Our History – Assemblies Of God Nigeria, Rivers District

At a glance

1930Augustus Ehuriewe Wogu leaves his home town, Umuahia, for Port Harcourt and finds work with the Nigeria Marine.
1931He encounters the Lord, is filled with the Holy Spirit and carries the fire back to Umuahia and the villages around.
1934Worship begins in a rented room at Marine Dockyard Quarters, Port Harcourt.
1967Rivers Area is inaugurated after the Civil War, created out of the Southern Igboland District.
1968A five-man Area Counselling Committee takes charge of the Rivers Area.
1979Rivers Area becomes a District and holds its first election.
2010Rev. Dr. Daddy D. S. Ibulubo becomes District Superintendent.
2014Northern Rivers District is created out of Rivers District.

The beginnings

“History is a fascinating subject. It is more than what one imagines.”

It will be recalled that Mr. Augustus Ehuriewe Wogu left his home town, Umuahia, to Port Harcourt in January 1930 as a job seeker, and on August 18, 1930 he succeeded getting employment in the Nigeria Marine in the Accounts Department. He specially encountered the Lord on February 1931. He became bold having been filled with the Holy Spirit and ministered effectively the Word of God and his new found faith to several people including his friends. He later carried the fire to Umuahia and other villages around. Bros. W. Woko, A.O. Asonye, G.O. Akwarandu and others listened to his story, though they were worshipping with the “Faith Tabernacle Congregation.” When the Faith Tabernacle congregation’s opposition to their faith became tough, they rented a room at Marine Dockyard Quarters Port Harcourt for Church services, and started worship in November 1934, and were also baptized in the Holy Ghost there.

The Rivers Area, 1967

In 1967, Rivers Area was inaugurated immediately after the Nigeria Civil War. She was created out of the then Southern Igboland District, under the able leadership of Rev. M.O. Ezeigbo as the General Superintendent and Rev. G.O. Oyakhilome as the Assistant General Superintendent all of blessed memory. Movement and communication were difficult so the Rivers Area as an administrative unit, experienced terrible and strange behaviour among the few Ordained Ministers because none of them was willing to submit under the other. As a result of such power tussles among them the situation became unbearable to cope with. It is important to note few of the early Ordained Ministers that time, they are Rev. S.S. Aaron, Rev. (Dr.) G.B. Amonibia, Rev. A.D.K. Minabere, Rev. Abam, Rev. A. Peterside (Snr). As the tension increased, few other ministers took the risk and invited the General Superintendent, late Rev. G. O. Oyakhilome, who came in his capacity and through God’s special grace rescued the Church and the entire work of the Rivers Area Constituency. After a crucial meeting and addressing the constituency, a five man area Counseling Committee was then appointed to control the affairs of the Assemblies of God, Rivers Area.

First Counselling Committee, 1968 – 1972
Second Counselling Committee, 1972 – 1979

A District, 1979

In 1979, the Rivers Area became a District. And the first election was conducted and Rev. (Dr.) J.J.G. Nedom was elected the first Rivers District Superintendent.

Presbyteries since then:

2nd Presbytery 1982
3rd Presbytery 1984
4th Presbytery 1986
5th Presbytery 1986 – 1988
6th Presbytery 1990 – 1992
7th Presbytery 1992 – 1995
8th Presbytery 1995 – 1998
9th Presbytery 1998 – 2001
10th Presbytery 2001 – 2004
11th Presbytery 2004 – 2005 October
Caretaker Committee 2005 – 2006
12th Presbytery 2006 – 2009
13th Presbytery 2010 – 2013
14th Presbytery 2013 – 2016
15th Presbytery 2016 – to Date

The officers of every presbytery are listed in the Presbytery’s roll.

Journey so far

In 1978, the District built her first District Secretariat, and was completed in 1979. It will be recalled that No. 109 Aggrey Road was the first residence of the Pioneer Area Supervisor in 1968, and when the Rivers Area later became full-fledged District in 1979, No. 2, Harold Wilson Drive was magnanimously given by late Rev. D.F. Ibulubo to house the District Superintendent. It was from there the District moved to then Headquarters in Rumuomasi, and from there to a rented apartment until September 3, 2011.

Under the leadership of late Rev. Dr. J.J.G. Nedom, it will be recalled that the first Headquarters was built, the purchase of Twenty-five acres of District land at Aleto Eleme was achieved e.t.c. and under Rev, Evang. Peter E. Taylor the work expanded, under the present leadership of Rev. Dr. Daddy D.S. Ibulubo, the present District Secretariat and the Bishop’s Lodge was completed and built respectively. The purchase of Fifty Plots of land – Mercy Land was actualized.

Legacy

Rivers District as an Administrative Unit is indeed a great grandfather in the work of the Lord both in human and spiritual resources. She had in many ways made the National Church and her leadership proud. At her age she is still healthy, strong, powerful and committed to the ideals of the National Church. She had given birth to several children (Districts). They are:

Ahoada
Bayelsa
Bayelsa East
Bayelsa North
Eastern Rivers
Eleme/Tai
Bonny
Ikwerre
Ikwerre Central
Ikwerre East
Ikwerre South
Etche
Northern Rivers

These stages of growth expanded the work and promoted the gospel.

The Rivers District today

Praise the Lord, that in spite of challenges, the District is experiencing God’s divine favour and blessings, which no one can refute hence the appellation, “Land of God’s Glory” . We have committed Pastors, dedicated Deacons and Deaconesses, selfless departmental leaders, trained staffs in every capacity and they are really a blessing to the District.

Today, the district is organised in these sections: