The Church and Her First Congregation and Leadership

The Church started with four missionaries and the household of late Chief Ogunlana. The household mentioned had the following: Patience Abowaba, Christiana Morohunkeji, Gladys Oluyemi, Julianah Ibiyemi, Elizabeth Efunbowale and Janet Iyabode Ogunlana. Patience Abowaba and Mrs. Christiana Morohunkeji Ogunlana were appointed as the first Church Secretary and Treasurer respectively while Mr. S. O. Siyanbola served as church leader.  It was later that Chief Abraham Ogunlana, Messrs Victor Owolabi Ogunlana, Oluyinka Awojobi, E. Ogunnubi Ogunlana, Oluyemi Ogunlana and Ayodele Awojobi joined the church membership. During this period, services were held only in the evening.

The Church Acquisition of Her First Two (2) Landed Properties

In 1962 First Baptist Church Oshodi acquired a plot of land by the help of Chief Abraham Ogunlana from the Oshodi family and paid for the acquired land.  A temporary structure was first erected on the land and towards the end of the year, the Church moved in.  The Church named the street on which it was located Ireti Oluwa Street being the street that led to the then cemetery at Oshodi. The Church site was numbered seven (7) on the street and this is where the Mission House is today.

In the year 1971, because the Church membership was rapidly growing, members realized that the one plot land on which its auditorium was standing was inadequate. A committee was constituted with the mandate to look for a more expansive land. The new site was purchased from Late Chief A. S. Agbabiaka, a magistrate who lived at Igbosere Road, Lagos.  This was made possible with the help of Chief E. A. Gbeleyi (late), Dn. S. A. Oke (late) and Chief P. A. Adejumobi (late). While still under construction, on Sunday 4^th November, 1980, the Church began to worship in the auditorium which was later completed; and further reconstructed in November, 2000. This is, till date, where the church members congregate.

The Church and Her Called Pastors                                     

Early in the year 1967, First Baptist Church Oshodi took steps to have her first full time Pastor. In June of the same year, the first pastor in person of Pastor Richard Hitler Okwa was called by the Church.  He was a fresher and certificate holder from the Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary, Ogbomoso.  He served in the Church for four (4) years between 1967 and 1971 after which he left for further studies at the Baptist Academy Lagos.

Other pastors who did oversee the affairs of the Church at one time or the other were: Pastor J. O. Oladoja served in 1972 (and later retired at Idikan Baptist Church, Ibadan as a Rev. Dr.); Pastor C. I. Odewunmi served 1974 to 1976 (and later retired as a reverend at Saja Baptist Church, Ogbomoso); Pastor Moses A. Daniyan served from 1976 to 1978 (and later left the ministry for another profession); Pastor Samson Olugbade Akanmu served from 1^st of July, 1983 to 24^th March, 1990 (after which he rose to become a Rev. Dr. and retired from the pastorate of Ebenezer Baptist Church, Ogbomoso); Rev. Michael A. Ekiran from 1^st of Jan., 1991 to 31^st of Dec., 2008 (the longest ever-serving pastor in the church who gloriously retired as a Rev. Dr. after a cumulative forty (40) years of meritorious service in the Lord’s vineyard); and Rev. Kayode Isaiah-Paul Opoola who served first as Associate Pastor to Rev. Dr. Michael Alaye Ekiran (from May 1 to Dec. 31, 2008) and later as Church Substantive Pastor from Jan. 1, 2009 till date . 

The Church and Her Mission Churches

1. In 1962,  First Baptist Church Shogunle and its Pastorium now stand.
2. On the 12^th of December, 1971 First Baptist Church Oshodi founded her second preaching. The Church was organized in December, 1978.
3. On August 15, 1976 at Orile Oshodi. Omidiji was sent to lead the assembly. The church had Pastor J. B. Osuolale on June 13, 1982 to be her first pastor. The Church was organized on 28^th November, 1992. The church is now known as Emmanuel Baptist Church, Orile Oshodi.
4. 1986 , First Baptist Church, Suberu-Oje. 
5.  El Shaddai Baptist Church, on February 28, 1993.  The Church was organized on June 19, 1993 and the Pastor was ordained into the full gospel ministry on August 19, 1994.
6. First Baptist Church Oshodi planted and later inaugurated First Baptist Church Enilolobo in 1990. In July 1998, Pastor S. A. Soladoye assumed the pastorate of the church. The mother church purchased plots of land via fund raising held on 12^th August, 2001. On the 29^th September, 2001, the (newly) established church was organized and the pastor of the church, Pastor Soladoye, ordained into the full gospel ministry.
7. Emmanuel Baptist Church, Idimu was another church planted by First Baptist Church Oshodi.on 17^th November, 2001.
8. The Bible Baptist Church, Mafoluku was another church mothered by First Baptist Church, on 10^th August, 2004. 
9. on 6^th January, 2005, an inaugural service of the new preaching station, Bethel Baptist Church Adiyan.
10. New Testament Baptist Church, Alakuko that was later known as Word of Life Baptist Church, Alakuko 

The Church and Her Diaconate Ministry

It was in the year 1971 that the First Baptist Church Oshodi first saw the need to have, elect and consecrate faithful and diligent brethren into the Diaconate ministry of the Church. The first set of deacons and deaconess chosen and consecrated were Deacon S. A. Oke, Deacon S. A. Alaafia and Deaconess D. O. Ogunlana. On the 23^rd of October, 1982, the second set of deacons and deaconesses were elected and consecrated accordingly. They were: Late Deacons V. O. Ogunlana, S. A. Adelakun, and Z. A. Adejumobi, Late Deaconesses D. A. Adedeji and Deaconess Deborah Olubodun Akande. On 20^th November, 1993, the third set of deacons and deaconesses came on board. The ordained were Deacons M. A. Phillips, S. A. Abegunde (late), F. A. Shittu, Dns. G. A. Oke, and Dns. M. A. Akinola. Suffice (it) to say that Dn. E. K. Ayinla, Dn. M. A. Ojelere, Dns. A. O. Omotoso, and Dns. J. A. Alabanla constitute the last set of brethren enlisted into the Church diaconate ministry and were ordained on Sunday, 29^th August, 2004.

The Church Producing Vibrant Church Ministers

Many of the Church young men have been called into full time gospel ministry. Many are already serving in various capacities within and outside the church while some are still undergoing theological and ministerial training.  Among them are:

1. Dr. Supo Ayokunle
2. Dr. Michael Fatumo
3. Solomon Akanni
4. Simeon Durojaye
5. Bukola Adetunji
6. A. F. Ayoola
7. Rev Paul Adetoun
8. Femi Steve Omoniyi
9. M. A. Adeniji
10. Sunday A. Akinwale
11. Pastor Olanrewaju Okewole
12. Pastor Emmanuel O. Alabi
13. Pastor Mayowa Oluwagbemiga
14. Pastor (Mrs.) Christiana Alabi
    

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Conclusion

 History is about people and events: who they were, what they were, what they did, how they did what they did when they did it, and what happened at a particular period so that lessons could be learnt, caught/tapped, imbibed and, accordingly, apply for a better future.  Going through the above, one must have been able to know some of the past of First Baptist Church Oshodi.  This should inspire every reader to perform his/her roles, obligations and duties as expected to ensure the Church as well as association’s continuous stability, growth, and development. Praise the Lord!