Our History

AND SO IT CAME TO PASS…..Wednesday February 1, 1984 could have passed as any ordinary day but somewhere in a white house located at 44, Adelabu Street, Surulere, Lagos, a man, his wife, and one of their daughters (the other members of the family were studying in different parts of the world at this time) gathered for the “usual” Baptist church prayer meeting which normally holds in the evening of such a day in Baptist churches across the land. 

 The man, as head of the family, had only on the previous Sunday taken what can now be described as a momentous decision to withdraw his membership from New Estate Baptist Church, Surulere, Lagos. But being Baptists of many years standing, and with a habit of attending prayer meetings on Wednesdays, the family thought of where they could go to join other believers in praying to God. Like a flash, it occurred to them that they could have the prayer meeting in their own living room. And this was what the three of them did. The following Sunday, they also decided to have worship service in their home. A number of persons who visited the family on their way to their own churches that particular morning decided to stay for the worship service; and thus a new Baptist church was born. 

 It was not until much later that the significance of what had taken place dawned onDeacon & Mrs. Gamaliel Oforitsenere Onosode and other members of their family. A few months before the event that prompted him to leave New Estate Baptist Church, the Church had held their annual revival service that was led by late Papa Rev. J.A. Ajani. In the course of one of his sermons, Rev. Ajani had called for the establishment of more Baptist churches in Surulere. He specifically lamented the fact that there was only one Baptist church, namely, New Estate Baptist Church, around the stretch of road that began from the Itire Road end of Ogunlana Drive and extended, through Adelabu Street, to the Orile end of Census Road, Surulere. The establishment of Adelabu Street Baptist Church was, therefore, seen as an act of God, the fulfillment of His will as it was shared with the congregation at New Estate Baptist Church by Rev. Ajani. 

 The grace of God Almighty was mightily lavished on this Body of believers as they steadily grew in number and in the knowledge of the word of God. Deacon G.O. Onosode served as the Acting Pastor for four years and six months. Others who played a prominent role in the life of the church in its early days included his wife, Sis. Susan Onosode, who made sure that their home was always made ready for church meetings, Bro. O.K. Belo (the first Church Secretary who later became a deacon of the church), Deacon T.A. Oladele, Sis. Dulcie Idehen, Bro. Clinton Peters, Dr. O.P. Owolabi, Dr. E. O. Bandele, Bro. Charles Ekwegh, Bro. Bassey Inyang, Sis. Aghogho (Joy) Aganbi (who later became Mrs. Aghogho (Joy) Ovienmhada), Bro. Mike Ajado (one of the first set of deacons ordained by the church). Bro. Inehrunwa Onosode used to come home on weekends from the University of Ibadan where he was studying to play the piano for the Sunday worship services. Later, Sis. Debo Manuwa became the non-remunerative Church Organist and served in this position until she relocated abroad.