Joseph Ayo Babalola
Encyclopedia
Joseph Ayo Babalola was the founder of the Christ Apostolic Church, popularly called Aladura in Nigeria. He was credited with healing powers.
, and was brought up as an Anglican
. Having left elementary school, he was employed in the Public Works Department as a steam roller operator. In October 1928, while trying to repair his machine, he believed that Jesus Christ called him to abandon the job and start preaching. He then joined Faith Tabernacle
in Lagos
, which was related to an American Pentecostal
organization.
In September 1930 Babalola was credited with raising a dead man to life. From then on, with bell and Yoruba Bible in hand, he toured Yorubaland and eastern Nigeria, preaching about repentance, and renunciation of idolatry, the importance of prayer and fasting, and the power of God to heal sickness.
In 1930 Faith Tabernacle affiliated with the British Apostolic Church. Then following a schism in the Apostolic Church about 1940, Bablola went with a new independent church, Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), where he continued his healing and revivalistic activities until his death. The CAC regards Babalola as an apostle and his revival ministry as the beginning of the church. A CAC retreat center was built where Babalola was first called in 1928.
The Christ Apostolic Church has not died along with Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola in 1958. As a matter of fact it has grown rapidly over the years, with many churches under the Christ Apostolic Church name but each church with a specific branch name.
The Christ Apostolic Church (Outreach) was established around July 1997 by one of the Greatest men of God in Europe, Pastor A.O Fashina.
It started out small but this small but humble beginning is proof that any church whose foundation is built from scratch on faith, prayer, patience, perseverance and hard work is destined for the top. Today, after about fourteen years the congregation has grown from just a few
members to hundreds of members from different racial, social and cultural background through the grace of God and commitment of the strong leadership of the church.
The Christ Apostolic Church (Outreach) Headquarters is in Tottenham in the United Kingdom. It has other branches in the United Kingdom.
The Nigerian Headquarters of this ministry is in Akure
, Ondo State
.
There are also some branches in Ireland.
Life and mission
Babalola was born of Yoruba parents at Ilofa, NigeriaNigeria
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...
, and was brought up as an Anglican
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...
. Having left elementary school, he was employed in the Public Works Department as a steam roller operator. In October 1928, while trying to repair his machine, he believed that Jesus Christ called him to abandon the job and start preaching. He then joined Faith Tabernacle
Faith Tabernacle
Faith Tabernacle is the headquarter church of Winners' Chapel. It is in Canaanland, Ota, a suburb of Lagos, Nigeria. Faith Tabernacle has a capacity of 50,400 worshippers and it is reputed to be the world biggest church in terms of capacity...
in Lagos
Lagos
Lagos is a port and the most populous conurbation in Nigeria. With a population of 7,937,932, it is currently the third most populous city in Africa after Cairo and Kinshasa, and currently estimated to be the second fastest growing city in Africa...
, which was related to an American Pentecostal
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...
organization.
In September 1930 Babalola was credited with raising a dead man to life. From then on, with bell and Yoruba Bible in hand, he toured Yorubaland and eastern Nigeria, preaching about repentance, and renunciation of idolatry, the importance of prayer and fasting, and the power of God to heal sickness.
In 1930 Faith Tabernacle affiliated with the British Apostolic Church. Then following a schism in the Apostolic Church about 1940, Bablola went with a new independent church, Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), where he continued his healing and revivalistic activities until his death. The CAC regards Babalola as an apostle and his revival ministry as the beginning of the church. A CAC retreat center was built where Babalola was first called in 1928.
The Christ Apostolic Church has not died along with Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola in 1958. As a matter of fact it has grown rapidly over the years, with many churches under the Christ Apostolic Church name but each church with a specific branch name.
Christ Apostolic Church (Outreach)
The Christ Apostolic Church (Outreach) is one of the many churches that established after the divine encounter, Joseph Ayo Babalola had in 1928.The Christ Apostolic Church (Outreach) was established around July 1997 by one of the Greatest men of God in Europe, Pastor A.O Fashina.
It started out small but this small but humble beginning is proof that any church whose foundation is built from scratch on faith, prayer, patience, perseverance and hard work is destined for the top. Today, after about fourteen years the congregation has grown from just a few
members to hundreds of members from different racial, social and cultural background through the grace of God and commitment of the strong leadership of the church.
The Christ Apostolic Church (Outreach) Headquarters is in Tottenham in the United Kingdom. It has other branches in the United Kingdom.
The Nigerian Headquarters of this ministry is in Akure
Akure
Akure is a city in the southwestern region of Nigeria, and is the largest city and capital of Ondo State. The city has a population of approximately 387,087...
, Ondo State
Ondo State
Ondo State, Nigeria was created on 3 February 1976 from the former Western State. It originally included what is now Ekiti State, which was split off in 1996. Akure is the state capital.-Government and society:...
.
There are also some branches in Ireland.