Through the out-pouring of the Holy-Spirit at Pentecost, the Church of Jesus christ was born. The apostles led through rapid expansion by evangelism, albeit under persecution, and soon it had been planted in much of the then-known world.
As more people believe, the Church began to influence society, and then to control it. Centuries slipped by and the once strong, eveangelistic Church lost the clear message of salvation by personal faith in Christ. Sadly, formalism, worldiness and even error entered it. But it was the Church that faithfully preserved the Holy Scriptures.
Beginnig in the 15th Century, the churchmen we now call reformers started comparing their Church with the scriptures. Believing that the scriptures must be the higher authority, they were convinced the Church had fallen into error. Among the many reformers, Menno Simons (after whom Mennonites are named) emphasized personal faith in Jesus Christ and the baptism of believer. In the 18th Century, John Wesley (the father of Methodism) re-discovered in a person way the wonderful ministry of the holy spirit in the believer.
Out of these movements, the Mennonite Brethren in Christ Church, later known as the United Missionary Church, and now The Missionary Church, was called into being in the 19th century in the United States and Canada. Through it, the UMCA (United Missionary Church of Africa) was planted in Nigeria.
Our first Missionary, Rev. A. W. Banfield, arrived in Nigerian in 1905. Other equally dedicated workers soon joined this Pioneer Missionary, and eventually the United Missionary sociey was formed in North America to send Missionaries to Nigeria and other lands.
The missionaries laboured relentlessly and their effort was blessed with the formation of UMCA in 1955, during the jubilee anniversary of their arrival to Nigeria. On September 29th, 1956, the United Missionary Church of Africa became a corporate body under the Land Perpetual Succession Ordinance, Cap 107 of the Fedral Republic of Nigeria, with Registration Number 427.
The Nigerians who came to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour laboured alongside the Missionaries to advance the work of God through UMCA in such varied ministries as evangelism, church planting, primary and secondary schools, Bible/Theological training and medicine. Many of them distinguished themselves as capable, gifted and dedicated workers and the leaders. Men like the Late Rev. D. O. Taylor (the first UMCA ordained minister), the Late Senior Pastor Andrawus Nama, the Late Rev. Nathaniel Jiya, and Senior Pastor Abel Kolawole (a pioneer missionary to the Nupe people), to name only few, took up leadership positions. With zeal, vision and initiative, they directed the work under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The Lord blessed their efforts and the Church continue to grow from strength to strength.
On January 5, 1978, about twenty-three years after the formation of UMCA, a special service was held at the United Missionary Theological College Chapel, Ilorin, in which the United Missionary Society turned over running of the Church's affairs to Nigerians. UMCA therefore became an independent, indigenous Church, with the following as the first central administrative officers:
Rev. (Dr.) Jacob Bawa Isa President
Rev. Samuel Adebayo Oloyede General Secretary
Rev. James Tswanya Harman Treasurer/Vice President
And the first four District Superintendents
Rev. Sule Magaji Hausa District
Rev. Peter Kolo Audu Nupe District
Rev. Joseph Adeyanju Adeyemi Yoruba Kwara District
Rev. Simon Adeyemo Adedokun Yoruba Southern District
And as of January 1988, there were 7 Districts, namely
Agwara / Ya'uri District Central District
Chapel District Kontagora District
Kwara District Northern District
Southern District
Today we have a vibrant, growing, Holy Spirit led Church which belongs to a world-wide Fellowship of Missionary Churches.
So we see Jesus Christ has been building this part of His Church, just as He promised. We believe He will continue to do so until He comes again in glory.
