AYETORO CHURCH 1

THE HISTORY OF THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH AYETORO EKITI (AYETORO DISTRICT)

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH I, AYETORO EKITI

The Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Ayetoro-Ekiti started in 1927 through the efforts of some construction workers when Ado – Ilorin Road was being constructed. They were Elder Ayi, Pa Akere, Pa Oge, all natives of Ipoti-Ekiti.

They met the following people and preached to them that the true day of worship ordained by God is Saturday, the Seventh day of the week (Genesis 2:2-3). Those who listened to the message were: Pa Odeyemi (Joshua Adu), Pa Jacob Jegede, Pa Olafare, Pa David Abebi, and Pa Joseph Asewo Awe.

They all accepted the message and began to meet together for worship every Sabbath in the sitting room of Pa Dosunmu Oloode in Ile-Aaye Compound at Odo Iju Street. These people started teaching the Bible truth and Seventh - Day Adventist doctrine.

While doing this, the adherents of Egungun confraternity became angry and started fighting them. Later Pa Dosunmu Oloode told them not to worship in his house anymore. The believers then moved worship to Pa Odeyemi’s house in Sajiku Compound.

With determination, Pa Joshua Odeyemi started going to Otun for fellowship with a white missionary named Pastor W. G. Till. He used to disguise while going, he would wear his farm cloth, and while coming home after service, he would change his dress again. Later, some people joined them who together can be referred to as the first generation members. They were Pa Efia Usikalu, Chief Oloode, Pa Itagbe, Pa John Ayeni, Pa James Akomolafe, Pa Matthew Osadare, Pa James Olanipekun, Pa Oni Igigbala, Pa Alapailu, Pa Gabriel Abe, Pa Joseph Aroso Omojola and Pa Abraham.

The next generation (second converts) were: Pa David Agbede, Pa Jeje Amos, Pa Ajimutaje, Pa Asalusi, Pa Folorunso, Pa Jacob Oluwayemi, Pa Omoboriowo Gabriel, Pa Johanu Omonioge, Pa Joshua Akinola, Pa Michael Olaiya, Pa Abraham, Pa Jacob Aladeyelu, Pa Durodola.

The women pioneers were: Madam Awu Arowosegbe – Asewo’s wife (the first wife married by Pa Sakeu Asewo of Olaegbon’s family), Madam Osafunmi (Pa Efia’s sister), Madam Didu (Are’s sister), Madam Olujokeye (mummy Imasa), Madam Elizabeth Oja, and Madam Awe.

Pa Joseph Awe was the first man to marry and the first child born into the church was Zaccheaus Awe.

PERSECUTION

Later, the men were disallowed to marry their proposed wives because they did not want their daughters to become Christians. The youths were flogged in the public for refusing to join the Ibedo – the first initiation to the Egungun confraternity. Besides, the young ones who were still under their parents were denied food for days and female pioneer members were also hated.

However, the people stood on their faith as Adventists by not working on the Seventh-day Sabbath. God took control of His people and they were not harmed. History had it that Pastor Till (an American) went to the then Oba and Chiefs to warn them to stop torturing the young converts. However, this persecution had led to some of the young ones to leave the town for example, Pa Omoboriowo and others.

Later, the church was given a small piece of land at the back of Chief Eisaba’s house where a small house to worship was built with mud and roofed with gbodogi leaves. The seats were made with Raffia Palm and bamboos.

The then Alayetoro, Oba Usikalu, gave the church a piece of land where the church, the school, and the clinic are presently built. The king said that the gods that occupy the forest would destroy the members. Contrary to his wish, work started in the forest. Later, a new church was built and roofed with iron sheets. This is the work of God.

The first Pastor to ever preach to the faithful was Pastor J J Hyde with Pastor Balogun interpreting for him. He used to come from Otun-Ekiti to Ayetoro every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

Education started with Mr. Agbi from Ipoti-Ekiti coming to teach the members “ABD” (Yoruba alphabet from ‘Iwe Ijapa’) then.  A few of them were able to start reading their Bibles. Pa Efia Usiakalu was already with one of the missionaries at Otun-Ekiti, and later led Pa T. B. Ajayi to the town to start schooling with the following people: Pa Omoleye Adeyomoye, Pa T. Oke-Ajayi, Pa Z. S. B. Awe, Pa Taye Abe, and Sister Openiye Jegede.

The Adventist Primary School in Ayetoro-Ekiti started in 1944 at the back of the Pastor/Teachers’ Quarters kitchen, accommodating a few number of pupils with Mr. Isaac Oke of Ipoti-Ekiti as their teacher. In 1945, a corrugated iron-roofed church was built to accommodate the pupils with Mr. D. K. Olagunju from Oke Ila as their teacher.

In 1946, a hall was built and the pupils moved there in 1948 as classes to accommodate them for Standard 1 and 2 with two teachers under Mr. Asanso from Ikun-Ekiti.

History has it that Pastor Isaiah Balogun, a native of Ipoti-Ekiti, was the first Pastor in Ekiti and first ordained Pastor in Nigeria. Pastor Till also came to Otun-Ekiti while Pastor Oriola was at Ibadan. Pastor Balogun and Pastor Till used to come to Ayetoro to worship with the cooperation of Elder Gabriel Abe and Pa Osalusi.

Pastor Till and the then Alayetoro, Oba Usikalu were close friends

There were monthly meetings held in the house of the following people for the progress of God’s work: Pa Olafare, Pa Jegede, Pa Joshua Akinola, Pa Joshua Aseweje. Pa Jegede was the Church Clerk while his wife was the women leader.

GENERAL

Ayetoro-Ekiti is now a District Headquarters with four local churches under her. These local churches are: Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Ido-Ekiti, Seventh-Day Adventist Church 2, Oke-Uro, Ayetoro-Ekiti, Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Usi-Ekiti, Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Ewu-Ekiti.

The following Pastors have worked in the church: Omoleye (late), Okunlola, E. A., Adegbite, Wojuade, J. (late), O A Owolabi, Aina, Oladele, Afolayan, J. K., Ojo, J. O. (late), Oludumila, O. A., Sofowora and Alabi, J. O. who is the current pastor

CONCLUSION

We thank the first and second generation members for their efforts toward the progress of the Adventist Church in Ayetoro-Ekiti. Despite all odds in terms of persecution from the pagans and other churches that saw Adventist movement as rival in the town, the congregation remained faithful and committed. May we meet together in heaven.