OKE ILA, ADO CHURCH

HISTORY OF SEVENTH –DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH 

OKE-ILA, ADO-EKITI

          The Almighty God in His infinite mercy gave an inspiration to the only Seventh-day Adventist Church in Ado-Ekiti to purchase a landed property under the leadership of Pastor E. A. Adeleye as the church pastor and Elder E. O. Aburo as the first Elder. The church purchased 4 plots of land from Alarierin’s family off Oke-Ila/Federal Housing Estate Road at a cost of Sixty thousand naira only (N60,000) in 1995.

          In a move to permanently ward off trespassers it was very pertinent that the church’s presence be registered on the land. Consequently, in one of the meetings of the Ado District Council, in 2008 under the leadership of Pastor D. O. Onifade, it was approved that the Ado-Ekiti District combined service of 15^th of November, 2008 be held on the land. The then South West Nigerian Conference Sabbath-School Director, Pastor E .O. Adeniyi led the combined service. As a result, the new Branch Sabbath School held its first servcie on the land on 22^nd November, 2008 under a small rented canopy. Among the few members who started the Sabbath school branch were the following:

i.        Elder J. A. Adeniyi

ii.       Elder Akinlayo Olajide

iii.      Elder J. A. Ibidunmoye

iv.      Elder S. O. Olaseinde

v.       Elder J. Kolawole ADramola

vi.      Elder D. O. Aina

vii.     Elder Dele Akande

          Elder Allen Alebiosu and some members of his family joined the branch in January 2010.

Elder D. O. Aina was elected as the leader of the new church while Mrs. R. O. Olajide served as the Treasurer and late Deacon Ademola Adefajo was the Church Clerk and Mrs. Olaseinde was the Sabbath School Superintendent.

          As usual with many new branch Sabbath Schools, this branch did not find it easy at its inception. Despite the unfavourable condition, the members persevered and sacrificed to ensure the church’s growth to the present state. The unfavourable conditions under which members worshiped prompted them to think and act fast on the provision of a church building.

To the Glory of the God Almighty, the foundation of the church building was laid by the then South West Nigeria Conference President. Pastor E. A. Adeleye on 8^th March, 2009 and the roofing were completed on 15^th October, 2009. All the structural development of the church building happened under one year of its commencement.

          The Sabbath-School Branch was organized on Saturday 20^th of November, 2010 by the South West Nigeria Conference officials: Pastor Dr. E. A. Adeleye, President and Pastor E. O Adeniyi, Sabbath School and Personal Ministries Director. Elder D. O. Aina became the 1^st Elder with elder Allen Alebiosu, Akin Olajide, Elder J. Kolawole Adaramola and S.O. Olaseinde as serving elders.

          The baptized members as at February 2013 were 70.

It is important to recognize others who served as District and Church Pastors in Oke-Ila Church. They include:

(i)      Pastor E.O Adeniyi

(ii)     Pastor O.A. Oludumila

(iii)    Pastor A. K. Adeniyi

(iv)    Pastor C. O. Ogah

          To God be the glory