Christ Apostolic Church

Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) is the first Pentecostal church present in Nigeria. It arose in the first half of the 20th century, in the then-British Empire. It was founded in Ijebu-ode named Precious Stone Society in 1918^[1] but was formally established in 1941 after a split from the Apostolic Church which the original Aladura organization (Faith Tabernacle) had invited to Nigeria. Its growth was led by Joseph Ayo Babalola, a road construction driver who became its first General Evangelist.^[2]

Christ Apostolic Church
Abbreviation	CAC
Classification	Charismatic
Orientation	Pentecostal
Theology	Evangelical
Governance	Pastors
President	Pastor S.O Oladele
General Evangelist	Prophet Hezekiah Oladeji
General Superintendent	Pastor E.O Odejobi
Associations	Christian Association of Nigeria, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria
Region	Nigeria and overseas
Headquarters	General Secretariat: Oba I.B Akinyele Memorial Complex, Bashorun, Ibadan, Nigeria. International Camp Ground: Joseph Ayo Babalola International Miracle Camp, Ilesa-Akure Expressway, Ikeji-Arakeji, Osun State, Nigeria
Founder	Oba/Pastor Isaac Babalola Akinyele, Pastor David O. Odubanjo, Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola
Origin	1918 Ijebu Ode
Separated from	The Apostolic Church Nigeria
Tertiary institutions	Joseph Ayo Babalola University
Seminaries	Christ Apostolic Church Theological Seminary Ile-Ife
Official website	www.christapostolicchurch.org.ng
Slogan	ONE FOLD, ONE SHEPHERD

Christ Apostolic Church operates secondary schools and an Entrepreneurial University named after the first General Evangelist, Joseph Ayo Babalola University^[3] (JABU) right in Ikeji Arakeji, Osun State in Nigeria.^{[4] [5]} Pastor Samuel Olusegun Oladele was inaugurated as the 8th president of Christ Apostolic Church Worldwide on 20 March 2021.

History

Christ Apostolic Church is an indigenous African church founded by members of Precious Stone Society (Faith Tabernacle) after separating from The Apostolic Church in 1940.^[6] The church's history is linked to its founders, namely Isaac Babalola Akinyele, Joseph Ayo Babalola, David Odubanjo, Joseph Esinsinade, and Miss Sophia Odunlami.

Before then, Christ Apostolic Church and The Apostolic Church (called Diamond or Precious Stone at that time) were found in some places in Nigeria but met mainly at St Savior's Anglican Church.^[7] The Anglican Church were opposed to the practices of the group and members of the group who are workers in the Anglican Church were forced to resign. When the Great Revival^[2] emerged in July 1930 people rejected their traditional medicines and thousands of people gave their lives to Jesus. On 23 September 1931, Pastors D.P Williams, A. Turnbull, and W.J Williams came to Nigeria ^[8] and ordained the first seven Pastors of the church. Then during the crisis that occurred in 1939-1940 in the church^[9] that led to the emergence of two groups, the first is The Apostolic Church Nigeria led by Pastor Samuel Adegboyega while the second is Christ Apostolic Church.^{[citation needed]}

Baba Abiye was one of the leaders of the Christ Apostolic Church who served as the Assistant General Evangelist of the church, working closely with Joseph Ayo Babalola during his lifetime.^{[citation needed]}

Tenets

Christ Apostolic Church adopted the 11 tenets of the Apostolic Church UK and added the 12th and 13th tenets in 1940.^[10]

Current leaders

• Pastor Samuel Olusegun Oladele - President

• Hezekiah Oluboye Oladeji- General Evangelist

• Pastor Emmanuel Olatoro Odejobi - General Supridentent

• Pastor Emmanuel Mapur - General Secretary

• Pastor Johnson Folorunsho Omitinde - Finance Director^[11]

See also

• Nigerian sectarian violence
• Church of the Lord (Aladura)
• Celestial Church of Christ
• Eternal Sacred Order of Cherubim and Seraphim
• Cherubim and Seraphim Society
• New religious movement
• St John the Baptist, Kentish Town
• Redeemed Christian Church of God
• Living Faith Church Worldwide
• Deeper Christian Life Ministry
• Anglican Adam Preaching Society
• Cornelius Adam Igbudu
• Onyeka Onwenu
• Junior Pope