EPE - EKITI CHURCH 1


HISTORY OF SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH IN EPE EKITI DISTRICT

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH 1 EPE EKITI
The Seventh-Day Adventist Church got to Epe in 1924 through Late Pastor Isaiah A. Balogun. It was Late Dada Amojo (one of the seven people who started the church) who gave part of his house to the church as a place of worship. The pioneer members were:
  • 1.     Late Dada Amojo
  • 2.     Late Pa. J. B. Olaoye
  • 3.     Late Pa Imole Olowookere
  • 4.     Late Pa Atolagbe Aina (a.k.a Baba Igbagbo)
  • 5.     Late Pa Adaramola
  • 6.     Late Pa Ojunibaba-Ara

7.     Late Pa Fadare Ayomaseesinlowo and Pa Adefila from Ipoti who residing in Epe then
The king on the throne then, His Royal Highness, Oba Erinfolami, gave them a piece of land to build the church. A lamb shelter was built. The foundation of the present church building was laid in 1974 by Late Pastor Oloyede.
Those who joined the pioneer members were Late Ezekiel Ajayi, Late Moses Aborisade, Late Elijah Owolabi, Late Jacob Fasaanu, Late Rufus Oguntola, Late Emmanuel Babatunde, Late Michael Osasona, Late Osasona Omotokiri, Late John Oyewumi, Late Abolarin Michael, Late Joseph Kolawole and Late Ezekiel Adebayo.
The church was organized in 1976 with 25 members. Late Elder Moses Awoyemi was elected the first Elder of the church.
Due to the increase in population of the church, the church was extended in 1987 through the effort of Evangelist Emmanuel Adeniyi who was employed by old Otun District by then.

CHALLENGES
One of the major problems that faced the pioneers was that, it was difficult for them to worship at Otun then because their footsteps would be traced. They finally decided to face the opposite direction to where they were going i.e. they would face Epe and while going to Otun using their back so that their footsteps would be difficult to trace.
Any community work would be fixed on the Sabbath day deliberately in order to prevent them from going to their church.
They were disallowed to marry in the town at the time their counterparts were getting married.
Finally some of them were inflicted with diseases such as small pox and later died in the process.

DEVELOPMENT
Epe church 1 was dedicated in 2008 through the effort of Late Pastor J. O. Olatunji, who was pastoring the church then.
Epe church 1 was inaugurated as District Headquarter on 16th February 2013.
The children department building is on-going
Also, the church was endowed with a promising and appreciable number of youths.
These are the names of Pastors that has worked in Epe church since 1924 to 2015.
  • 1.     Late Evangelist Adedoje
  • 2.     Elder D. D. Adeleye
  • 3.     Evangelist E. O. Adeniyi
  • 4.     Evangelist Abioye
  • 5.     Evangelist J. A. Akanbi
  • 6.     Pastor J. F. Familusi (Late)
  • 7.     Pastor S. B. Dada
  • 8.     Pastor J. O. Olatunji (Late)
  • 9.     Pastor O. A. Oludumila
  • 10. Pastor O. S. Olona (current)