HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
In the Gospel according to Saint Matthew, chapter 16 verse 18, our Lord Jesus Christ said, “Upon this Rock I will build my Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” Through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the Church of Jesus Christ was born. The apostles led it through rapid expansion by evangelism, albeit under persecution, and soon within a short time it had been planted in much of the then known world. As more people believed, the church began to influence the society, and then to control it. Centuries slipped by and the once strong evangelistic church lost the clear message of salvation by personal faith in Christ. Sadly, formalism, worldliness and even error entered it. However, the Lord faithfully preserved the Holy Scriptures.
Beginning in the 5th century, the Churchmen we now call Reformers started comparing their Church with the scriptures. Believing that the Scriptures must be the highest authority, they were convinced the Church had fallen into error. Among the many reformers, Menno Simons (After whom Mennonites are named) emphasized Personal faith in Jesus Christ and the baptism of the believer. In the 18th century, John Wesley (the father of Methodism) rediscovered in a personal way the wonderful ministry of the Holy Spirit in the believer. Out of these movements, the Mennonite Brethren in Christ Church, later known as the United Missionary Church, and now the Missionary Church, was called into being in the 19th century in the United States and Canada. Through it, UMCA (United Missionary Church of Africa) was planted in Nigeria. Our first missionary, Rev. A. W. Banfield, arrived in Nigeria in 1905. Other equally dedicated workers soon joined this pioneer missionary, and eventually the United Missionary Society was formed in North America to send missionaries to Nigeria and other lands. The missionaries laboured relentlessly and their effort was blessed with the formation of UMCA in 1955 during the jubilee anniversary of their arrival to Nigeria.
On September, 29th, 1956, the United Missionary Church of Africa became a corporate body under the Land Perpetual Succession Ordinance, Cap 107 of the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, with registration number 427. The Nigerians who came to know Jesus Christ as the Lord and Saviour laboured alongside the missionaries to advance the work of God through UMCA in such varied ministries as evangelism, church planting, primary and secondary schools, Bible/Theological training, and medicine. Many of them distinguished themselves as capable, gifted and dedicated workers and leaders. Men like the late Rev. D. O. Taylor (the first UMCA ordained minister), the late Senior Pastor Andrawus Nama, the late Rev. Nathaniel Jiya and Senior Pastor Abel Kolawole (a pioneer missionary to the Nupe people), to name only a few, took up leadership positions. With zeal, vision and initiative, they directed the work under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The Lord blessed their efforts and the Church continued to grow from strength to strength.
On January 5, 1978, about twenty three years after the formation of UMCA, a special service was held at the United Missionary Theological College Chapel, IIorin, in which the United Missionary Society turned over the running of the Church’s affairs to Nigerians.
UMCA therefore became an independent, indigenous Church, with the following as the central administrative officers.
1. (Dr) Jacob Bawa Isa President
2. Samuel Adebayo Oloyede Gen. Secretary
3. James Tswanya Harman Treasurer /Vice President
And the first four District Superintendents:
1. Andrawus Nama Hausa District
2. Peter Kolo Audu Nupe District
3. Joseph Adeyanju Adeyemi Kwara District
4.Simon Adeyemo Adedokun Southern District
And as of January 1988, there were seven (7) Districts namely:
1. Agwara/Yauri District.
2. Chapel District.
3. Kwara District.
4. Southern District.
5. Central District.
6. Kontagora District.
7. Northern District.
Today, we have a vibrant, growing, Holy Spirit-led Church, which belongs to a worldwide Fellowship of Missionary Churches. So we see how Jesus Christ has been building this Part of His Church, just as He promised. We believe He will continue to do so until He comes again in glory!.
COMPOSITION OF THE DENOMINATION
WHEREAS the United Missionary Society was formed in North America between 1905 and 1921; and
WHEREAS after extensive missionary work in Nigeria, the United Missionary Society founded the United Missionary Church of Africa in 1955; and
WHEREAS on the 5th day of January, 1978, the United Missionary Church of Africa became autonomous, whereby the administration of the Church was transferred from the missionaries of the United Missionary Society to the indigenous members of the United Missionary Church of Africa; and
WHEREAS members of the United Missionary Church of Africa did enact a Constitution on the aforesaid 5th day of January, 1978;
WHEREAS NOW, THEREFORE, after a decade of the operation of the 1978 Constitution, a thorough review of the Constitution was done and has since then been further reviewed several times:
UMCA MOTTO
One Lord, one Faith, one Baptism (Eph. 4:5)
NAME
The name of the Church is UNITED MISSIONARY CHURCH OF AFRICA, hereinafter
LOCATION OF HEADQUARTERS
The Headquarters of the Church is located at Ilorin, Kwara State of Nigeria, on a plot in the Government Residential Area bounded on the North by a plot belonging to the Evangelical Church Winning All, on the South by a plot belonging to the Nigeria Railway Corporation, on the West by Yoruba Road, and on the East by Cooperative Road, both of which are off Ahmadu Bello Way; with postal address through Post Office Box 172, Ilorin, Kwara State.
OBJECTIVES
(1) To advance Christian knowledge and practice through the establishment and operation of churches, schools, medical institutions and other services.
(2) To provide places of worship and fellowship where God is praised, His word is proclaimed, people receive Christ as Saviour and Lord, believers are instructed, prayer is offered, discipline and love are exercised, and the ordinances are administered.
(3) To obey the Great Commission of our Lord so that through evangelism and missions, new believers may be added to the Church in Nigeria, Africa and the world.
(4) To foster spiritual unity and co-operation with Christians of other denominations.
(5) To own properties, real and personal estate and make investment within the provision of the law.
(6) To establish companies, to deal in the sale of religious and other educational books, stationery and other items.
(7) To invest in such other financial undertakings that can help in the propagation of the gospel.
(8) To prepare people for heaven.
MISSION STATEMENT
UMCA exists to preach the holistic gospel, make disciple through sound biblical teaching, education and training, health services, and economic empowerment, for the glory of God and service to humanity.
VISON
A dynamic mission and evangelical denomination with empowered members impacting the world as salt and light and prepared for the coming of Christ.
COMPOSITION
This organization is a Christian religious denomination composed of all member churches and districts, all agencies and institutions operated thereby or affiliated therewith.
ARTICLES OF FAITH
The Triune God: We believe that the one and only God is Spirit, self- existent, infinite, personal, immutable and eternal in His Being. We believe in His perfect holiness, love, justice, goodness, wisdom and truth, Omnipotence, Omniscience and Omnipresence. We believe that God is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe, and that He is eternally existing three persons, one in substance and co-equal in power and glory, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Psalm.139:7-10; Malachi 3:16; John4:24; 2Corinthians13:14.
(2) The Bible: We believe that the Bible, consisting of the sixty-six books of both the Old and New Testaments, given by Divine inspiration, is inerrant in its original manuscripts and is the final authority in matters pertaining to faith and conduct. We accept the right and duty of personal judgment, under the illumination of the Holy Spirit, in the interpretation of the Holy Scriptures. 2Timothy 3:16; 1Peter 1:25; 2Peter 1:21.
(3). Man: We believe that man was created in the image of God but fell into sin and therefore was lost; and only through regeneration by the Holy Spirit can salvation and spiritual life be obtained. Genesis 1:27; Acts 4:12; Romans 3:23.
(4) Jesus Christ and the word of Salvation: We believe in Jesus Christ as the only begotten Son of God; He is fully God and fully man. We believe in the truth of His teaching and the perfect sacrifice for the sin of the world which He offered once and for all in His death on the Cross; His bodily resurrection from the dead and His ascension; His intercession and His coming again in power and glory. John 1:18; 3:16; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 4:15.
(5) The Holy Spirit: We believe in the Holy Spirit as the third Person of God-head, and that through His illumination, conviction and regeneration, men are brought to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ; His Continuing work of sanctification in the lives of believers, and their divine preservation unto eternal life. Acts. 1:8, Romans 10:9 10; Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 4:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:23, 2 Thessalonians 2:13. We also believe in the gifts of the Holy Spirit as listed in 1Cor. 12:7- 10, which are wisdom, knowledge, Faith Healing, Miracles, Prophecy, Discerning of Spirits, Diverse Tongues, and interpretation of tongues, as well as others listed in Romans 12 and Ephesians 4, and hold that no gift is superior to others.
(6) The Church: We believe in the Universal Church as a body composed of all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ who have been called out from the world, separated from sin, and vitally united by faith to Christ, Her Head and Lord; in the local Church as an organized body of
believers who are joined together, and who meet at regular times for teaching in the Word, Fellowship of the saints, observation of the Ordinances of Baptism and Holy Communion, administration of discipline and love, prayer, participation in public worship and world-wide evangelism; and in the divinely given ministries of Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, Teachers and Deacons Acts 6:1-6; Ephesians 4:11-13.
(7) The Last Things: We believe in the physical second advent of Christ which is the hope of the Church, the source of her encouragement, consolation, and up building for purification, holiness and inspiration, and for service; the resurrection of the body and the final judgment of all men; the eternal perfection and blessedness of the saved and the eternal punishment of the lost. John 14:1-3; 1Thessalonians 4:13-18; Hebrews 12:5-8; Revelation 21:7; 22:7.
