BRIEF HISTORY OF THE CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH OF NIGERIA (CRCN) JOS, WORSHIP CENTRE.

BRIEF HISTORY OF THE CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH OF NIGERIA (CRCN) JOS, WORSHIP CENTRE. 

Ibrahim Usman

  When Benue-Plateau state was created in 1967, certain pastors of CRCN denomination studying at the Theological Collage of Northern Nigeria (TCNN), Bukuru, saw the need for the establishment of a CRCN Church in Jos.

The vision pioneers were:

1.   Rev. Philip Garjila – as the chairman

2.   Rev. Yohanna Elawa – as the Vice Chairman

3.   Mr. Jacob W. Danladi – Secretary (now Rev. Major)

     4.   Rev. Istifanus Bahago (now CRCN President)

The vision was translated into action when late Mallam Dauda P. Ashu, Rev. Istifanus B. Bahago and Rev. Yohanna I. Elawa were mandated to make contacts with the TEKAN General Secretary at that time Rev. Dr. Yortyom Achineku for a venue for the envisioned church.  This was immediately granted.  A pre-services meeting was held on 9^th January, 1995, followed by the first Sunday worship on 15^th January, 1995.  The attendance of the first Sunday worship was 46 and has now grown to over 230, with above 170 registered communicant members.

An enlightenment and evangelism committee was put in place to get in touch with people of Plateau and others about the church, which led to the gradual growth in membership.  When Rev. Garjila and Rev. Bahago completed their studies and left, it became necessary to replace them so on the 6^th May, 1995, the following were elected as committee members to run the affairs of the church:

1.   Rev. Yohanna Elawa – as the Chairman

2.   Mallam Dauda P. Ashu (Late) – as Vice Chairman

3.   Mr. Jacob W. Danladi – Secretary

4.   Mr. John Baba – as Asst. Secretary

5.   Mr. Useni Luka – Treasurer

6.   Rev. Dr. Jan H. Boer – Member

7.   Mr. Ishaku Bitrus – Member

8.   Mr. Isaac Umar (Late) – Member

Mr. Ibrahim Danbeki of blessed memory was later elected to fill the space left by the demise of Late Isaac Umar.

When notice was given to Ibi RCC and the GCC that a new branch had started in Jos and was taking root, Pastors were then posted from Ibi RCC to the church in Jos.  These were the names of the pastors and the years they served in Jos together with the council of Elders and Deacons that worked with them:

A.      Rev. Zakariya Agbakyeni – he served from 1996 to 1999.

These were the members of the interim committee he met on ground:

Council of Elders

1.   Mr. Ishaku Bitrus – Member

2.   Mallam Dauda P. Ashu – Member

3.   Mallam Ibrahim Danboki – Member

4.   Mr. John Baba – Secretary

5.   Mr. Bitrus Apollos – Member

6.   Mr. Useni Luka – Member

Deacons

1.   Mr. Pasoki Yerima

2.   Mr. Jonathan Adamu

The following elders were later elected to serve with him in his remaining tenure:

1.   Mr. Williams W. Adiku – as Vice Chairman

2.   Mr. Gideon Ayuba – Secretary

3.   Mr. Bala Sule – Asst. Secretary

B.      Rev. Ishaku Iliya Abe was posted to CRCN Jos after the tenure of Rev. Agbakyeni (from 1999 to 2001).  After working with the council of elders who served with the former pastor, the following were later elected as Elders:

     1. Dr. Samuel D. Gani – Vice Chairman

2. Mr. Bala Sule – Asst. Secretary

3. Mr. Jonathan Adamu

4. Mr. Pasoki Yerima

5. Mallam Ibrahim Danboki

6. Mallam Dauda P. Ashu

7. Dr. Musa Obadiah

8. Mr. Hosea Idris Hoga

Deacons:

1.   Mr. Tenenga Madugu

2.   Mr. John D. Kuvala

3.   Mr. Micah Adamu

When Rev. Ishaku Abe was leaving, Rev. Dr. Caleb S. Ahima assumed office as the General Secretary of TEKAN.  He therefore doubled as the TEKAN GS and assisting the then Pastor until Mr. Polycarp Yohanna took over.

C.      Rev. Polycarp Yohanna met the following as council of elders:

1. Mallam Baba Ibrahim Danboki – Vice Chairman

2. Dr. Samuel Danjuma Gani – (CRCN Trustee)

3. Mr. Tenenga Madugu

4. Mr. Edwin Adamu – Secretary

5. Dr. Musa Obadiah – Vice Chairman

Deacons:

1.   Zacharia Ayuba

2.   Musa Ayuba

3.   Atubase Abada

Rev. Polycarp Yohanna was the first Pastor to be ordained in CRCN Jos after his training, on 28/11/2006.

D.      Rev. Wunuji habila Filibus is the fourth posted to CRCN Jos.  He reported on 27^th December, 2007.  These are the members of the church council:

1. Dr. Musa Obadiah – former Vice Chairman

2. Bro. James Langaya – former Secretary

3. Mr. Ibrahim Yakubu Pantuvo – Current Vice Chairman

4. Mr. Yusuf Dauda - Asst. Secretary

5. Mr. Tonyonga N. Binga

6. Mr. John Baba

7. Mr. Nahum H. Angyu

8. Mr. Jonathan Philip

9. Mr. Tenenga Madugu

10. Bro. Bitrus Dan Adis- on pastoral service for two years.

Deacons:

1.   Mr. Barnabas Ba’aku Tsoken

2.   Mr. Abada Atubase

3.   Mr. Zachariah Yusuf

4.   Mr. James Gimba

The following are the first set of ushers the church had, and the present are:

1.   Mr. Useni Luka

2.   Tenenga Madugu

Present ushers:

1.   Mrs. Beatrice C. Umar

2.   Mrs. Rose Kuvala

3.   Mis Charity Gimba

4.   Mr. Samuel Odeku

PERMENENT PLACE OF WORSHIP

As stated, the pioneers sought and got the TEKAN conference hall which was used for Sunday worship.  As the congregation grew, the need for a bigger and permanent worship centre became apparent.  A committee was set to search and find a land to be used for a permanent church building.

The committee members were:

1.   Late Mallam Dauda P. Ashu

2.   Mr. John Baba

3.   Mr. Useni Luka

4.   Barr. Chris Abongaby served as the legal adviser.

The land, which is now the church site, along Tudun Wada Ring Road, was identified when Mr. Pantuvo, after networking with late Ishaku Zerubabel, led the committee to the owner, and that was how the land was found and paid for.  Subsequently, a building committee was constituted to draw up the plan, and building of the church.  They are:

1.   Dr. Samuel D. Gani – Chairman

2.   Dr. Musa Obadiah

3.   Baba Ibrahim Danbeki (Late)

4.   Mr. I.Y. Pantuvo

5.   Mr. Micah Adamu

6.   Mrs. Mary Danjuma

7.   Arc. Benjamin Danjuma Gani

8.   Mr. Bulus Bawa

To ensure the smooth take-off of the building project, members worked relentlessly.  It is only fair to state that late Mallam Bawa Yerima, Senator Iliya Audu, Dr. Musa Obadiah, Dr. S.D. Gani, and his Excellency the former Governor of Taraba State, Rev. Jolly Nyame contributed in no small measure to the success of the church.  Several other individuals (men and women) gave generously both in cash and in kind.  May the good Lord bless them all.

SUB-GROUPS

The following are the sub-groups in CRCN Jos:

1.   Choir

2.   Women fellowship (zumuntan mata)

3.   Praise makers (band)

4.   Youth fellowship

5.   KYK

An elder is assigned to each sub group for the purpose of advice and guidance.

CHALLENGES AND GROWTH

When the church started in 1996, the council meetings were held in Late Mallam Dauda P. Ashu’s residence and prayer meetings in Dr. S.D. Gani’s residence.  From a fairly difficult beginning, with an average membership of 46, CRCN Jos now has an average attendance of above 230 members and registered communicant membership of 170.

The building project is on-going and there has been a weekly offering towards the construction of what is remaining which includes;

a).     Fencing the entire church premises and building the vicarage

b).     Commencement of a church building at Bukuru whose leaders are: Mr. Adamson B. Yusuf, Mr. Mike Van Der Dyke and Mr. Emmanuel Agenebe.

c).     Plan to buy a plot of land for Pankshin worship centre.

In conclusion, we would like to appreciate the various committees for their commitment, service and hard work towards the success of this inauguration and also solicit for support to execute the remaining projects.  Thank you and God bless.