The Christ Apostolic Church is distinctly an indigenous African Church. By its structure, belief and practices, it is an independent Pentecostal Church. The history of the Church is traceable directly to our fore – fathers, namely Oba/Pastor Isaac Babalola Akinyele, Pastor David Ogunleye Odunbanjo, Joseph Sadare, Mis Sophia Odunlami and Evangelist (Late Apostle) Joseph Ayodele Babalola who called to the ministry by the lord on 11th October, 1928. Apostle Babalola’s call subsequently led to the great revival of 1930. before then, there was the 1918-28 Faith Tabernacle era characterized by the formation of praying groups ‘such as the Precious or Diamond Society found in small pocket all over Nigeria.
The brethren in control were joseph Sadare (a.k.a Esinsinade), D.o. Odunbajo, I.B Akinyele, (late Olubadan of Ibadan) and Miss Sophia Odunlami. Majority of the members of the first group of Diamond Society were worshippers at St. Savoir’s Anglican Church, Ijebu-Ode, wherethey began meeting regularly for prayer and spiritual guidance in 1918. mr D.O Odunbanjo soon developed contact between members of the receipt of tracts and magazines such as ‘The Sword of the Spirit’. Soon tension rose between the group and the Anglican Church over such practices as divine healing, opposition to infant baptism, reliance on dreams and visions, abstention from dancing, drumming, debt-owing, drinking of alcohol, gambling and mixing with non-Christians. Mr. Joseph Sadare was compelled to give up his post in the synod and other were forced to resign their jobs and to withdraw their children from the Anglican School.
But in less than a decade, branches of the group had established in Lagos, Ibadan, Ilesa, Oyan, ile-Ife, Minna, Jos and Zaria.
Thier member had also imbibed reliance on the power of prayer, divine healing and the All Sufficeincy of god. Fortunately, the great revivial of 1930 with Apostle Joseph ayodel Babalola as its medium, emarged in july 1930 at oke Ooye, ilesha. Those who assisted him during the Revival included D.O Omotoso, Oba I.b akinyele and J.A Babatope as well as Babalola’s followers such as J.A Medayese, A.O Omotoso, John Oye, J.b Orogun, Philip Mabigbade among others. Prophet Daniel Orekoya later on came to the scene. The Great Revival did not only embrace all the beliefs accepted by the Faith Tabernacle group, but also went further by embracing the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the Spiritual manifestation of seeing vision, prophesying, speaking in tongues and dreaming. consequently upon this, people with diverse deceases were healed in thousands and, in turn, they spontaneously rejected their ‘juju’ and other medicines.
massive revivals hitherto unknown in Nigeria ensued. Thousand of people surrendered their lives to Jesus. meanwhile the Church leaders were subjected to sought co-operation with British Apostolic Brothers in Bradford, England.
Thus on 23rd September, 1931 three missionaries, viz. Pastor D.P Williams, A Turnbull and W.J. Williams arrived in Nigeria as guests of the Church. In November, 1931, the visiting missionaries ordained the first seven Pastors of the Church who had earlier on been ordains by proxy by Pastor A. Clark in america. Three of the new Pastors Namely, Pastor J.b Sadare, D.O Odunbajo and Oba I.B Akinyele later came to play important role in the growth of the Church. After the return of 1932 to strengthen the band of fellowship between the two religious bandies. For a time, the religious activities of the white brothers complemented the religious exploits of Joseph Ayodele Babalola. From the side of Nigeria, the hope that the partnership would mitigate, if not totally eliminate, their untold sufferings and persecution became an illusion..………..See More
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