Our History
OUR SUCCESS STORY OF VICTORY BAPTIST CHURCH, ODO-NIA
A few numbers of people from Odo-nla usually go to Odongunyan to worship at Ogo-Oluwa Baptist Church, about 2km away. This development made Ogo-oluwa Baptist Church to start a home fellowship at Odo-nla to disciple those who go to worship on Sundays but have no opportunity to attend mid-week service. This arrangement continued for sometimes. During those time Ogo-Oluwa was a preaching point without resources to maintain a preaching station.
How it all started
On the 31st of March 1997, the Youth Fellowship of J. T. Ayorinde Chapter Baptist Churches namely: Araromi Baptist Church, Ilasan, Araromi Baptist Church, Lagos Christ Baptist Church, Gbagada, First Baptist Church, Lagos, Emmanuel Baptist Church and Ebenezer Baptist Church, Lagos, organized an outreach programme, during Easter period at Odongunyan, Ogo-Oluwa Baptist Church, Odongunyan, hosted them whole-heartedly.
In his welcome address, a prominent member (former Church Leader) of Ogo-Oluwa Baptist Church Odongunyan, Pa. Agunbiade mentioned the need for them to extend their outreach to Odo-nla and Odo-Kekere. He noted that idol worshippers and Moslems has taken over the whole area and that some Christians, especially Baptist members, could not come regularly to Odongunyan to worship because of the distance. With this, the youths set out for Odo-nla. All the youth who came for outreach invariably had burden for the souls and they witnessed to the dwellers of Odonla. When they returned, the host Minister, Pastor D. O. Idowu was given the names of those won for Christ that day. In his closing remark, Pastor Idowu promised that they would revisit Odo-nla to follow up all the souls won for Christ. He challenged the youths to constantly carry out such programme and that there is the need for a Baptist Church in Odo-nla. In response to the request of the host Pastor, the Youth President of Ebenezer Baptist Church, Lagos promised that, “by the special grace of God, EBENEZER BAPTIST CHURCH, LAGOS will not leave any stone unturned, till a Baptist Church is established in Odo-Nla The information reached the Evangelism Committee of Ebenezer Baptist Church, Lagos and steps were taken to survey the village. Rev. O. B. Oladejo (Church Pastor), Mr. S. A. Adekanbi, Bro Kehinde Olablyl and Sis. Olaseni Oladipo (Secretary, Evangelism Committee) were sent for the survey. The team gave a positive feedback to the committee and a recommendation was made to the Executive Committee of the Church to start a Preaching Station at Odo-nla. This led to a two-day Crusade (24th and 25th October, 1997) in Odo-nla by the Evangelism Department of Ebenezer Baptist Church, 50A, Campbell Street, Lagos Island. The Team was led by the Associate Pastor (Daniel A. Akano) who was the Church Evangelism and Discipleship Pastor.
The following departments of the Church were among the team: The BSF, WMU. Sunday School and the wife or the Church Pastor Mrs. Oladejo. The 2 days outreach was attended by member of Ogo-Oluwa Baptist Church Odongunyan and their Pastor (Revd. D.O. Idowu) who led some of his church members to join in the two days crusade. The role Revd. D.O. Idowu and some of his Church members played in the development of the Church cannot be over emphasized. They were really source of encouragement to the Evangelism team during and after the crusade.
The first day of the crusade was marked with a short exhortation by Pastor Daniel Akano while the opening prayer was said by Mrs. Oladejo after which the first film was shown and at the end of the first day of the crusade twenty- six souls gave their lives to Jesus Christ. The second day was another fulfilling out-pouring of the Holy Spirit as the film was shown and at the end, fourteen souls gave their lives to Christ. The closing prayer for the crusade was said by Pastor /Evangelist Idowu of the Ogo-Oluwa Baptist Church. Among the new convert were Bro. Ezenwa and Mr. & Mrs. Benard.
The first Sunday Worship after the Crusade marked the establishment of the church on the 26th of October 1997. The total number of worshippers that Sunday was thirty-four (34). The first message was preached by Pastor Akano. He spoke on the topic “The Church That Must Grow” and he took his text from Romans 12:1-12. He also encouraged members that the Church that must grow must be a Church with a vision. He concluded by making it known that “This Church is a Church with a Difference!
Initially, the church was using the Odo-nla Community Hall for all her programmes until God used Ebenezer Baptist Church Lagos to purchase the land in which the auditorium is standing today. The congregation moved from the hall to the land on the 28th of April 1998. Our beloved Late Brother F. A. Tella preached the first message. Since the birth of VICTORY BAPTIST CHURCH, ODO-NLA, growth-oriented programmes have been faithfully carried out up to date.
Bro J.K.O Babalola now Revd J.K.O. Babalola was the coordinator of the church from inception and Mr. Oloruntimilehin was the church leader until November 1999 when Pastor Olayiwola took charge as the student pastor. An average attendance of the church was between 40 and 55 during that time.
Since Pastor Olayiwola (now Revd. Dr. Olayiwola) took up the leadership of the church in November 1999, the church has recorded tremendous growths from all sides. The average attendance at the Sunday morning worship were between 75 and 80. Under the leadership of Pastor Olayiwola, the church acquired 3 additional plots of land as of December 2000. The foundation of the church building was laid on one plot of land bought by the mother church on February 3rd, 2001, and by November/December, 2001 the church building was roofed. The then former building was dedicated on November 2nd, 2002. The church was organized on July 10th, 2004, and later as the church progresses, the Pastorium was built (a four-bedroom mission house) with a borehole for availability of pipe borne water
The church project yielded fruit as a befitting fully airconditioned Toyota HiAce was bought in March 2016 and while the new structure (1st Face-Lifting) of a more befitting auditorium started in February of the same year (2016).
By November and December 2018, one church was adopted, (Abundant Grace Baptist Church Labori Oloja) and a new one planted named (Victory Baptist Church Igbosoro) respectively. A three plot of land was acquired at the cost of three million Naira for the use of our daughter church, VBC Igbosoro.
By this May 2022, the 2nd and major face-lifting of the church started and that brought us to the stage we are now. We give God the glory, great things he has done for us. The church of God (Victory Baptist Church is expanding) the average worshippers now at our Sunday Worship is over 200. Indeed, Victory Baptist Church, is a church with a difference! We are moving from victory to victory.