Hurrah! First Baptist Church Kaduna Is 100 Years, Obasanjo, Dr Ishola, Others To Grace Occasion This November
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NIGERIA –
Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo and former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd) have been billed for 100 years anniversary of the First Baptist Church, Ahmadu Bello way, Kaduna, slated between November 1 to 18, this year.
Addressing a press conference in Kaduna on Friday, Chairman, Centenary Anniversary Planning Committee, Dcn Engr. Adeniyi Rasheed Rufai told the newsmen that, the church, located in the heart of Kaduna, has survived several violence with the help of God and security agents in the state in the last 100 years.
According to him, the church though beginning in 1914, was officially launched in 1918 at about the time the colonial masters created Kaduna City thereby making it one of the oldest denominations in Northern Nigeria.
Kaduna City had marked its 100 years earlier in the year where the Church played host to the City’s centenary church service led by Deputy Governor, Arch. Yusuf Bala Bantex.
To him, “First Baptist Church, Ahmadu Bello way, Kaduna, has a lot to tell in her 100 years of great commission in Kaduna and its vast environs and that is why there is no how the story of Christianity in Northern Nigeria could complete without inclusion of sacrifices of FBC Kaduna who took the bull by the horn and approached the then colonial masters who had earlier rejected citing of church within Kaduna town.
“Available records showed that, God has bestowed special wisdom on our founding fathers who were able to convince the colonial masters that the church would improve the economy of the town and indeed, it has and still doing that.
“We have touched lives of less privileged without minding their social or religious status.
“In the light of the above brief history of our church, we have mapped out series of activities starting from November 1 -to 18, this year.
“The town will, by the grace of God, experience another great revival especially at such a time like this when we need divine intervention to restore peace to our land for the sake of the elects therein. God love this land and we have to always stand in the gap for it.
“Our Revivalist is the erstwhile General Secretary of the Nigerian Baptist Convention (NBC) Reverend Dr Ademola Ishola with other anointed men of God while the Undershepherd of the Church, Reverend Dr Banjo Ajao is the Chief Host.
“It may also interest you to know that, former President Olusegun Obasanjo was our member when he was at Jaji several years ago and we are expecting him and former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd) among other dignitaries to grace this important occasion.”
Talking about the challenges the church has faced and overcome over the years he said, “the greatest challenge of all season is that of socio-religous/political crisis that has always affect the growth of the Church.
“Others include influx of technological devices, lack of mission minded people in the Church etc. It is always good to remember that the Church is the Bride of Christ.”