HISTORY OF ECWA

The Evangelical Church of West Africa now called Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) is one of the largest Church denominations in Nigeria, reaching about five million people. ECWA is a partner church of the international Christian Mission Organisation: Serving In Mission (SIM, formerly Sudan Interior Mission). It was founded in 1954 when the SIM-related churches (initially in Nigeria) came together to form an indigenous body.Since that time, mission stations, Bible Schools, academic schools, and medical programs have been transferred to ECWA leadership.

Throughout Nigeria but especially in the central regions, ECWA churches are growing rapidly. Some churches have experienced as much as 400% growth. Churches in the Northern (traditionally more Islamic) parts of the country are also growing.^[1] There are currently more than five thousand ECWA congregations with more than five million attenders and a church membership of over three million people.

ECWA has started two Theological Seminary (ECWA Theological Seminary Igbaja, established 1941 and Jos ECWA Theological Seminary) eight Bible colleges and fifteen theological training institutes. ECWA’s Medical Department co-ordinates a wide network which includes four hospitals, a Community Health Programme with over 110 health clinics, a Central Pharmacy and the School of Nursing and Midwifery. It is also involved in radio, publications for outreach and discipleship, rural development, urban ministries, and cross-cultural missions. There are more than 1600 missionaries from ECWA churches who serve in Nigeria and other countries with the Evangelical Missionary Society (EMS), the missionary arm of ECWA.

FIRST ECWA ILORIN

S.I.M. Missionary activities had been going on in Ilorin before 1946 by 1942 the need arose for the establishment of a mission station in the town where missionaries going to Igbomina and Yagba towns could receive their supplies, Land was acquired from the Challenge building for the present ECWA Chapel. A certificate occupancy was obtained in 1943 and buildings commenced there in 1944, By 1945 the Challenge building, the business department (the present IDCC office) and some residential buildings (the one next to the IDCC office) was occupied by Rev. C.P. Jensen in 1946, There was still no S.I.M. Church at Ilorin before that time, On 31st March, 1946 both Rev. C.P. Jensen and Elder J.A. Afolabi met after the service at St. Barnabas Anglican Church Sabo-Oke and agreed to start an S.I.M. Church in Ilorin the following Sunday Rev. C.P. Jensen’s residence was the proposed venue. On the appointed day 7th April, 1946, seven people assembled at the venue, they were Rev. C.P. Jensen, Mrs. Hellen Jensen, Elder J.A. Afolabi, Mr. Thomas Akande, Mr.Elisha Omoteji, Mr. Joseph Adewumi (Joseph Cook) and Mr. Joseph Aboyeji (BoyejiOloko) These were the seven pioneers of S.I.M./ECWA Church in Ilorin who held the first service at the Business Department of the S.I.M. Mission in the morning of 7th April, 1946, The service was led by Rev. C.P. Jensen, He read II Chronicles 14:1 10 as the only lesson for the service, From then on, the story has been that of physical and spiritual growth, On 21st April, 1946 the venue was shifted to a shop at No. 18 Balogun Fulani Street, Ilorin. Land was acquired in 1947 and a thatched-roofed building was put up at the Oyo Bye Pass (now Taiwo Road) and the church moved there in 1948. The land was purchased from MagajiOkaka through Baba Aweri, and all necessary processes for purchasing land for such purposes were strictly followed, the building was roofed with corrugated iron sheets in 1952.

Another church building was put up at the Old Oyo Bye Pass Premises in November 1972 The children’s church was built in 1977 and dedicated on 12/11/1978 The present children’s church which was initially meant for Sunday school classes was built in 1979 It was later changed to a temporary main church in 1983 and to children’s church in November 1992 when the main church moved into the new building.

The foundation of the new church was officially laid on 26th November, 1983 but work did not begin on it until January, 1984 the first service was held in the church in October 1992.

The church was officially licensed for celebration of marriages, first on 11th May, 1949 the license was signed by Chief Commissioner of Northern Provinces Mr. E.W. Thompstone. This was published in the gazette No. 30 government Notice No. 742 of June 9, 1946 page 438 Another one was 1971, signed by the Kwara State Military Governor, Col (now Brig.) D.L. Bamigboye.