEF HISTORY OF ASSEMBLIES OF GOD CHURCH, NIGERIA

BRIEF HISTORY OF ASSEMBLIES OF GOD CHURCH, NIGERIA

The Assemblies of God Church was born through a bold, faith –inspired decision by
individuals who were obedient to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Today, that simple step in
obedience has blossomed into a ministry that has touched millions of lives with the glorious
gospel of Jesus Christ and through the powerful working of the Holy Spirit.

In June 1930, Brother Augustus Ehurie Wogu, an illustrious son of Old Umuahia, then a
civil servant with the Nigerian Marine Department, was converted to the Christian faith. With his new found faith in Christ Jesus, he left the Anglican Church for the Faith Tabernacle Church.

In January 1931, based on the wonderful testimony and ministry of Bro Augustus Wogu, several other people were converted into the Christian faith. These include George M. Alioha, (later a Reverend Minister). From Brother Alioha’s witness, Abel Nwoji, James Nwoji, Wilfred Woko, Augustus Asonye, Godwin Akwarandu, Ebenezer Eborgu, (all later became Minister of the Gospel) and many others were converted into the Christian Faith, all under the Faith Tabernacle
Church.

In August 1934, the brethren were fresh with zeal for the Lord, and deep into the scriptures, discovered the promise of the Holy Spirit meant for all who believe in Jesus Christ as written in Acts 2:39. However, the Doctrine of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit with evidence of speaking in tongues was rejected by the Faith Tabernacle Church and this led to the ejection of the brethren from the Faith Tabernacle Church. With the ejection, a new church – “The church of Jesus Christ” was born, with Reverend Augustus Asonye as the first Pastor and Reverend George M. Alioha as the pioneer overseer.

Churches were opened in old Umuahia. In June 1939, Reverend W. L. Shirer and his wife, US Assemblies of God foreign missionaries to then Gold Coast (Ghana) made their first historic visit to Nigeria, upon visitation to access the situation of the young church.

In September 1939, first general council meeting was held in which Brethren accepted
the doctrines of the Assemblies of God especially as pertaining to the Holy Spirit, a new name now emerges for the Church- Assemblies of God Mission in Nigeria.

Reverend Shirer became the first District Superintendent and Port Harcourt Brethren were filled with the Holy Spirit in which Mathew O. Ezeigbo who was converted at Enugu later became the pioneer General
Superintendent. In February 1940, there were the first official resident missionaries-Reverend and Mrs Everett L. Phillips (and their son Donald), arrived Nigeria replacing Reverend and Mrs Shirer who returned to Ghana the original place of assignment and a Bible School was opened in
old Umuahia.

In 1941-1943, the pioneer work was geared up and this period witnessed the conversion
of Gabriel .O. Oyakhilome was a civil servant with the Governor’s office in Enugu.

Oyakhilome then pioneered the work at Ewu in the then Bendel State of Nigeria, and he became the first Supervisor of Mid-Western Area and later the first District superintendent. From 1944-1950,
missionary work spread to the Igedes in Benue State mostly as a result of migration by traders
from the Ibo members of the church. From here, the gospel spread to kafanchan in the North and Ogoja in the South East. Also during this period, the Mid-Western Bible Institute was founded.

From 1951-1954, Reverend M.O Ezeigbo and his wife pioneered the work in the Abakaliki axis.
Reverend Ezeigbo was then appointed as the Area Supervisor of Northern Igbo land Area, and
later moved to Ohabiam, Imo State. Also during this period the Northern Bible Institute in Saminaka was founded by Ralph C. Cobb.

From 1955-1957, pioneer work began in Lagos within this period primarily due to the
efforts of Reverends J. Ohiagbara, U. M. Okpo and J.U. Omereonye, while Reverend Ward
Wood a missionary, pioneered the work in Ibadan and many other missionaries to other part of the country.

Much work was carried out from 1958-1965 and during this period especially in the
western region of Nigeria which is predominantly Yoruba. This was achieved through the evangelistic efforts of some brethren, most notably Reverend Israel Ajayi Sofile, who strengthened the indigenous missionary effort in the Western Region and became the first District Superintendent of Oyo District.

During this era, Bible Schools sprang up at Iperu in the West, Saminaka in the North and Ogoja in the East. From 1966-1968, this period recorded tremendous growth for the church as the church recorded a total of 560 churches, 479 pastors, 50,057 members and adherents with about 25 foreign missionaries under the leadership of Reverend M.O. Ezeigbo as the first General Superintendent with Rev Gabriel .O. Oyakhilome as
his assistant.

Before the civil war in 1967, there were efforts put in place by the foreign missionaries
(Rev. Reeves, Robert Webb, Mrs. Maygana, and Rev. Vermon Metz) to establish Assemblies of God Church in Ibadan. And they were able to achieve this by establishing branches at Mokola,
Atipe and Moor plantation (now Odo-Ona), and they were able to train the indigenous ministers of God and the products of the training were Revs. Ajayi Sofile, Olubodun, Olowo, Asuquo,
Kashibu, Andrew Omojuyigbe, Ehiguese.

According to Rev. Amos Folarin, the history of Assemblies of God Church in Ibadan will
not be complete without making reference to the unquantifiable efforts of Late Rev Samuel
Adegboyega Olubodun, who immensely contributed to the work of God in the following ways:

1. He was one of the Indigenous ministers who took over from the foreign missionaries in Ibadan.
2.He was the first minister to preach in Yoruba language and he started the first Yoruba speaking congregation.

3.He made the Assemblies of God Church Ibadan to be progressive and planted many
branches at Akilapa, Olorunsogo, Eleta, Olomi, Odinjo, Elekuro and among others.

4. He was the one who started training Yoruba ministers in which; he produced forty
Yoruba pastors to the church. Notable among these ministers are Rev. J.O. Odeleye, Rev.
Amos Folarin, Rev. S.O. Akinrinde, Rev. Adegbite, Rev. Adisa, Rev. Idogo and others.
And through the help of these pastors that were trained they were able to have more
branches all over Ibadan city. In 1969, a branch was established at Atipe, Agbowo in 1971, Apata branch was started by Late Rev. Ayoade in 1973 along with Olorunsogo, Idi Ose in 1975, Idi Ayunre in 1975 also, Yemetu in 1977.

From 1979-1987, there was a programme held by the Assemblies of God churches in
Ibadan titled “Operation Counterpart Evangelism” which brought a great turn around in the history of the church that a man will win another man to the church, a woman will win another woman to the church and a church will win a new branch.

Also from 1988 onward, another programme titled Operation Teach the People (OTP) to establish in faith and the result of this was the growth in pastoral staff coming into Bible school in which they had thirty three indigenous pastors from Ibadan city. Rev. Amos Folarin, who was also one of the pastors produced by Rev Olubodun planted churches at Adabeji, Oke Ayo, Bashorun, Wakajaye; Mokola branch planted branches at Ringroad, Ijokodo, Apete, Eleyele, Felele; Apata branch
planted churches at Logudu, Owode, Omi Adio, Ilugun; Akilapa branch planted twenty six churches but Akilapa which happened to have the highest growing churches had a division which led to the set back of the church.

From 1990, they began a programme titled the “decade of Harvest” in which branches of
the church was also planted in areas like Adewusi, Ogunmakin, Mamu, Olorunlogbon, Amini, and from the year 2000 till date, the branches planted by the help of the Holy Spirit through these Ministers of God are still producing converts up till now and they are also planting more churches in which Ibadan city has over forty sections and each section has various local churches under them.

And from Assemblies of God church Ibadan city, many other Districts have been created; we have six Districts in Lagos, Osun District, Ogun District, Ondo District and some Missionary areas in Oyo Town and Kwara State.

MAY THE LABOUR OF OUR HERO’S PAST NOT BE IN VAIN!!!!