IJERO - EKITI CHURCH

HISTORY OF SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH, IJERO EKITI

          The idea to have a Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Ijero Ekiti was mooted by three personalities, Mr. Ajiboye J. S. (Education Secretary of Ijero Local Government then), Mr. Kusoru (an Accountant at the State Specialist Hospital, Ijero and Mr Babalola, a town Planner at the ministry of works, Ijero-Ekiti. They contacted Mr. and Mrs. Awoleye Balogun who were teachers and residing in Ijero township.

          The church took off on the 18^th of October 1997 at the residence of Mr. & Mrs. Balogun. The family was highly delighted at the take-off of the church because they had for long been scouting for both new and old members around Ijero and the neighbouring towns.

          Shortly after take-off the sitting room of Mr. & Mrs. Awoleye Balogun could no more contain the members, hence there was a need to look for a bigger place. A landlord, Mr Arowojobe released his car park for the church but the car park was not spacious enough hence the search for a suitable place continued until Elder J. S. Ajiboye eventually got a shop along Ifaki road, opposite the Defunct National Bank of Nigeria, Ijero Ekiti

          Worship continued in this shop for more than eight years before the church relocated to the provision shop of Mrs. D. A. Balogun who was the Sabbath School Superintendent and Church Clerk. The first harvest thanksgiving service was held on the 9^th of December, 1998. Pastor M. O. Ajao was the District pastor and by the time Pastor Wojuade who succeeded him came, membership of the church had increased to 30.

          The church wrote series or letters to the leadership of the Southwest Nigeria Conference requesting for a resident Pastor. It was during the tenures of Pastor S. O. Aina as District Pastor that a district-employed Pastor was sent to the church. It was also during the tenure of Pastor Aina that Elder David Femi Ekundayo from one of our churches in Lagos conducted a two-weeks crusade in Ijero in conjunction with the South West Nigeria Conference. Some souls got baptized. This experience and the recommendation of Elder Ekundayo led to the deployment of Pastor Ajibola to Ijero and he reported for duty as the first pastor of the church on 1^st March 2008,. He however did not stay long before the conference re-deployed him to Ijebu-Oru in Ogun State. His exit created a vacuum and Elders Balogun and Ibidun and their families managed the church during this period. Mr Balogun was ordained as the first Elder of S.D.A Church Ijero by Pastor J. B. O. Olajide, Ipoti District Pastor.        

          Two female youth Corpers from Imo State served the church meritoriously between 2008 and 2009 and it was during their sent forth programme that the church started using her permanent site at stadium Road, Opeleke Ijero, which was got through the effort of Elder Ibidun.

          The church almost lost the land but for the intervention of Pastor (Dr.) J.A Ola and the financial assistance of N60,000.00 from the South West Nigeria Conference (SWNC) saved the situation. The role played by the following people towards the development of the church was note-worthy: Elder S. O. Ibidun and his family, Mr Agboola (A medical practitioner), Mr. Makanju, S. O. Kusoru, Mr. Kunle Dada, Mr. Olubodun, Pa Apanisile and his family and N.Y.S.C members Glory and Uwikiri.

          On 17^th September 2010, the church lost one of her foundation members in person Mrs. D.A Balogun who was the Sabbath School Superintendent and Treasurer until her death.

          The death of Mrs. Balogun negatively affected the progress of the church. However the arrival of the following civil servants who were nurses brought the church back to life. They were: Mr. Adetiloro Mayowa, Mr. Familusi and his wife and Mr. Arubu. Pastor Adekanye was also posted to take care of the church. He however did not stay long before he was transferred to Lagos.

          Pastor E. O. Adeoye came in to replace Pastor Adekanye in March 2012, and he worked with a lot of zeal to bring life back into the church. After his transfer to Ise-Ekiti in March 2013, Pastor M. B. Akintola was posted to replace him.

          The role of our student members at the College of Health Technology Ijero-Ekiti is very commendable. The Branch Sabbath School on their campus which had been in existence since 2001 is functioning well.

          At present, the church is trying to build a place of worship. The survey plan and building plan are ready and the church is praying for good-spirited people to assist in raising the building up; more so as it is located at a Local Government headquarters.   

          We pray that the Lord continues to move His work forwards in Ijero-Ekiti Church.