BRIEF HISTORY OF THE APOSTOLIC CHURCH LAWNA TERRITORY, NIGERIA

The years 1904-5 witnessed a mighty Divine visitation throughout Wales in the United Kingdom. During the Revival, multitudes were born again, and wonderful manifestations of the Holy Spirit were witnessed. The blessings resulting from it spread to many parts of the British Isles. The spiritual impact indeed was felt throughout the world. With sincere thankfulness we acknowledge this revival as the divinely appointed setting for the restoration or re-discovery of the scriptural experience and practice which identify The Apostolic Church as a world-wide fellowship.

Here in Nigeria, the reading of Apostolic Church literature by Christians in Lagos led to an exchange of correspondence with the Missionary Centre in Bradford. So in 1931 three prominent leaders of The Apostolic Church in United Kingdom visited Nigeria. They were Pastors D. P. Williams, Andrew Turnbull and Prophet W. Jones Williams who arrived Lagos on 23rd September, 1931 and conducted large campaigns in Western Nigeria. Great blessing was experienced under their ministry. By 15th November 1931, all conditions of agreement had been met, and at the subsequent Council Meeting in Lagos the Nigerian Leaders who ware then of the Faith Tabernacle Church, decided to join The Apostolic Church Great Britain. During the morning service of Sunday, 15th November 1931, the first ordination service was conducted and seven ministers of God were ordained pastors. They were Late Pastor Esinsinade of Ijebu-Ode, Late Pastor D. O. Odubanjo of Lagos, Late Pastor J. A. Babatope of Ilesha, Late Pastor S. A. Mensah of Kaduna, Late Pastor E. G. L. Macaulay of Zaria, Pastor I. B. Akinyele of Ibadan and Late Pastor S. G. Adegboyega.
In 1932, Pastor G. Perfect and I. J. Vaughan were sent as the first missionaries and they had since been followed by many others who with zeal and faithfulness had worked to such purpose that this Country has been the most productive of all The Apostolic Mission Fields.

PROFILE OF THE APOSTOLIC CHURCH, LAWNA TERRITORY, NIGERIA
The Apostolic Church has occupied an enviable position on the ecclesiastical list in Nigeria. It is one of the foremost Pentecostal settings in the nation, borne out of the untiring efforts of the early church fathers at home and white missionaries from the United Kingdom in 1931.
Lagos and Western/Northern Areas (LAWNA) is a child of a unification process. Historically, in order to unite and centralize the activities of the Church, the Parent Areas (Lagos, Ilesa, Zaria and Kabba) agreed and formed a platform then known as The Apostolic Church, Federal and Western, Northern Areas Council (FAWNAC) which was later changed to The Apostolic Church, Lagos and Western/Northern Areas (LAWNA) Territory in compliance with the spoken word of the Lord through prophetical ministry in 1969.
LAWNA Territory which was a unification of those four Areas in 1970 has today grown into 79 Areas across the country; and seven missionary fields overseas. The Territory covers 27 states out of the 36 states of The Federal Republic of Nigeria.
DEVELOPMENT STRIDES
Within LAWNA Territory, there are: 79 Areas, 529 Districts, 2,169 Assemblies, 8 Missionary Fields which are Cote D'Ivoire, U. S. A., Israel, Lesotho, Uganda, Kenya, South Africa, and Sierra Leone.
One LAWNA Territorial Chairman, 79 Area Superintendents and three Missionary Field Superintendents, 250 Apostles, 79 Area Prophets, 28 Area Evangelists, 1,664 Pastors, 780 Assistant Pastors, and 807 Student Pastors.


THE GOVERNMENT OF THE APOSTOLIC CHURCH, LAWNA TERRITORY
The Apostolic Church, LAWNA Territory has a government consisting of:
1.EXECUTIVE COUNCIL (EC) made up of:
*The LAWNA Territorial Chairman
*The LAWNA Territorial Administrative Secretary
*Fourteen Area Superintendents
*Two Council Prophets
2.GENERAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL (GEC): made up of:
*The LAWNA Territorial Chairman
*The LAWNA Territorial Administrative Secretary
*All Area Superintendents
*Two (2) General Council Prophets
3.GENERAL COUNCIL (GC) made up of:
*The LAWNA Territorial Chairman
*The LAWNA Territorial Administrative Secretary
*All Apostles
*The Council Prophets and All Area Council Prophets
Each Area has its Area Council made up of the Area Superintendent, Apostles and Area Prophet.
LAWNA Territory is guided by a Constitution known as the Constitution and Guiding Principles of The Apostolic Church LAWNA Territory, Nigeria.

NATIONAL TEMPLE

The land on which the National Temple is situated was bought by the first LAWNA Territorial Chairman, the late Pastor S. G. Adegboyega. In 1969, the Annual LAWNA Convention was held at Orishigun because Ebute Metta could no longer contain the people/saints coming for the Convention. In 1970, the Convention was moved to the present LAWNA Grounds. In 1976, LAWNA started to hold the Annual Conventions in what is now known as the Old Convention Hall.
In 1979, the late Pastor S. G. Adegboyega first LAWNA Territorial Chairman laid the foundation of what was to be the National Temple. It was in 1986 that the second LAWNA Territorial Chairman the late Pastor I. G. Sakpo laid the foundation of what is today known and acclaimed as National Temple. From 1994 the Lord mightily used his successor Late Pastor S. S. Jemigbon to build the superstructure into the giant icon that we today behold.
As designed, the Temple has a sitting capacity of more than 100,000 worshippers in a single service, (however the auditorium itself sits a little above 40,000 while the overflow facility makes up for the rest), a Bible College, conference hall and offices were part of the features in the original design.
Our all Powerful God had spoken through our father the current LAWNA Territorial Chairman Pastor (Dr) G. O. Olutola JP, that the National Temple would be dedicated on or before November 2011 and the dedication took place on October 31, 2011.

 

ANNUAL CONVENTION

LAWNA Territory, Nigeria organizes an Annual International Convention with different themes usually given through prophetical ministry.

THE APOSTOLIC CHURCH, LAWNA THEOLOGICAL SEMINARIES AND BIBLE COLLEGE
LAWNA Territory has two Theological Seminaries at Ilesa and Jos and one Bible College also in Ilesa.

1.Theological Seminary Ilesa was started as The Apostolic Church Bible School in 1933 at Oke-Odo in Late Pastor J A Babatope's residence to provide the necessary training for Evangelists and Pastors. It metamorphosed into a Bible College and a Theological Seminary, Ilesa. The curriculum has been expanded stressing church growth, Theological skills, and pastoral and ecclesiastical leadership. Modern infrastructural facilities are springing up. The Seminary is affiliated to the University of Ibadan for her Diploma Programmes and has the followings departments.
*Biblical Studies/Theology
*Church History
*Mission/Evangelism Studies
*Pastoral Studies
* Christian Education
*Presbytery/Christian Relation Studies
*General Studies
*Proposed Studies
(a)M. A. in Christian Entrepreneurship
(b)Master in Christian Entrepreneurship
(c)Master I Christian Leadership Studies

2. LAWNA Theological Seminary, Jos: The Apostolic Church LAWNA Bible School, Jos came into being on 31st January 1994 with 52 students. In 2001, the Bible School became a Bible College. In November 2003, The Bible College in Jos transformed into a Theological Seminary
Today, the Seminary has six departments namely:
*General Studies and Church Ministry
*Bible and Religious Studies
*Christian Education
*Missions and Evangelism
*Pastoral Studies
*Theology
She awards six tracks of degree and one diploma.

3. LAWNA Bible College, Irojo Quarters, Ilesa: The College was established and inaugurated on 24th March 2005 to cater for the less educated ministers of God. The College offers a three year programme leading to the award of Certificate in Theology. There are plans to upgrade the College to a Diploma awarding institution soonest. Students of the College are being prepared to sit for General Certificate of Education (GEC) Ordinary level and its equivalents.

4.SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES
LAWNA Territory has diversified interest in education. The Territory had over the years established 113 educational institutions including Nursery, Primary, Secondary and Tertiary institutions.
SAMUEL ADEGBOYEGA UNIVERSITY, OGWA, EDO STATE, NIGERIA
On August 6, 2003 the Lord God gave us a University through prophetical ministry. After a period of labour by the generality of saints, today, the Lord has fulfilled His promise of the University to The Apostolic Church, LAWNA Territory, Nigeria.
On 7th March 2011, the Federal Executive Council granted a provisional operating License to Samuel Adegboyega University (SAU).
SAU University took of with academic programmes in three Colleges namely: Humanities, Sciences and Social and Management Sciences. Other programmes that will commence during the second and third phases of the development of the University include Postgraduate programmes, Colleges of Agriculture, Law Environmental Studies, Education, Engineering and Medical Sciences.
Samuel Adegboyega University started with two academic blocks, administrative blocks, two hostels, a Library, ICT Centre and a Cafeteria together with residential buildings for the principal officers of the University.

STAFF DEVELOPMENT

LAWNA Territory organizes a series of Management development programmes such as:
*Seminars,
*Retreats, and
*Conferences to enhance the knowledge, skills and attitude of her ministerial staff, and non ministerial staff.
In addition, LAWNA has a scholarship scheme for ministerial staff, who are desirous of furthering their education beyond the first degree in Theology and other disciplines. The Territory runs social staff welfare scheme for all its active and retired ministers and widows of deceased ministers.
The Apostolic Church Nigeria is administered as a single entity by the National Council and it is headed by a President. The current President is Pastor G.O. Olutola who succeeded Pastor Eyo Okon in 2011.
The church is categorized into five sections called fields with a view of bonding members in a spiritual and healthy fellowship. The fields include:
The Lagos and Western/Northern Areas Territory (LAWNA),The Igboland Territory,The Cross River State Field,The Maritime Field,The Akwa Ibom Field,The Aba Field.