ELETI, OTUN CHURCH

THE SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH I, 
ELETI, OTUN EKITI

In 1922, Pastor I. A. Balogun was sent to Otun Ekiti to preach the Adventist message. He preached the message to the neighouring communities, and the king on the throne was His Roral Majesty, Oba Ariyowaye, the Oore of Otun.
          On arrival, Pastor Balogun lodged in the house of Mr. Alabi Odo Oja, Otun Ekiti. He met a peer group get together meeting hosted by David Ajayi Erinfolami, a younger brother to Mr. Alabi. They were discussing relevant issues as palm wine was served round and Pastor Balogun was warmly received as he too was served a cup of palm wine. He held on to the cup for a while and as the Holy Spirit directed, he addressed the group on the issue of Adventism and how they can read and write as well as study the Bible starting with ABDEF… (Alawiye/Olope).
          The group was overwhelmingly happy about the Pastor’s teaching and many of them were unaware as Pastor Balogun cleverly handed back the cup of palm wine to the next person sitting close to him. Pastor Balogun scheduled himself for regular lectures shuttling Otun to Ipoti, teaching them how to read ABD Alawiye and continued to instill Adventists Doctrine in them.
          Pa David Ajayi Erinfolami (then a young man) eventually became the first to memorize a quotation taught by Pastor Balogun. It goes thus: “Jesu Omo Olorun, Jesu Olugbala, gba mi la, dari ese mi ji mi, fi ona re han mi” (i.e. “Jesus, Son of God, Jesus the Saviour, save me, forgive my sins, show me thy way”).  Pa Erinfolami eventually became the anchor man to gather the people every 18 days (usual meeting time) pending the arrival of Pastor Balogun, and he also was the middle man that consulted with HRM Oba Ariyowaye the Kabiyesi that donated land for church use. Thus Adventist Church took off at Otun in 1923. Among those that were studying with Pastor Balogun were the following elderly people like Alabi (his Landlord), Adewumi of Idofin, Olaloti of Odo Oja, Ogunleye of Odo Oja and others. We also have the following young ones among them like David Ajayi Erinfolami, Joseph Fadeyi and others. Majority of those mentioned above had served as elders in the church in Otun Ekiti.
          Another set of people that followed those mentioned above who also accepted the Seventh-Day Adventist Church message included Robinson Abolarin Ajayi, Asunmatiku, Jacob Aina of Ilaro, Aina (Abilomu), James Dada Oke Epe and many others. Among the women that accepted Adventist faith were: Ajayi Fayori of Amututu, Omolewo Adebayo of Inisa, Adegbenle and Egberongbe of Ilotin. After sometimes, other women also joined the church.
The first mission house was built in 1924 at oke Omi Eleti for the pioneer pastor, Late Pastor Isaiah Balogun between 1923 and 1924. Other mission house was bult at Orita Oke Eju behind the border of Aragan now known as (Araromi in Otun Ekiti). The mission house here was meant to house both the white missionaires and teachers of the Central School which replaced the Sao Central School. The mission house along Oke Eju was very spacious and the place was used as worship centre until the first church building was completed in 1926. The first baptism took place in 1926. Those that got baptized were James Ajayi, John Obebe, Robinson Abolarin, Samuel Jegede and Joseph Ayegbusi. As the church continued to expand, the first church building could no longer contain the members. The need to build a bigger church necessitated the invitation of Chief Dada, the Odofin of Ipoti Ekiti by Late Elder Daniel Olomojobi for the roofing of the second church. It must be noted that corrugated iron sheet was used to roof the second church. No amount was charged for the roofing work.
          The political riot that started in 1912 which led to the burning of many houses in Otun Ekiti in 1914 affected the existing Anglican (CMS) Church. This means there was no Christian Church in Otun Ekiti until 1922 when Pastor Balogun brought the Adventist message to Otun. CMS later resurfaced in 1936. They had their church building at Oke Ilero. The Roman Catholic Mission (RCM) came to Otun the same year. After some years the church kept expanding and there was a need to have a bigger and beautiful church in Otun Ekiti. That was how the present church building came into being which at present is the biggest Adventist Church in Moba land. SDA Church Eleti was organized in 1954.
          In addition to the Seventh – Day Church at Omi Eleti which is the District headquarters, four other churches have been established in Otun Ekiti; each having her own church buildings, namely: Inisa, Imayan, Araromi and Oluwatedo. This is a result of the success recorded in evangelism in the town. The four churches that grew out of Eleti have all being organized. We give glory to God today that the Adventist Church in Otun Ekiti had grown beyond the dream of Pastor I. A. Balogun. The church attach much importance to education, this was the reason why a number of schools were established in Otun Ekiti by the early missionaries. The church asked for land that could be used to build school from Oore Ariyowaye who gave to the church Oke Ogba in Oke Omi Eju. The two missionaries that started this school project were: Mr. J. E. Borgeaurd and Pastor W. G. Till who came from Sao. The school building project and staff quarters were completed in March 1924 and the mission house in June the same year. The following schools were established in Otun Ekiti by the Seventh-Day Adventist Church mission.
SDA Central School                         -        1924
Teacher Training College                  -        1955
Secondary Modern School                -        1958
          All these schools are history now but the church established Adventist Comprehensive High School, Otun Ekiti in 1999 which is still waxing strong.
          The Presence of these schools had brought a lot of development to Otun Ekiti Community as many products of these schools have become prominent people in our society today. Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Otun Ekiti has also produced prominent leaders of the church who have served the church in various capacities, among them were: Late Pastor Dr. D. T. Agboola, the first Education Secretary of the defunct Nigeria Union Mission, Pastor Dr. Joseph Adebisi Ola, the longest serving Union President (1995-2010), Pastor Professor J. M. Ajibade Oyinloye, the pioneer President of the former South West Nigeria Conference (1998 – 2001), Pastor (Dr.) E. O. Adeniyi, the Pioneer President of Lagos Mainland Conference, Just to mention a few.
          It is very important to note that through the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Otun Ekiti, the Adventist message has spread to every nook and crannies of Moba Land.
          The Church in Otun Ekiti has been served by the following Pastors:
1.       Pastor I. A. Balogun            -                  1922-1933
2.       Pastor D. B. Alabi                -                  1933-1936
3.       Evang. D. Atolagbe             -                  1936-1940
4.       Pastor J. B. Oriola               -                  1941-1954
5.       Pastor J. A. Adeogun           -                  1954-1955
6.       Pastor J. E. Adewoye           -                  1955-1956
7.       Pastor J. A. Adeogun           -                  1957-1958
8.       Pastor J. O. Olomojobi         -                  1958-1962
9.       Pastor S. A. Majolagbe         -                  1963-1965
10.     Pastor E. O. Akintunde         -                  1966-1969
11.     Evang. J. A. Fatunbi             -                  1989-1970
12.     Pastor E. O. Akintunde         -                  1970-1971
13.     Pastor D. K. Omoleye           -                  1971-1973
14.     Pastor I. O. Adewusi            -                  1973-1975
15.     Pastor A. F. Oloyede            -                  1975-1984
16.     Pastor J. A. Alade                -                  1984-1986
17.     Pastor F. Fadare                  -                  1986-1987
18.     Pastor J. A. Fatunbi             -                  1987-1992
19.     Pastor M. O. Ajao                -                  1992-1997
20.     Pastor J. A. Dada                -                  1997-1998
21.     Pastor A. A. Elusode            -                  1998-1999
22.     Pastor B. K. Ogundeji          -                  1999-2001
23.     Pastor D. O. Onifade           -                  2001-2008
24.     Pastor T. O. Olaoye            -                  2008-April 2014
25.     Pastor O. A Oludumila       -                  April 2014 till date