The Lagos State Baptist Conference Executive Committee at one of her meetings on February 12, 2010, elected the late Rev. Emmanuel Alfred Oguntunji Oguntokun and Dn. Adeniyi Adesola as anchormen. They were tasked to provide pre-inauguration leadership for the Lagos East Baptist Conference and recommend principal officers. They led to organise pre-inaugural meetings of the Conference, led the people in search of the Conference Secretary (now Conference President), nomination of officers and choice of secretariat. The two of them on March 20, 2010, led the officers in the associations that constituted the Conference to assemble at Shepherdhill Baptist Church and thereafter made the church the meeting place. They also led the people to choose and inaugurate a Search Committee for the choice of Conference Secretary (now Conference President) and a Nominating Committee for the choice of principal officers.
At inception, only seven associations moved in their entirety to form the Lagos East Baptist Conference. The associations were Abundant Life, Christ Love, Afurugbin, Gideon 1, Gideon 11, Irepodun and Itesiwaju. Two associations, namely the Great Commission and Ola Oluwa, did not fully identify with LEBC. Some churches like Olorunda Baptist Church, Aguda, Emmanuel Baptist Church, Itire, in Ola Oluwa Baptist Association, New Lagos Baptist Church, Berea Baptist Church, Ikate Baptist Church, in The Great Commission Association identified with LEBC on their own. It was in 2011 that the majority of churches from these two associations identified with LEBC and substantially represented them as part of LEBC. This development showed that some churches, who formerly belonged to these two associations, did not integrate with the associations and by implication the LEBC at the beginning.
However, it is noteworthy that following the intervention of the Lagos State Baptist Retired Ministers’ Fellowship, the lingering misunderstanding within the Conference was finally resolved.
An association comprising six organised churches, five unorganised churches and 15 ordained Baptist ministers came out of the merged Ola Oluwa and The Great Commission Baptist Associations. These churches joined to proclaim the Kingdom message under the new association called Evangel. The churches are:
Bishara Baptist Church, Badagry
Bishara Baptist Church, Idi Araba
First Baptist Church, Aguda
Good News Baptist Church, Surulere
Good Tidings Baptist Church, Lawanson
Iroyin Ayo Baptist Church, Surulere
New Birth Baptist Church, Ikorodu
New Estate Baptist Church, Surulere
New Port Baptist Church, Idi Araba
New Stage Baptist Chutch, Iganmu
New Treasure Baptist Church, Ketu
Associations and Churches
The first pre-inauguration general assembly of the Lagos East Baptist Conference was held at Shepherdhill Baptist Church, Obanikoro on Saturday, April 10, 2010 between 9am and 11am. The theme of the assembly was: “Laying a Solid Foundation,” which was taken from Matthew 7: 24-25. Revd. Dr. Emilola Nihinlola taught that day. On that day, Revd. J. A. Toogun handled the prayer of praise. Revd. Dr. Sola Aworinde led us in devotion. The welcome address was anchored by the late Revd. E.A.O. Oguntokun. The prayer session was handled by Revd. Jeremiah Olakunle. Revd. Israel Jesuniyi led the recognition of associations present. Deacon Adeniyi Adesola made the closing remarks and announcement. The closing prayer was anchored by Deaconess Mopelola Alabi, while the benediction was said by Revd. Oguntokun. These hymns, “Let us with a gladsome mind” and “To God be the glory” were sung.
On July 17, 2010, another pre-inauguration Conference- in- session was held at Shepherdhill Baptist Church, Obanikoro. That day, praises and prayers were offered. Other matters such as the Nominating Committee report and the Search Committee report were presented, well discussed and approved.
Nominating Committee: Members of the Nominating Committee that were approved and their respective associations were as stated below:
Revd. Peter O. Olanisebe (Chairman), Gideon 1 Association.
Bro. Moses Babatunde Ajao (Secretary), Abundant Life.
Rev. Caleb Akin Ajayi, Abundant Life.
Rev. Solomon A. Akanni, Afurugbin.
Pastor Akinola Olaleye, Afurugbin.
Rev. Joshua Ola Ojo, Christ Love.
Dn. Debo Adegoke, Christ Love.
Dn. Jibade Atarase, Gideon 1 Association.
Dns. Mopelola Alabi, Gideon 2 Association.
Bro. Olatunde Wright, Gideon 2 Association.
Rev. E. O. Areo, Irepodun Association.
Dn. S. O. Kehinde, Irepodun Association.
Rev. Paul Tope Ekundayo Adebayo, Itesiwaju Association.
Rev. Abraham Olusola-Niyi, Ola-Oluwa Association.
Dn. U. A. Morakinyo, Ola-Oluwa Association.
Rev. Manasseh A. Adetunmibi, The Great Comm. Association.
Dn. Tosan Omijalile, The Great Commission Association.
The committee worked diligently and came out with a report. On July 17, 2010 during the pre-inauguration Conference-in-session, the report was presented and discussed. After necessary amendments were made, the messengers in the house approved the report.
The Search Committee: Members of the Conference Secretary Search Committee and their respective associations as approved were as stated below:
Rev. Dr. Sola Aworinde (Chairman), The Great Commission Baptist Association.
Dn. Remi Adegbanke (Secretary), Gideon 1 Baptist Association.
Rev. Jeremiah O. Olakunle, Gideon 1 Baptist Association.
Rev. Isaac Olu Okewale, Abundant Life Baptist Association.
Prince L. O. Abidoye, Abundant Life Baptist Association.
Rev. Joshua O. Alagbe, Afurugbin Baptist Association.
Dn. M. A. Fajinmi, Afurugbin Baptist Association.
Rev. Yinka Olorunkoya, Christ Love Baptist Association.
Mrs. Ruth O. Okeyide, Christ Love Baptist Association.
Rev. Joseph A. Aroyehun, Gideon 2 Baptist Association.
Dns. Funmi Oyebisi, Gideon 2 Baptist Association.
Rev. Dr. Noah Ayanlere, Irepodun Baptist Association.
Dns. O. Omotoso, Irepodun Baptist Association.
Rev. Emmanuel Olugbenga Ojo – Itesiwaju Baptist Association.
Dn. Deji Onifade – Itesiwaju Baptist Association.
Rev. Jide Adetutu – Ola-Oluwa Baptist Association.
Dn. E. O. Aina – Ola-Oluwa Baptist Association.
Dn. Dele Adeokun – The Great Commission Baptist Association.
The committee worked assiduously and came out with a report. Nevertheless, it is worth noting that the report of the Search Committee created an unpleasant atmosphere, but it was wisely and amicably settled. Based on the anchormen’s recommendations, it was agreed on September 4, 2010 that the Conference Secretary Search Committee report should be decided by voting. Hence on that day, voting was used. Seventy-six people voted in support of Rev. Emmanuel Adebayo Awotunde, while 16 people voted against him. Consequently, Revd. Awotunde was appointed as the Conference Secretary of the conference.
The defunct Lagos State Baptist Conference was one body until September 29, 2010. On September 30, it was multiplied into three conferences: Lagos East, Lagos Central and Lagos West Baptist Conferences. The inauguration of the three conferences and the induction of their three Conference Secretaries (now Presidents) were conducted by the then Convention General Secretary, Rev. Dr. Solomon Ademola Ishola and Rev. Dr. Sunday Odunayo Oke (the then LSBC Conference Secretary) on Thursday, September 30, 2010, at Yaba Baptist Church, Yaba, Lagos. The multiplication was effected to bring the Conference closer to the people; to maximise the use of human, material and spiritual resources in the conferences; to make adequate use of Baptist potential in Lagos State for Kingdom benefits, and to enlarge the Kingdom of God in the state at a geometric progression.