History of CAC Oke-Igbala Ketu
Brief History of CAC Oke Igbala
Three distinctive phases are marked out in the records of the formation of Christ Apostolic Church, Oke-Igbala, Ketu – foundation, constitution and development. The foundation phase of the assembly covered the period up to 1974, the second phase was from 1974 up to late 1979, and the last of the formation stages of the Church occurred in early 1980.
Each of the eras has its set of ministers and Church workers that played significant roles in what became of the assembly as we know it today, with each era building on the efforts and works of the previous one
The Foundation
It was by sheer providence that the servant of God who commenced the fellowship at Christ Apostolic Church in the Ikosi area of Ketu and also named it Oke-Igbala at that time. He is Pastor Samuel Olusoji Ogundare, who ranks as one of the oldest Pastors in the mission today.
The fellowship continued until Pastor Ogundare, in some rare moments of personal trials, including the one in which he lost his blood brother, could not continue with the Ikosi, Ketu Church project.
According to Pastor Olusoji Samuel Ogundare, he was led by God to reach rural places, including Ikosi, Ketu, with the gospel when he was based in Maroko. It was from there that he used to travel with about four to five people to Ikosi, Ketu and other places, like Eti Osa areas in the same Lagos Island. They would go to Ikosi at that time, hold programmes, give out tracts and share the gospel, especially with the farmers and artisans who were working on the construction sites in the areas. Some of those they ministered to were also joining them either in evangelism or evening fellowships.
The visits to Ikosi from Maroko in Lagos Island were held at intervals. In the process, he made contact with one Mr. Sokoti, a retired soldier (with an amputated right leg that resulted from the injury he sustained during the Biafran war). Mr. Sokoti built a place, like a shop, by the side of his house which he rented for their fellowship. It was during his visit that he also met Evangelist Moses O. Olorungbaniyan who then was undergoing training in the School of ministry under Pastor/Evangelist D. O. Babajide at Ilesha. Evangelist Olorungbaniyan too volunteered to join them any time he came down to Lagos.
The Second Phase
The era of the Late Evangelist Moses Olorungbaniyan became the loudest and most prominent in the narration of the story of Christ Apostolic Church, Oke-Igbala, Ikosi, Ketu. With time during the renewed movement, pressures mounted on Evangelist Olorungbaniyan to align the Church with a Supervising District. This was because of noticeable administrative lapses in the way he administered the affairs of the church, as a typical owner/planter. The likes of Evangelist Oladunjoye, who has now retired as a District Superintendent in CAC and Elder Pamisi of CAC Oke-Iyanu, Off Demurin Street and a few of the pioneer members led this movement. Eventually, the Church was registered at CAC Oke-Iyanu, Itire as IT/L/008- Ketu 2 Assembly in 1975.
Land Acquisition and Infrastructural Development
While at No 37, Ikosi Road, from 1976 to 1979 the Church was in dire need of a permanent site for expansion. It was at that point that Retired General Superintendent, Pastor Abraham Onasanya Ade Olutimehin came to the aid of the Church by donating the present location of the Church. Late Engineer Oladapo had decided to bless Baba Olutimehin with the land for his personal use. Upon knowing that the Church was in dire need of landed property for expansion, Baba Olutimehin freely donated it to C.A.C. Oke-lgbala, Ketu, through C.A.C. Itire assembly under Pastor Benjamin Okpaise (Deceased).
We need to imagine and note pointedly, how a number of our fathers demonstrated their faith, disdained worldly ambition, love of money, desperation for fame and other acquisitions that are driving the gospel ministers of the present generation crazy. These men were a bunch of heavenly-minded people who would give up anything, no matter what it was, for the sake of Jesus Christ and the cause of the Cross. We leave details of this to the One who knows what the journey of faith has cost each person and how to reward the work of everyone.
Late Engineer Oladapo on occasion came and fellowship with members from Ebute Elefun. On one of such occasions, he said he loved the rate at which the Church was growing. That was when he willingly gave the adjacent land beside the main (small) Church to be added to the land originally given by the late Baba Olutimehin. And the congregation was full of joy and gratitude to him for this lofty gift. He was even instrumental in the sale of the portion that belonged to his friend, Pa. Fasheun to the Church in the year 2000. That portion of the land now serves as the parking lot for Church members.
The Third Phase
After the exit of Pastor Olorungbaniyan, Pastor J. A. Olasehinde from Itire II was transferred to take over the affairs of the Church in April 1981, a move that became a turning point in the history of the assembly.
Like a newly branded movement, the Church commenced its programmes and activities in a new location on Sunday, 6th January 1980 with an opening attendance of 136 members. At a meeting of the then Church committee, and due to some factors, a decision was arrived at to commence the anniversary of the Church from 1980. The fact that cannot be over-flogged, was the timely involvement of Pastor J. A. Olasehinde, who was programmed by God to lay a more solid foundation for the assembly and catapult it from obscurity to the limelight and under whose leadership the Church began to witness rapid growth and great turnarounds.
God used him mightily as he too worked assiduously to bring the assembly to the enviable height. Prophesies used to come from far and near that the Church would become "AKEHINDE GBEGBON" meaning though it was being referred to as KETU II, it has been ordained by God to be KETU I. This came to pass as the fulfilments of those prophesies are rife today. In September 1988, Pastor Olasheinde laid the foundation of the present edifice and saw the project to the roofing stage before his promotion and transfer to Itire as the first District Superintendent of Itire.
The Church Dedication
The main auditorium of the Church was dedicated for the use of mankind and to the glory of God on the 24thof November, 1993 with funfair by Pastor A. O. A. Olutimehin (retired) General Superintendent. While Pastor J. O. Babayemi was then the Assembly Pastor.