Our History

THE CALL TO START CHURCH MINISTRY

At about 6.00 am one fateful morning, I was trekking from my house to Agric bus stop to catch a bus to the office. As I was walking pass Olufunwa Nursery & Primary School building, I heard an audible voice saying, “Very soon, there will be no more bank work. I want you to replicate what you are doing at the Lunch Fellowship here.” I stood still while the voice kept re-echoing in my ears and when I turned to look at where God was pointing to me, it was a Nursery & Primary School. Before I go further, there are two quick lessons to take away about God’s calling. One, when God calls you to do a thing for Him, He does not tell you how to do it, when to do it or the challenges you will encounter in course of doing it. Only your obedience releases His presence and hands upon the work. Two, when God said to me, “Very soon there will be no more bank work” was in October 1994 while my appointment with Union Bank was determined on September 30, 2009 – exactly 15 years later. How did I know it was God’s set time for me to leave bank work? Before this time, I suddenly saw my interest and zeal for the job was dying away. On the night before the D-day in dream, I entered the Elevator to the 13^th floor of the Marina Union Bank building only to find myself trapped in the Lift. When I woke up, I told my wife the dream and that the Bank work has come to an end and it just worked out that way.

HOW I SEPARATED FROM MY MOTHER CHURCH

I wedded in April 28, 1990 at Rock Christian Mission, Coker Village under the pastoral oversight of Rev. (Dr) Julius Akaraonye. By reason of accommodation, we relocated to Agric, Ojo the same month and joined Christ Gospel Evangelical Mission (CGEM) that same year till the call came. After securing the consent of Dr. Mrs. Alli’s family for us to use their space, I shared my next assignment with my G/O, Rev. (Dr) David Abati. The church prayed for us and sent us forth. Separation is a natural phenomenon in life, but how one separate from his source is very important and should be well managed especially in ministry.

HOW THE CHURCH STARTED

On January 1995, we started a non-interdenominational Bible Study Fellowship every Wednesday at the Olufunwa Nursery & Primary School. I printed and sent out letters to the people in our neighborhood notifying them about the Bible Study meeting. We had hardly run the fellowship for about 3 months when some of the attendees started asking for Sunday service. On May 7, 1995, we started Sunday service with four (4) families in attendant. These were; 1) Evang. Uche & Chinyere Dike; 2) Bro. & Sis. Ugorji & Queen Osoka; 3) Bro. & Sis. Edogi & Doreen Egbe; 4) Bro. Jolly & Sis. Fumi Enebelele. After this time, came Deacon Emmanuel & Favor Philips, Bro. Sammy & Uzor Aggarry, Pastor Raymond Uzoechina family and Papa Daniel & Veronica Opute family.

RELOCATION TO OUR PERMANENT SITE

One of our members, Late Papa Daniel Opute took us to our present site to see if we can buy some plots there. The land was a first-class swamp fully covered with trees, palm fronts and stagnant waters and there is no access road into it. We only peeped into the land through the backyard of late Papa Opute’s friend, Alhaji  …… who later become my very good friend. Papa took us to the family and payment was made for the two plots. One Sunday after service, we took our members to show them the place; surprisingly next Sunday some of them didn’t show up again for the fear that nothing can come out of buying river as land. In 1997, we gained access to a small portion of the land through Alhaji compound, erected temporary structure and started worshipping there. But whenever it rained, everywhere become flooded and we were in this mess for more than twenty years for lack of funds to the extent we became a mockery to some of our neighbors. In the passage of time, we created the road by going to Festac Town to buy refuse and sand to fill it as our little strength can afford – but whenever it rains, we are back to zero level. After we made the road, some people started coming in to buy land and develop it. Ever since 1997 we have continued to improve and maintain the Aroma Word Close after registering it with the Local Government until last year 2024 when we sand-filled the street from end to end with the support of some landlords of the Aroma Close.

OUR MAIDEN ORDINATION

The first ordination service conducted was in 2005 when my mentor and mentor of Aroma Word Assembly, Late Rev. (Dr) Wilson Badejo, one time General Overseer of Foursquare Gospel Church International ordained me as a REVEREND MINISTER and consecrated me as the GENERAL OVERSEER of this great Commission. In that same occasion, I ordained my beloved wife and my deputy Bro. Osoka Ugoji as Reverend Ministers along with other twelve (12) Pastors, Elders, Deacons and Deaconesses.

REGISTRATION STATUS

Aroma Word Assembly was registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Abuja on  19th July 1999 with registration No. 12173. Also, the filing of our CAC Annual Returns status is up-to-date as at the end of 2024.

OUR BRANCH NETWORK

At different times, we opened branches at Iba Housing Estate, Akesan and Aradagun in Badagry which were handed over to some pastors to manage. Given that I was still engaged with my bank job and my wife engaged with her Judiciary job, we were unavoidably present to provide physical oversight. Unfortunately, we came face to face with what the Book of Psalms 12:1 says, “HELP, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.” Unaware brethren forced these branches to be closed down and I left my complaints in God’s hands in this direction. They only succeeded to close down the branches, but they are unable to close down the ministry God deposited in my spiritual womb and till today, the vision is still speaking; “For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie, though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry” (Hab. 2:3).

REMAINING IN OUR CALLING – IN GOOD TIME OR BAD TIME

Jotham the lastborn of Jerubbaal told a parable of how the trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them to the people of Schechem. First, they said to Olive tree, reign thou over us and the olive tree; “Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me thy honor God and man to be promoted over the trees?” Second, the fig tree said, “Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit?” Third, and the vine said, “Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man to become king over the trees?” Only the bramble (thorn tree) agreed to leave his place of calling if only all the trees will come and put their trust under his shadow or else he will release fire to devour them (Judges 9:8-15). What has kept me as a visioner and my vision in the last 30 years has been the grace and resolve to remain in my original calling in good and bad times.  I have been tempted several times to shift ground from holiness to half-baked or mix it all type of local church ministry; and several times I have resisted the temptation. Knowing what the God who called you want you to do, sticking to it even when it appears it is not working is key to lasting in ministry, key to being useful and usable to God.