IJERO, OMUO CHURCH 2


THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH 2 IJERO,
 OMUO EKITI
          Pastor Jeremiah Ojo was transferred to Ijero Adventist Church Omuo Ekiti from Ila Orangun in 1997. During his pastoral visit, he met the Late Mrs. Grace Adetoro Fadumila, nee Ogunsakin, a nursing matron and a devout Adventist, on her sickbed. Seeing her enthusiasm, the Pastor took interest, changed his occasional visit to regular alternate day visitation, praying and reviewing the Sabbath School lessons with her.
          He conducted special service for her on Sabbath days and held the Holy Communion service periodically.
          During these special services Pastor Ojo noticed with dismay, some Adventist member whom he had never seen in the main church, worshipped with this woman. Soon the Pastor found out that those members were hampered with prevalent ailment Lakuregbe (chronic arthritis) and other impediments.
          This motivated the Pastor to plan regular Sabbath School with this woman. To enhance progress, he took the idea of a Branch Sabbath School to the main church and they were happy to approve it.     
          The Sabbath School started with about ten old church members. It was being held in the verandah of the sick woman and later under the whistling pine tree still at the front of the woman’s house.
Pioneer members include:
1.       Late Mrs. Grace Adetoro Fadumila
2.       Chief S. I. Ogunsakin
3.       Chief Daniel Awoniyi
4.       Mrs. K. B. Adeola
5.       Madam Comfort Adeniran
6.       Mrs. Dupe Awolusi
7.       Mrs Rachael Bada
8.       Mrs Adewusi Damilola
9.       Mrs (Abido) Awoniyi Janet
10.     Madam Oyibo Daramola (Iya Ebun)
11.     Madam Oni Bakare
12.     Madam Lydia
          Initial problems like lack of shelter, drizzling, cold or heat according to the weather had to be endured. Worse! The uncontrollable interference of people who stared and gossiped as they scuttled and sauntered along the bypass adjoining the worship area was irritating.
          Most of the members assigned to the new unit were reluctant; some even regarded it as a mushroom church for the sick woman only.
          For many Sabbaths, Chief Daniel Awoniyi came to be the Sabbath School leader until solid arrangement was made that elders were scheduled to officiate at the new church. Mr. S. A. Ilesanmi was the frist diligent elder assigned to nurture the new Branch Sabbath School followed by Elder Isaac Popoola. They laboured enthusiastically as if the original Apostle Peter and Paul were pumping the Holy Ghost into them.
          As situation improved, Late Mrs. Fadumila donated her portion of her parents’ family land for the church. She was a very faithful tithe payer in addition she contributed much amount of money, always eager and wished the building be completed in her life time.
          When the walls were built to the level for roofing, she began to sing her favorite song, “There is no earthy sorrow that heaven cannot heal.” She rejoiced that her dream was one step to fruition and she gave out more money.
          Unfortunately, she did not live to see the church roofed; still a sum of one hundred and thirty eight thousand naira (138,000.00) was donated to the church by her only child, Pastor Segun Oludumila, from his mother’s posthumous earnings.
          Pastor J. A. Olawunmi succeeded the pioneer pastor, J. O. Ojo. He was agile in body and mind. He inaugurated revival services to strengthen the members and attracts new ones.
          However, Pastor Olawunmi took over the challenge to roof the church as he enlisted the help of the mother church, gave himself up as a timber contractor to bring out the wood from the forest. He did all odd jobs to see the church roofed.
          Some families: K. B. Adeola, Popoolas at Akure, Elder M. O. Ale, Chief Ogunsakin, donated roofing sheets, cement and other materials. All other members contributed generously in spite of the circumstances at that time. Eventually the church was roofed and service began in earnest.
          We cannot but acknowledge the kindness of late Mrs. Lucilda Palmer (Aunt Lu) an Adventist from Northampion Church  in London, mother in law of professor Olu Ogunsakin. She sent some amount of money to the elderly women of the church after her visit to Nigeria. Pastor Olawumi gave the little amount to the women in a special service held in her honour.
We also recognize Mr. Sunday Adeniran for his huge support of blocks, cement, generators, foods and donations.
Pastor S. B. Dada came in as Olawumi was transferred to Lagos. Pastor Dada took the church as his foster child. He spent much time, almost every day running up and down for evaluation, direction and modification of the building to completion. He monitored the worship procedures nursing it vigorously to adulthood.
The church was organized in 2014.