Brief History
Christ Gospel Apostolic Church is distinctly an indigenous African Church. By its
structure beliefs and practices, it is an independent Pentecostal Church.
The history of the church is traceable to its founder the late Apostle Peter
Akinloye Olatunji who Founded the church in 4thNovember, 1947.
Apostle Peter Akinloye Olatunji had been a hardworking farmer early in life. A
story has it that prophet Olatunji’s life and ministry changed remarkably
through a divine encounter while toiling on a farm land in Oyedeji Village in
Ibadan, present Oyo State.
In those years gone by, when parents or people owe other people money, the
service of their child or close relationship is taken in exchange. Such a person
in most cases is asked to work in the creditor’s farmland for certain amount of
months or years depending on the amount owed. And it is often a practise that
such people are assigned very difficult and humiliating tasks. Apostle Olatunji
was said to have been a victim of this practise.
According to the eyewitness Prophet Olatunji was said to have confessed the
following words during a tormenting experience one fateful day: ‘…. People
say that there is a God that saves people from the hand of slave drivers’. In
that instance, the Holy Spirit was said to have descended on him and reports
spread around that He ‘Peter had received the Holy Spirit’’. The spot the
incident took place became instantly monumental such that people looked at
prophet Olatunji with great reverence. Hence forth, a great power was
released unto him, power of healing, depth of revelation and miracles. It is an
obvious fact that this encounter with the Holy Spirit marked the end of that
humiliating slavery experience. Ever since then, his life, Christian experience
and ministry had blossomed.
In1939. Prophet Peter Olatunji began his early missionary journeys which took
him around areas like Igbo-Elerin, Araromi, Ago Owu, Baale Sango, Ife, Ekiti
and Okiti Pupa, to mention a few. In these periods, God used him to perform
dumbfounding miracles in the entire regions he toured.
Following the controversies over the use of drugs, a doctrinal issue that split
the Faith Tabernacle, Prophet Olatunji decided to stay put under the umbrella
of Christ Apostolic Church, especially under the leadership of Apostle Joseph
Ayodele Babalola. All his ministerial life, like his mentor Apostle Babalola, he
never believed in the use of drugs to cure any form of Ailments.
Between 1940 and 1942, God used this Prophet, Apostle Peter Akinloye
Olatunji mightily in Oyo Area, especially in Oke Baago, during the reign of late
Alaafin of Oyo Oba Oladigbolu. He was much loved by this monarch and his
Chiefs, such that he was branded ‘Baba Healer’. In 1943, his train moved to
Ilora, in Oyo Axis where God blessed his ministry with remarkable signs and
wonders. The same train moved him to Ijesha Area, Egba Area, Ekiti Area,
Eastern Nigeria, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Ondo, Ikare, Ibadan, Ilorin and
Modakeke, Ile-Ife.
In 1944, Prophet Olatunji was elevated to the position of Assistant General
Evangelist for CAC, Nigeria and Western Africa a position second to Apostle
Joseph Ayodele Babalola.
By October 1947, Prophet Olatunji moved to Oke-Foko region of Ibadan, Oyo
State. A wave of revival had swept through that region to draw a large
followership for this God’s anointed Prophet. That led to the founding of CAC
Oke-Foko. The impact of the revival was so great that lives were touched.
People in that region began abandoning their fetish believes, while charms,
rings, talisman or amulet were brought for destruction by fire. Sorcerers,
witches and wizards began confessing and forsaking their evil deeds and
accepted the supremacy of Christ Jesus.
Most of Prophet Olatunji’s Ministerial journeys had resulted in the planting of
churches in different locations under the auspices of Christ Apostolic Church.
This had been between 1940 and 1947. These churches were located In the
following areas: CAC Oyo, Ilora, Okeho, Ilaro, Iganna,Ilua, Ado Awaye, Sepeteri
and Shaki respectively.
Before 1948, controversies had begun to arise concerning which superior
between the offices of the Prophet and the Pastor in the CAC hierarchy. In a
publication released in 1948, Prophet Olatunji had observed that he will be on
the look-out for possible adjustment on the part of the Church Authority; and
especially those arguing in favour of the superiority of Pastors. Apostle Olatunji
had been on the side of Prophets, being one himself. In fact, a meeting was
arranged in that respect. Pastor J B Orangun of CAC, Ita Baale, Olugbode
Ibadan, was the Secretary of the reconciliatory meeting held on 28th August
1948. When the controversy persisted, Prophet Olatunji adopted the name
Apostolic Gospel Church Nigeria, which was given to him by Gods inspiration
Western Africa, which was given to him by God’s inspiration in July 31st 1948.
Many of the Churches he planted moved with him in respect of the change of
name. However, till his death, he maintained a cordial relationship with CAC.
As expected, Apostle Peter Olatunji had a bevy of faithful followers. These
include Prophet/Pastor Daniel Adewole, Apostle Joseph Olajide Okerinu,
Apostle Paul O Okedoyin, Prophet John Akindele, Pa Sanni, J B Osinnawo,
Samuel Olaleye, J A Oladiti, James Adeyemo, Paul Ibe, just to mention but a
few .
After a brief illness, Apostle Peter Olatunji went to be with the Lord in the wee
hours of Sunday 23rd of April 1954.
Some years after the demise of Apostle Olatunji, Precisely 1962, in a divine
encounter ‘Go and start a Revival for me in Lagos’ were the exact words of God
to Pastor (Now Apostle) Paul Oladejo Okedoyin more than fifty years ago.
Those words however, have formed the bedrock of Christ Gospel Apostolic
Church, one of the fast growing churches in the city of Lagos and Overseas.
In 1963, when the name of the Church, Apostolic Gospel Church was to be
formally registered with the relevant Government Agency, Registration was
declined on the ground that there was an already registered Church using the
name Apostolic Gospel Church. Through the divine leading of the Holy Spirit
the name Christ Gospel Apostolic Church was presented by the then Ministry
of Lagos Affairs and subsequently registered with the following persons as the
registered trustees of the Church, (i) Pastor (now Apostle) Paul Oladejo
Okedoyin (Chairman) (ii) Pastor James Adeyemo (iii) Elder David Odeyemi.