Aladura
Encyclopedia
Aladura is a religion
founded c.1922–1930 in West Nigeria
by various people, with around 1 million adherents worldwide.
"Aladura" means "Praying People" in Yoruba
.
Churches known as Aladura churches 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 image
s as "idols
" and oppose both polygamy
and witchcraft
. Unlike Kimbanguism
, the churches tend to avoid politics and focus instead on the "holiness movement."
Aladura Movement started at Ijebu-Ode, Nigeria in 1918. This movement later metamorphoshed to Faith Tabernacle and finally to Christ Apostolic Church. Today, although most churches in Western Nigeria can be correctly called "Aladura"; they can be categorized into Pentecostals and Spiritualists. The popular Aladura Indegenous Churches are:
Aladura Pentecostals
1. Christ Apostolic Church
2. Redeemed Christian Church of God
3. Mountain of Fire Ministries
4. Deeper Life Bible Church
Aladura Spiritualists
1. Eternal Sacred Order of Cherubim and Seraphim
2. Church of the Lord (Aladura)
3. Celestial Church of Christ
The Aladural Spiritualists are also called "White Garment" Churches. Christ Apostolic Church, popularly called CAC, is the precursor of Aladura Pentecostalism.
A revival took place in 1918 during the outbreak of influenza epidemic. The group filled with the Holy Ghost used prayer to save many lives affected by the Influenza epidemic. This consolidated the formation of the prayer group. This movement grew gradually and formed branches throughout Nigeria. Also, the name of the group went through several changes, such as Prayer Band, Precious Stone, Diamond Society, and Faith Tabernacle, in that order until 1930. A great revival started in July 1930 by the raising of a dead body by Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola at Oke-Oye in Ilesa. People trooped from neighbouring cities and countries to receive healing at Ilesa. Several people were healed through the power of prayer and there were evidences of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The revival lasted about 60 days and it's still regarded as the greatest revival ever in Nigeria. Faith Tabernacle of Nigeria later invited the Apostolic Church of England in 1931 to form an Association which lasted till 1939. The Revival group went through several name changes until, after 24 years of its formation, it finally adopted the name Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) in 1942. Today, CAC has spread worldwide and definitely is the precursor of Aladura Pentecostal Churches in Nigeria. Visit [CAC website] at http://www.cacworldwide.net/ or http://www.greatrevivals.com/. The Church has established several schools at all levels, including Joseph Ayo Babalola University.
There are several other churches that stemmed out of Christ Apostolic Church.
Ositelu was born in 1902 to Dawodu Ositelu and Madam Rebecca Ejironike. His parents named him "Fakoya" at birth, however, Ositelu told his father he was "Oyelowo" and his baby brother should be called "Oyeleke".
Eventually, Ositelu became School Master Catechist at Orile Imo – Ishan – Erukute, Asha, Erunbe (Oko Egba).
Ollunowo Ositelu all his life used cold water to bath and drink, and never ate pork.
The first Tabborrar Festival was 10–22 August 1937.
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.
Ollunowo Ositelu demonstrated God's Powers through miracles, healing, the Gospel, victory and power over Satan and evil powers.
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 innaugurated as the second Primate of the Church of the Lord Aladura.
(usually known as Cele) was founded in 1947 by a carpenter in Porto Novo, Samuel Oshoffa
.
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
founded c.1922–1930 in West Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
by various people, with around 1 million adherents worldwide.
"Aladura" means "Praying People" in Yoruba
Yoruba language
Yorùbá is a Niger–Congo language spoken in West Africa by approximately 20 million speakers. The native tongue of the Yoruba people, it is spoken, among other languages, in Nigeria, Benin, and Togo and in communities in other parts of Africa, Europe and the Americas...
.
Churches known as Aladura churches emphasize the power in praying and believe in faith healing
Faith healing
Faith healing is healing through spiritual means. The healing of a person is brought about by religious faith through prayer and/or rituals that, according to adherents, stimulate a divine presence and power toward correcting disease and disability. Belief in divine intervention in illness or...
and various elements associated with Pentecostalism
Pentecostalism
Pentecostalism is a diverse and complex movement within Christianity that places special emphasis on a direct personal experience of God through the baptism in the Holy Spirit, has an eschatological focus, and is an experiential religion. The term Pentecostal is derived from Pentecost, the Greek...
. Most of the founders of the churches were associated with Anglicanism
Anglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
, 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 image
Cult image
In the practice of religion, a cult image is a human-made object that is venerated for the deity, spirit or daemon that it embodies or represents...
s as "idols
Idolatry
Idolatry is a pejorative term for the worship of an idol, a physical object such as a cult image, as a god, or practices believed to verge on worship, such as giving undue honour and regard to created forms other than God. In all the Abrahamic religions idolatry is strongly forbidden, although...
" and oppose both polygamy
Polygamy
Polygamy is a marriage which includes more than two partners...
and witchcraft
Witchcraft
Witchcraft, in historical, anthropological, religious, and mythological contexts, is the alleged use of supernatural or magical powers. A witch is a practitioner of witchcraft...
. Unlike Kimbanguism
Kimbanguism
Kimbanguism is a branch of Christianity founded by Simon Kimbangu in what was then the Belgian Congo . The church's name is the Kimbanguist Church , and is a large, independent African Initiated...
, the churches tend to avoid politics and focus instead on the "holiness movement."
Aladura Movement started at Ijebu-Ode, Nigeria in 1918. This movement later metamorphoshed to Faith Tabernacle and finally to Christ Apostolic Church. Today, although most churches in Western Nigeria can be correctly called "Aladura"; they can be categorized into Pentecostals and Spiritualists. The popular Aladura Indegenous Churches are:
Aladura Pentecostals
1. Christ Apostolic Church
Christ Apostolic Church
Christ Apostolic Church is the first Aladura Pentecostal church present in Nigeria and other countries. It has come into existence in the first half of the...
2. Redeemed Christian Church of God
Redeemed Christian Church of God
The Redeemed Christian Church of God is a Nigeria-based Pentecostal Holiness ministry.-History:The RCCG was founded by Nigerian pastor Josiah Akindayomi...
3. Mountain of Fire Ministries
Mountain of Fire and Miracles
The Mountain of Fire and Miracles ministries is a Pentecostal organisation founded in Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria in 1989, now with churches in several English-speaking and non-English speaking countries.-Mission:...
4. Deeper Life Bible Church
Deeper Life Bible Church (Nigeria)
Deeper Christian Life Ministry is a non-denominational Christian Church with its international headquarters in Lagos, Nigeria, mostly renowned for its teachings on Salvation from sin, biblical holiness of life and supernatural healing...
Aladura Spiritualists
1. Eternal Sacred Order of Cherubim and Seraphim
Eternal Sacred Order of Cherubim and Seraphim
The Eternal Sacred Order of the Cherubim and Seraphim is the first African initiated church established in 1925 by Moses Orimolade Tunolase. The church was born out of the Anglican church community among the Yoruba people in Western Nigeria.-History:...
2. Church of the Lord (Aladura)
Church of the Lord (Aladura)
The Church of the Lord 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, Shagamu, Ogun State, Nigeria; Reference: Journey So Far, ISBN 3-8258-6087-7; Publication - TCLAW Publishers, 2009."Aladura"...
3. Celestial Church of Christ
Celestial Church of Christ
The Celestial Church of Christ is an African Initiated Church founded by the Rev. Samuel Biléhou Joseph Oschoffa on 29 September 1947 in Porto-Novo, Benin...
The Aladural Spiritualists are also called "White Garment" Churches. Christ Apostolic Church, popularly called CAC, is the precursor of Aladura Pentecostalism.
Christ Apostolic Church
The first Aladura Movement emerged from St. Saviour's Anglican Church, Ijebu-Ode, Nigeria in 1918 after the Sexton, Ali, had related a dream to four Elders of the church, J.B. Sadare, E.O. Onabanjo, D.C. Oduga, and E.O.W. Olukoya. They started vigorous prayer sessions. In consequence, they initiated the "Prayer Band", popularly called "Egbe Aladura". After D.O. Odubanjo joined the Movement in 1919, they became influenced by the doctrines of Faith Tabernacle of Philadelphia. They rejected infant baptism and all forms of medicine, whether western or traditional. This led to a conflict of doctrines with the Angligan Church, and as such, they were forced out of the church. Mr Joseph Sadare was compelled to give up his post in the Synod and others were forced to resign their jobs and to withdraw their children from the Anglican School. The Aladura Movement began as a renewal movement in search of true spirituality.A revival took place in 1918 during the outbreak of influenza epidemic. The group filled with the Holy Ghost used prayer to save many lives affected by the Influenza epidemic. This consolidated the formation of the prayer group. This movement grew gradually and formed branches throughout Nigeria. Also, the name of the group went through several changes, such as Prayer Band, Precious Stone, Diamond Society, and Faith Tabernacle, in that order until 1930. A great revival started in July 1930 by the raising of a dead body by Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola at Oke-Oye in Ilesa. People trooped from neighbouring cities and countries to receive healing at Ilesa. Several people were healed through the power of prayer and there were evidences of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The revival lasted about 60 days and it's still regarded as the greatest revival ever in Nigeria. Faith Tabernacle of Nigeria later invited the Apostolic Church of England in 1931 to form an Association which lasted till 1939. The Revival group went through several name changes until, after 24 years of its formation, it finally adopted the name Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) in 1942. Today, CAC has spread worldwide and definitely is the precursor of Aladura Pentecostal Churches in Nigeria. Visit [CAC website] at http://www.cacworldwide.net/ or http://www.greatrevivals.com/. The Church has established several schools at all levels, including Joseph Ayo Babalola University.
There are several other churches that stemmed out of Christ Apostolic Church.
Eternal Sacred Order of Cherubim and Seraphim
Moses Orimolade, who was later called Baba Aladura, or Praying Father founded the Eternal Sacred order of Cherubim and Seraphim society in 1925, also as a prayer group within the Anglican Church. Captain Christiana Abiodun his later adopted daughter fell into a trance from which Moses Orimolade, who was already an itinerant evangelist and teacher, was the only one who could awaken her. By 1928 they had left the Anglican church to become independent. Their most distinctive ministry was to openly ferret out and challenge witches on their long evangelistic journeys through the countryside. These long trips were typical of Seraphim (as they are most commonly called) evangelists and missionaries. Today the church is one of the most popular, most attractive and most influential of the Aladura churches worldwide.The Church of the Lord (Aladura)
Josiah Ollunowo Ositelu founded the Church of the Lord (Aladura) on 27 July 1930 at Ile Lisa, Ogere-RemoOsitelu was born in 1902 to Dawodu Ositelu and Madam Rebecca Ejironike. His parents named him "Fakoya" at birth, however, Ositelu told his father he was "Oyelowo" and his baby brother should be called "Oyeleke".
Eventually, Ositelu became School Master Catechist at Orile Imo – Ishan – Erukute, Asha, Erunbe (Oko Egba).
Ollunowo Ositelu all his life used cold water to bath and drink, and never ate pork.
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.
Ollunowo Ositelu demonstrated God's Powers through miracles, healing, the Gospel, 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 innaugurated as the second Primate of the Church of the Lord Aladura.
Celestial Church of Christ
The Celestial Church of ChristCelestial Church of Christ
The Celestial Church of Christ is an African Initiated Church founded by the Rev. Samuel Biléhou Joseph Oschoffa on 29 September 1947 in Porto-Novo, Benin...
(usually known as Cele) was founded in 1947 by a carpenter in Porto Novo, Samuel Oshoffa
Samuel Oshoffa
Samuel Bilehou Joseph Oshoffa was the founder of the Celestial Church of Christ after reportedly resurrecting people from the dead. He founded the church in 1947 after being lost for three months near Porto-Novo in Benin. The church now has its main offices in Nigeria...
.
See also
- Celestial Church of ChristCelestial Church of ChristThe Celestial Church of Christ is an African Initiated Church founded by the Rev. Samuel Biléhou Joseph Oschoffa on 29 September 1947 in Porto-Novo, Benin...
- Church of the Lord (Aladura)Church of the Lord (Aladura)The Church of the Lord 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, Shagamu, Ogun State, Nigeria; Reference: Journey So Far, ISBN 3-8258-6087-7; Publication - TCLAW Publishers, 2009."Aladura"...
- Christ Apostolic ChurchChrist Apostolic ChurchChrist Apostolic Church is the first Aladura Pentecostal church present in Nigeria and other countries. It has come into existence in the first half of the...
- African Initiated ChurchAfrican Initiated ChurchAn African Initiated Church is any of a number of Christian churches independently started in Africa by Africans and not by missionaries from another continent, in which they sometimes hold to one or more African tribal belief systems syncretised with Christianity.-Nomenclature:A variety of...
- Christ Apostolic Miracle MinistryChrist Apostolic Miracle MinistryThe Christ Apostolic Miracle Ministry is an evangelical Christian church founded in 1997 by Pastor Paul OkikiJesu. It is based in the Lagos State of Nigeria where OkikiJesu had his conversion experience. Once a Muslim cleric, OkikiJesu claims to have became divinely inspired to follow the message...