Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) is the first Pentecostal church present in Nigeria. It arose in the first half of the 20th century, in the then-British empire. It was founded in Ijebu-ode named Precious Stone Society in 1918[1] but was formally established in 1941 after a split from the Apostolic Church which the original Aladura organization (Faith Tabernacle) had invited to Nigeria. Its growth was led by Joseph Ayo Babalola, a road construction driver who became its first General Evangelist.[2]
| Christ Apostolic Church | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Abbreviation | CAC |
| Classification | Charismatic |
| Orientation | Pentecostal |
| Theology | Evangelical |
| Governance | Pastors |
| President | Pastor S.O Oladele |
| General Evangelist | Prophet Hezekiah Oladeji |
| General Superintendent | Pastor E.O Odejobi |
| Associations | Christian Association of Nigeria, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria |
| Region | Nigeria and overseas |
| Headquarters | General Secretariat: Oba I.B Akinyele Memorial Complex, Bashorun, Ibadan, Nigeria.
|
| Founder | Oba/Pastor Isaac Babalola Akinyele, Pastor David O. Odubanjo, Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola |
| Origin | 1918 Ijebu Ode |
| Separated from | The Apostolic Church Nigeria |
| Tertiary institutions | Joseph Ayo Babalola University |
| Seminaries | Christ Apostolic Church Theological Seminary Ile-Ife |
| Official website | www |
| Slogan | ONE FOLD, ONE SHEPHERD |
Christ Apostolic Church operates secondary schools and an Entrepreneurial University named after the first General Evangelist, Joseph Ayo Babalola University[3] (JABU) right in Ikeji Arakeji, Osun State in Nigeria.[4] [5] Pastor Samuel Olusegun Oladele was inaugurated as the 8th president of Christ Apostolic Church Worldwide on 20 March 2021.
History
editChrist Apostolic Church is an indigenous African church founded by members of Precious Stone Society (Faith Tabernacle) after separating from The Apostolic Church in 1940.[6] The church's history is linked to its founders, namely Isaac Babalola Akinyele, Joseph Ayo Babalola, David Odubanjo, Joseph Esinsinade, and Miss Sophia Odunlami.
Before then, Christ Apostolic Church and The Apostolic Church (called Diamond or Precious Stone at that time) were found in some places in Nigeria but met mainly at St Savior's Anglican Church.[7] The Anglican Church were opposed to the practices of the group and members of the group who are workers in the Anglican Church were forced to resign. When the Great Revival[2] emerged in July 1930 people rejected their traditional medicines and thousands of people gave their lives to Jesus. On 23 September 1931, Pastors D.P Williams, A. Turnbull, and W.J Williams came to Nigeria [8] and ordained the first seven Pastors of the church. Then during the crisis that occurred in 1939-1940 in the church[9] that led to the emergence of two groups, the first is The Apostolic Church Nigeria led by Pastor Samuel Adegboyega while the second is Christ Apostolic Church.[citation needed]
Baba Abiye was one of the leaders of the Christ Apostolic Church who served as the Assistant General Evangelist of the church, working closely with Joseph Ayo Babalola during his lifetime.[citation needed]
Tenets
editChrist Apostolic Church adopted the 11 tenets of the Apostolic Church UK and added the 12th and 13th tenets in 1940.[10]
Current leaders
edit• Pastor Samuel Olusegun Oladele - President
• Hezekiah Oluboye Oladeji- General Evangelist
• Pastor Emmanuel Olatoro Odejobi - General Supridentent
• Pastor Emmanuel Mapur - General Secretary
• Pastor Johnson Folorunsho Omitinde - Finance Director[11]
See also
edit- Nigerian sectarian violence
- Church of the Lord (Aladura)
- Celestial Church of Christ
- Eternal Sacred Order of Cherubim and Seraphim
- Cherubim and Seraphim Society
- New religious movement
- St John the Baptist, Kentish Town
- Redeemed Christian Church of God
- Living Faith Church Worldwide
- Deeper Christian Life Ministry
References
edit- ^ "Christ apostolic church – Faith Chapel". Retrieved 8 January 2024.
- ^ a b "Great Revivalist". Great Revivals. Archived from the original on 30 January 2009. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
- ^ "Home". Joseph Ayo Babalola University. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
- ^ "Babalola, Joseph Ayo, Nigeria/Ghana, Christ Apostolic Church (Aladura)". Dacb.org. Archived from the original on 20 March 2012. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
- ^ Norman C. Habel; Vicky Balabanski (30 October 2002). The Earth Story in the New Testament. Continuum International Publishing Group. pp. 113–. ISBN 978-0-8264-6060-8. Retrieved 15 May 2012.
- ^ "BRIEF HISTORY – The Apostolic Church Ghana". Retrieved 20 January 2024.
- ^ "African Indigenous Churches — Chapter Eight". Institute For Religious Research. 11 May 2011. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
- ^ ChurchGistAdmin (23 September 2023). "TODAY IN HISTORY: 23rd September". Church Gist. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
- ^ Retrieved from Gross Archive Division in Christ Apostolic Church
- ^ Akande, Lydia Bosede (15 December 2018). "The impact of christ apostolic church on Yoruba diaspora in the New York District". Ilorin Journal of Religious Studies. 8 (1): 15–26. ISSN 2141-7040.
- ^ "Current Leaders | Christ Apostolic Church Headquarters". Christ Apostolic Church Nigeria and Overseas. Retrieved 20 January 2024.