CHURCH OF THE WEEK
Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN)
The Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN), formerly known as the Church of Christ in Nigeria (COCIN), came into existence as a result of the work of the Sudan United Mission (SUM) British branch, which came into Nigeria in 1904 through these first four missionaries; Dr. Herman Karl Wilhelm Kumm, Dr. Ambrose H. Bateman, Mr. John Burt and Mr. John Lowry Maxwell – the founding fathers of COCIN, who arrived in Wase town of Plateau State, Nigeria On the 8th October, 1904.
This small beginning in Wase led to the foundation of the fellowship of the Churches of Christ in Nigeria known as “Tarrayar Ekklesiyoyin Kristi a Nigeria” (TEKAN) in Hausa, with COCIN as a member of this fellowship and members of the Cambridge University Mission Party gospel in 1910. By mutual agreement, the work of the Cambridge University Mission party was later handed over to the Sudan united Mission, British branch, between 1930 and 1934. The aim of the Sudan United Mission was to establish an indigenous Nigerian church, which would be self-supporting, self-propagating and self-governing. By the grace of God, this aim of the Mission was achieved in 1948 when the Mission gave the Nigerian church the freedom to administer her affairs.
In consonance with her doctrinal basis, the Church has a logo which is represented by the map of the World in black, the cross in white colour superimposed on the map of the world, with an open Bible in white colour below the globe and the radiance of the Word of God giving light to the nations of the world.
The vision of the church is to envision a Church in which the leadership and membership are maturing in Christ by obeying the Word of God, living holy lives, united and committed to worshipping God and spreading the holistic gospel, thereby impacting the world as salt and light of her time to the glory of God and till the return of Jesus Christ.
COCIN mission’s statement is to glorify God and not any person or material; to edify and equip believers to preach the good news of holistic salvation in Jesus Christ to unbelievers.
The Church of Christ in Nigeria has played a significant role in the education of a vast number of Northern Nigeria elites, past and present. Its educational programme has been non-discriminatory, allowing individuals of all religious and other socio-cultural backgrounds to benefit from its educational programmes.
Presently the Church has branches across Nigeria, Mawali, Kenya, Niger, Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda, South Africa and United Kingdom.
Sources: COCIN Headquarters website and Facebook page, COCIN LCC, Abuja page.
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