Church of the Lord (Aladura)

The Church of the Lord (Aladura) is an African Initiated Church founded by the first Primate and Late Prophet Dr. Josiah Olunowo Ositelu in 1925, but inaugurated in 1930 in Ogere Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria.[1] Late Prophet General Dr. Josiah Olunowo Ositelu was born on Wednesday, the 15th of May, 1900 at Ogere, ?ijebu-Remo, Ogun State in Nigeria.[2]

"Aladura" in Yoruba means "owners of prayer", "Prayer Fellowship" or "The Praying People". They always wear white.

Also known as Aladura churches, they emphasize the power in praying and believe in faith healing and various elements associated with Pentecostalism. Most of the founders of the churches were associated with Anglicanism, though some Methodists joined the movement as well. The churches despise the power of traditional African religion, because they deem that power to be basically malign. Therefore they sometimes burn cult images as "idols" and oppose both polygamy and witchcraft. Unlike Kimbanguism, the churches tend to avoid politics and focus instead on the "holiness movement."

Dr. Rufus Okikiola Ositelu (Ph.D. Comp. Sc.; Ph.D. Theo.) is Archbishop And Metropolitan of the Archdiocese of Nigeria and the Primate of The Church of the Lord (Aladura) Organisation Worldwide

History

The First (Aladura: Ositelu) Disciples on 24 July 1930

Titus Olatunde, Joseph Aromuti, Benjamin Afolabi (from Faith Tabernacle Church, Ijebu Ode), Layide Akinyele, etc.

The first Tabborrar Festival was 10–22 August 1937.

Evangelism – (Cities Ollunowo Ositelu pioneered)

Ogere (the Fountain), Ibadan, Abeokuta, Sabongidda Orra (where the Hymn "Ati 'Segun de Isegun", and "Angel Ollusegun" derived – (i.e. "from Vic-to-ry unto Vic-tory"), Ijebu Ode, Aiyepe, Sagamu, Ijebu Igbo, Sobe, etc.

The Hymn derived from Mission to Sobe: "Lati 'hin de Sobe Lati Sobe de 'hin Ogun Oso gbona Ogun Aje gbona"

"From here, way down Sobe From Sobe, down way here The Withces Battles hot The Wizards Battles hot"

Ositelu also went on Missionary journeys throughout Nigeria, Liberia, Ghana and Sierra Leone.

God endowed Ositelu with Great Powers and he served the LORD with zeal, dedication, enthusiasm, diligence, and ALL.

Supporters claim that Ollunowo Ositelu demonstrated God's Powers through miracles, healing, the Gospel, as well as victory and power over Satan and evil powers.

Owoade Adeleke Adejobi

Emmanuel Owoade Adeleke Adejobi succeeded Dr Ollunowo Ositelu as the Head of the Church of the Lord (Aladura) on 7 May 1967.

During the Mount Tabborrar Festival on 22 August 1945, Ollunowo Ositelu read a message he received from God on Saturday 18 August 1945:

"Adeleke Adejobi is the Gbolahan (Torch Bearer) of the Church of the Lord Aladura".

Ollunowo Ositelu also promoted and appointed Adeleke Adejobi Prophet and Apostle on the Mount on that day (22 August 1945) and most importantly, pronounced that Adeleke Adejobi would be his successor.

In January 1966, presiding over the first International Churches Assembly at Ogere, Ollunowo Ositelu read again in his address, his vision of 18 August 1945, wherein God told him that Adeleke Adejobi was to be his successor. Ositelu also confirmed before the house his implicit faith, confidence and trust in Adeleke Adejobi, and declared him his successor.

Josiah Ollunowo Ositelu died in July 1966.

On Sunday, 7 May 1967, Adeleke Adejobi was inaugurated as the second Primate of the Church of the Lord Aladura.

Tenets

The Six Tenets of the church can be described as:

Affiliations

In 1996, the Church hosted a WCC Consultative Meeting with African Instituted Churches at Ogere-Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria

In 2010, the Primate of the Church of the Lord (Aladura) Worldwide [TCLAW] - The Most Rev. Dr. Rufus Okikiola Ositelu (Ph.D Computer Science; Ph.D Religion) was proclaimed and inaugurated as the Pope of the Aladura Communion Worldwide [ACW] and was since then till date known as His Holiness, Pope Dr. Rufus Ositelu I.

Provincial offices

See also

References and Bibliography

  1. ↑ Journey So Far, ISBN 9789789004775; Publication - TCLAW Publishers, 2009.
  2. ↑ African Instituted Churches, ISBN 3-8258-6087-6, LIT-Verlag Muenster-Hamburg-London, 2002, page-119
  3. ↑ Journey So Far, ISBN 9789789004775; Publication - TCLAW Publishers, 2009.

External links