What is now seen and known as the Chapel of Redemption, United Missionary Church of Africa (COR UMCA), Gaa Akanbi, Ilorin came about on the 7th September 1997 like a group without a leader. Before this date, there had been several meetings to reason together and take decisions as the response to make to the directive by the UMCA that the Chapel in its Theological College, that is the United Missionary Church of Africa Theological College Chapel (UMCATCC), was to function as an arm of the College rather than as a local church. God allowed the counsels for unity and love to prevail against separatist, antagonistic and confrontational tendencies. Just as it was between Barnabas and Paul wherein a hot contention arose; the solution of having the members of the assembly that had grown in the College Chapel who so desire to continue as a local church without allowing it to lead to division was thus adopted. The option of allowing a local church to emerge from the chapel in the seminary and relocate to a new place was considered appropriate and adopted.
The hand of the Lord directed the people through the counsels of those who played leadership roles behind the scene. The experience was like that of Moses who did not lack the counsel of his father-in-law when he assumed the role of a single judge for the entire nation. When Chapel of Redemption was established, strategic men and women who had the wisdom of the children of Issachar, knowing the right thing for the people of God to do, continually gave their counsel. This made for excellent leadership decision making.
Even though the people asked what, how and when things would happen, the Lord did not leave His children to grope in the dark. He directed the leaders at each point on what actions to take concerning worship services, mid-week prayer meetings, mission work, fellowship groups, activity and service groups, finances, land acquisition and expansion, as well as physical structures. Things took shape because the Lord was in it all. The congregation was not entirely new to these aspects of life and ministry. Those who had played active roles in these component areas in the College Chapel were simply requested to take on the saddle. As it were, God used the involvement and activeness of members to pave the way for leadership roles and responsibilities.
INTERIM LEADERSHIP TEAM
As there were no structures on ground, a leadership team was proposed to determine administrative issues and to work hand in hand with the ministration team which handled matters of worship. Members were nominated into these bodies to function for the first year of the establishment of COR which to them had taken on the identity of the Chapel. The temporary arrangement was similar to leadership in the wilderness just to take the people of God into the promised land. The leadership team therefore played the overseer role right from inception and continued until the end of the first year of the Chapel of Redemption. It did not only set up the administrative structure but worked with the ministration team to set the pattern for worship in consonance with the Lord’s leadings under the foundation Pastor-in-charge. In a most glorious way, the permanent physical structure for worship, which is referred to as the Chapel, was also raised within the first year of its establishment.
EXCEEDINGLY MAGNIFICENT
To the glory of God, the Chapel auditorium was ready for the thanksgiving service during the first-year anniversary. Members were excited at the great moves of the Lord in making the people ready to give of their best in terms of their finances, other resources and skills to ensure that the building was put in place. The willingness was like in the days of Moses when people gave and gave until they were asked to stop. The Pastor’s inspirational message was that God had promised He would make the building ‘exceeding magnifical’. According to this word, the people were expectant and they did everything to see it in line with the Lord’s promise given through the Pastor. That the Lord used and continues to speak to His people through the leaders He gave them is a testimony to the doings of God among His people.
ONE MIND
Regular announcements, giving attention to the life and ministry of the Chapel, helped the members to follow developments and participate appropriately. God had helped the pastoral leadership to maintain a good information flow among members. The wisdom of God had been manifest on occasions when the release of information could make or mar concerned members and such adversities as embarrassment and distress in any form were avoided. Information flow on members in need e.g. in blood donation to sick brethren or support during bereavement was released from the pulpit. The same happened during celebrations of such blessings as marriage, christening, birthday, house warming and promotion. A testimony of love, care and support as could only be given by God himself showed in the responses to all such announcements. Members were living by the principles of sharing joy and sorrow; “rejoicing with those who rejoiced and sorrowing with those who were sorrowing.
AND THE LEADERS EMERGED FROM AMONG THEM
To the glory of God, the Executive Committees of the groups have emerged smoothly. The Chapel comprises units that function to meet several needs arising from her life and ministry. As they contributed in various ways to make for smooth running of the Chapel by what they did, the leadership named them “Activity Groups”. Teams and groups in this category render their activities as depicted by their names such as Missions Team, Ushers, Sunday School, Discipleship, Security, Choristers (Chapel Choir, Redemption Voices, Altar Door Choir, Sunbeam Choir, Children’s Choir), Medical Volunteers’ Team and Sanctuary Cleaners.
THE DEWS OF HEAVEN CAME UPON THEM
God has been at work both to will and to do of His good pleasure. In this way, He has brought His children together. The truth that “in the day of His power, the people shall be willing” also moved the cream of leaders each year to gather together in a place outside the Chapel for a refresher programme. This has been called Leadership Retreat. It is a time for the Lord to brood upon His chosen leaders. On such occasions, the Lord has often breathed new wisdom, direction and moves for the improvement of life and ministry of the Chapel as well as personal walk of those in leadership. It have been occasions to awaken leaders again to their responsibilities.
LEADERSHIP SUCCESSION
Tenure of office has been introduced into leadership and at different layers, prayer for guidance and dependence on the leading of the Holy Spirit have produced nominations. At the transitional periods, a committee takes charge of nominations for succession to the leadership of statutory committees of the Chapel. The peer fellowship and activity groups carry out the selection of their leaders among themselves. These nominations are then approved by the General Assembly which is the main decision-making body comprising registered members.
AND THEY COORDINATE AS ONE MAN
The three Pastors have worked together, and one of them, by their mutual agreement became Pastor in charge of COR first. These three men had a manner of coming together and commonly approaching issues affecting the chapel. It was difficult to notice any sign of division or variance among them. Their level of coordination was so very high that most members of the congregation saw them as one. It looked as if their personalities as individuals and gifts for ministry were complementary to each other. Who could have done this apart from the Holy Spirit, who apportions the gifts to everyone according to his purpose. These three as one in leadership as Pastors were responsible for not only settling the chapel down but to keep it going as a body of Christ as they depended on the Holy Spirit.
PASTORAL SUCCESSION
God’s choice of who should be pastor in charge of the Chapel had been uppermost in the minds of the congregation. At the beginning when there were three Pastors, the team in charge of leadership was led to make consultations and allow for a consensus on whom the foundation pastor in charge should be. By this internal mutual agreement among brethren, Reverend, then Pastor Sunday Oladayo Oladejo, emerged as the first pastor in charge. Breaking this information to the Congregation was welcomed with great joy. By the end of his first year, God had given room for a structure to emerge. Since tenure had been introduced at this level of leadership, he was ready to hand over soon as the mandatory maximum two terms of five years expired in 2008.
Then came the question of who was to succeed him. The Lord led the Chapel to resolve issues relating to clear instructions from God and the nearness of Pastor Ayotunde Okeowo, the candidate for pastoral succession, to the age of 70 years at which Pastors are required to retire. Once these were sorted out, Pastor Ayotunde Okeowo was consecrated as the second Pastor in Charge. This same process was repeated when for reason of reaching the statutory age of 70 years, Pastor Okeowo retired and Revd. Joshua Adebisi Omotosho was expected to step in. The particular issue that had to do with Revd. Omotosho combining his responsibilities as pastor in charge with those of his employment with the University of Ilorin had to be resolved. The leeway out was to consider and appoint a full-time assistant to him, in addition to the other pastors. Thus, the office of Assistant Pastor was filled with Pastor Biodun Olugbemi, who prior to this time was an Evangelist on the Eiyenkorin mission field. Before the 20th Anniversary, Pastor Joseph Abiodun Oyedepo, who served right from September 2007 reached the age of 70 years and has retired as a result. To the glory of God, all the retired pastors continue to render valuable services in the Chapel.
The cycle of leadership under four pastors in charge up till the period of the 20th Anniversary was thus complete with the appointment of Revd. Dr. Biodun Olugbemi in 2015. At the time of celebrating the 20th Anniversary, God has enabled Revd. Biodun Olugbemi to be in office for two years as Pastor in Charge of the Chapel.
