I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH... Story of Nigerian College of Aviation Technology

How some young aviators inspired a small Christian student fellowship to build a Church in West Africa’s oldest Aviation College-The Nigerian College of Aviation Technology-after 44 years of its establishment.

 

By Leke Beecroft

The red Volkswagen drove every school day from Ahmadu Bello University Area F (Residential Area) to the Therbow School, Zaria. The 20-25 minute drive was never a bore. Mum also opted for the white Toyota Crown whenever it was available particularly when Dad was out in Holland. Along the Zaria road though, the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) established sometime in 1965 by the government of Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa with land generously allocated with a wave of the hand by the Premier of the Northern Region, the Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello, was always conspicuous. The new gate project which ensured the removal of the old gate and the fixing of the new one which looked like an aircraft was also a very interesting sight to behold. Unlike ABU however, there was a dull and silent look about NCAT. I knew it was a place I would never attend; but then, God had other plans.

 

Fast forward to 20 years and here were we in NCAT, my colleagues and I, sent by our establishment to be Aviators. This very dull school! That February 2008, while fetching water outside the room where a colleague gave me space to squat pending my allocation, heavenly song filtered from the next block into my ears. At the earliest opportunity, I asked someone walking towards me from that direction and he told me Choir Practice had just ended. His name ‘Bro’ Jonathan Atolagbe. On further inquiry, he told me about the Aviation Fellowship and in this case, the NCAT Chapter; I had my ‘own’ church but decided to attend this fellowship. The next day, I sat in a small hostel ‘common room’ barely able to sit 40-50 people at full capacity. Despite the zeal and joy of the few students, the environment seemed drab. Immediately, it felt discouraging. A look at the notice board showed a locally printed picture of ‘The Rapture’. Thank God for the choir, the mood was lightened up as the word came. Bro Felix Agbonlahor, one of the leaders was very visible especially as he danced heartily during the praise session. Soon after the Closing Song ‘God be gracious and bless us’ and the close of service, we were gone and with the small ‘mushroom’ sized Chapel etched badly in my mind….but what could be done?

 

A short while later, in another service, we were in church and an instruction came. All students who would be in the school for the next one year were to stand up. My program was for 14-18 months. It was then announced that most of the Executives of the Fellowship had graduated (Aviation Courses are numerous and do not follow the regular annual academic session system) and there was need for a new EXCO which would last at least one year for continuity. Since there was no way of knowing how long anyone would be around, it was wisdom to ask us to stand up while the seated brethren nominated in writing those they wanted to be their leaders. The next Sunday, the list of the ‘Caretaker Committee’ which would hold sway until the next ‘session’ was announced, there were 10 names. Brothers Sola Oshodi, Samuel Ahomafor, Idowu Salami, Tunde ‘Crown’ Adejumo, Afubera Nonso, Jonathan Atolagbe, Olutayo Bamidele, Dayo Adesina, Oluwaleke Beecroft, the sister in the house, Sister Patience or ‘Mayen’ as she was fondly called as well as one of the very few staff members, a very dedicated sister who incidentally was spending her last year in the college. Brother Oluwaleke Beecroft was to lead the group. Immediately, it was time for the ‘acceptance speech’. For me, it was time…..to build.
 

Two scriptures were opened: Psalm 102 verses 13-15 and Acts 20:32.
‘Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the SET TIME, is come. For thy SERVANTS TAKE PLEASURE IN HER STONES AND FAVOUR THE DUST THEREOF.
‘And now brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified’.
The word was clear, as we came together to build for God with immediate effect, our lives too would be built.
 

Immediately, we set in motion the process to move the fellowship forward, to increase our membership, to be more relevant in the Aviation College and to build a befitting Chapel for the Lord.

The reason to build was simple. The common room was too small for the growing number of students in the College. Most students who had to worship went outside the school while the greater figure stayed in their rooms as there was no church in the College and going out was too far; there were excuses of lack of ‘transport fare’. Again, often times, other students would come up to us during church services, weekly meetings or even choir rehearsals and tell us we were disturbing. How were those of other faiths coping? The answer was given to me, there were at least 4 mosques located around the College for convenience. However, my issue was that the ‘Church’ was just too small! Haba! ….Didn’t Jesus say…..Upon THIS ROCK, I WOULD BUILD MY CHURCH AND THE GATES OF HELL SHALL NOT PREVAIL AGAINST IT. Well, Kufena Rock wasn’t too far so this must be the place where the church would be built.

 

First things first, we chose special prayer days to turn the situation around and in the next few days, we repainted the chapel in white and fixed the lights; we ensured a brightened effect; the mood was electric the next Bible Study meeting; it was a sign of better things to come. We removed the posters from the notice board and redesigned that too. A decoration unit was put in place and from then on, the altar began to be decorated. Most of the speakers were changed. Speakers who would minister concerning areas where we had needs. Relationships, finances, etc were to be incorporated. While we were set for Heaven, we needed to remain relevant on the earth. We went into the account books and cleaned it up; there was N220,000 total and another N80,000 given out as loan to indigent students. We stopped the giving of loans; we would only give out money to those in need whenever possible. We started the process of adopting the constitution and further went to open bank accounts for the fellowship as there was none erstwhile. One was a normal fellowship account (ACFI Main Account-GTB 0048099984) while the other was the building account (ACFI Building Account-GTB 0048099977). The reaction was almost instant. In a few weeks, the ACFI had grown from about 40 students to 150. Now, we knew that the common room would be grossly inadequate for our services.

A few weeks later, some of us in the EXCO walked up boldly to the Rector, Captain Araba, in his office. It was unheard of, NCAT Students, demanding to build a church!!!! He smiled and called the Director of Works who was very nice to us and led us to look for a suitable place for a college chapel. From that day, the building site was relocated 4 times. We did an in-house launch and got pledges of N1.6 million. It was a privilege to be involved in this project we told our colleagues; whether we were involved or not, the chapel would be built. The target was N45 million for a church which would sit 500 people; some thought it was too big and later, it was reduced to 400.

 

The next holidays, it was a privilege to kneel before Bishop Oyedepo as he told the story of how he used to minister in that small common room in NCAT on invitation by the Chief Instructor Pilot on invitation. Interesting. He declared success in the project. Later Mummy Faith Oyedepo asked how long the project would take? I retorted 1 year….ahhhh…..she thought it was too long; then she added, well that’s in Canaanland and we smiled. With good tidings, we returned to the college to serve out our remaining time in the EXCO as Bro Sam became the President, Bro Jonathan, the General Secretary and my humble self, the Choir Master, among others. God told us in prophecy that if we served him faithfully in that period, he will amaze us beyond words. A year later, most of us in the EXCO except Jonathan Atolagbe were out of NCAT; the physical foundation had not been laid but the plan, costing, model, structures and all had been put in place. We got the services of a Christian architect, a very young Mrs Oladimeji who did the model for mere pittance. Bro Ifetayo Onasanya, a student pilot and member of the choir who later became a leader in the EXCO as well as an instructor pilot in the college took it with many others from that point onwards. At that time also, the first female Rector was appointed who fortunately was one of us as she attended our programs from time to time. A new day had dawned.

 

From that day in 2008 till date, it has been a long challenging journey of 9 years. We look forward to putting up the ceiling as well as painting the walls in a short while. To the glory of God, today, We present to you, in the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology -the first ‘MUCHROOM’ Church-The AVIATION CHRISTIAN CHAPEL.

Leke Beecroft is an artist, author and an air-traffic controller.