Part 1
Precious Agbai and Daniel Breakforth
The Gospel Faith Mission International (GOFAMINT) is a Word-based Church founded in 1955 through a small group of about 20 committed people led by Pastor Dr. Reuben Akinwalere George (of blessed memory) at Iwaya, Yaba, Lagos State, Nigeria.
Reuben Akinwalere (R.A.) George was born in 1926 at Igodan-Ilesa, in the Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State Nigeria. He was a member of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) and a disciple of Apostle Joseph Ayodele Babalola. Church Gist. He attended the Methodist Primary School in Igodan-Ilesa and upon leaving the School, he learned blacksmithing and was successful in the trade. He later moved to Lagos State Nigeria and worked as a senior man in his trade with a firm known as the West African Construction and Development Company, in Ebute-Metta.
Brother R.A. George gave his life to Christ in his youth and was very zealous and committed to God’s work and the interest of His Kingdom. This commitment led him to be a choirmaster and a youth leader in the CAC at Igodan-Ilesa. Upon moving to Lagos State, he joined the CAC at 83 Lagos Street, Ebute-Metta where he became part of a group called the Christ Army Band and eventually became their leader. Church Gist. Members of this group gave their time to prayer, Bible study and evangelism.
In 1954, R.A. George married Janet Dupe, the marriage experienced delays in childbearing and some years later she passed on through childbirth. In 1967, he married Deborah Dagold and the marriage was blessed with 6 children. On 3rd December 1955, R.A. George and his wife, together with some brothers moved from Ebute-Metta to 9 Omotola Street, Iwaya, Yaba, Lagos State Nigeria. Church Gist. All of them were strong members of the CAC at Ebute-Metta and when they moved to Iwaya, Yaba, they were still going to Ebute-Metta for worship but later resorted to holding Bible studies and prayer meetings in his sitting room due to the distance and to only go to Ebute-Metta for Sunday worship. The CAC Church continued to grow through evangelism and Bible study.
As the Church kept growing and yearning for deeper spiritual experience, this desire led her to pull out of membership in the CAC on 24 July 1958. R.A. George led the Church to be affiliated with the Apostolic Faith Mission of South Africa, now known as the Redeemed Christian Church of God, which was led by Pastor Akindolie (Pastor Akindayomi of blessed memory). Through this alliance, the Church became more developed in spiritual matters. On 13 December 1959, he was ordained as the first full-time pastor of the Omotola Church by Pastor Akindolie. Church Gist. His pastoral title did not stop his hunger for the truth of God’s Word. This resulted in a relationship with Pastor S. F. Odunaike of the Apostolic Church who engaged Pastor R.A George and his leaders in regular training and teaching and this fueled their depth in the Biblical truth. However, the affiliation with the Apostolic Faith Mission of South Africa did not last and she broke away. After breaking away, the Church adopted “Apostolic Faith Mission of West Africa” as her new name.
Pastor R.A. George led the Church to partner with different Churches for assistance in carrying out its mission of evangelism. He first partnered with the Church of New Jerusalem that was located at 9 Fatiregun Street, Brickfield Road, off Apapa Road, Ebute-Metta led by Tunde Ogunsanya; who released their equipment for crusades. He also partnered with the Gospel Mission located at Palm Avenue, Mushin, Lagos State, which was led by Pastor J. O. Martins. He merged with the Church bringing about the name of the Church, “Gospel Faith Mission”. On 20 July 1962, Pastor R.A. George moved to Palm Avenue and became the Pastor in charge of the Mushin Church while Elijah Oludele (E.O) Abina was asked to lead the Iwaya Church.
SOURCES:
GOFAMINT Constitution
Dictionary of Africa Christian Biography
Gospel Faith Mission International Websites (Australia and North America)
Church Gist Archive
Gospel Faith Mission International Facebook Page
Interview with Pastor Taiwo Holo
#ChurchOfTheWeek
#GospelFaithMissionInternational
#GOFAMINT
#ChurchGist
