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Diamond Society (later classified as The Faith Tabernacle)
The Diamond Society was an important society that began in 1918, which started as a special prayer meeting in St Saviour's Anglican Church in Ijebu-Ode, Nigeria. This small group began to meet regularly for prayer and spiritual instruction and eventually expanded. -
Tension
Later on, in 1922, tension started to develop between the Society and the Anglican church over such practices as divine healing and reliance on dreams and visions (which guided the society at the time). They also had arguments regarding rules of abstention from the use of medicine, dancing, drumming, debt, drinking, gambling, and mixing with non-Christians. This eventually leads to a break with the Anglican Church. -
Call from God
Later on, Apostle J.A Babalola was called by God on October 11th, 1928, to found a new movement and to set up an evangelistic campaign, which eventually leads to the great revival of 1930. -
The Great Revival of 1930
With the help of Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola as its medium, the Great Revival of 1930 began to emerge in July 1930 in Oke Ooye, Ilesa. The Great Revival didn't only embrace all the beliefs accepted by the Diamond Society group, but also went further by embracing the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Which resulted in the spiritual manifestation of seeing visions, prophesying, speaking in tounges, and dreaming. Because of this, people with diverse illnesses were healed in thousands. -
Alliance
Because the church leaders started to be victims of intimidation, harassment, and humiliation at different intensities, Mr. Odubanjo developed a co-operation with British Apostolic Brothers in Bradford, England. So in 1931, three missionaries were sent to Nigeria as guests of the church. -
Tasks of the missionaries
In November of 1931, these visiting missionaries ordained the first seven Pastors of the church who had earlier on been ordained by a pastor in America. Three of these pastors later came to play important roles in the church. -
Strengthening the Church
After the return of the white missionary delegate to Bradford, a pastor and prophet came to Nigeria to strengthen the bond of fellowship between the two religious bodies. -
1939/1940 Crists
Because of all the help that Nigeria got, the hope that the partnership would eliminate their untold sufferings and persecutions was a distant dream. The partnership did help people for a decade before it crumbled during the 1939/40 crisis, which resulted in the disagreement over this "Divine Healing" between the two groups. -
Whats the name?
Over this time, God spoke with Apostle Babolola again to name the revival group "APOSTOLIC CHURCH". Around 1939, the church changes its name to NIGERIAN APOSTOLIC CHURCH< which was changed again to UNITED APOSTOLIC CHURCH. -
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Issues in the CAC
Over time, the CAC was subjected to a series of strain and issues. Stiff opposition came from the detractors of the Church including some of the orthodox churches, government officers, some high chiefs, and evil forces. Issues started to rise in the organization as well, such as internal administration, inadequate, training, recruitment of unqualified church members, and weak finances. -
God gives it a name
After a million names changes, God revealed to Apostle once again to name the Church CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH, and the name was finalized and registered as No.147 on May 4th, 1944 under the Lands Perpetual Succession Ordinance. -
Golden Era
With all of those issues, there was finally some light. The church started to gain political power which then passed to the Africans who were free to embrace the Gospel; the church even produced literate children, and prominent men and women who had directly or indirectly benefitted from the church gave their support. Then there was an oil boom in the 1960's which provided money for the CAC. Although in 1950 the golden era ended with the death of the pastor and Apostle Babalola.