To Reach Out, to Bring In, to Disciple unto Christ for Growth and Kingdom Expansion.

Christ Is the Answer to All Human Needs

Having been led as we believe by the Spirit of God, to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour, and on the profession of our faith having been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

We do now, in the presence of God, His Angels, and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another, as one body in Christ.  

We engage, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, to walk together in Christian Love; (John 13:35), to strive for the advancement of this Church, in knowledge, holiness and comfort, (Phil. 1:27; II Tim. 2:15; II Cor. 7:1; II Pet. 3:11).

To promote its prosperity and spirituality, (Ps, 122:9), to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline and doctrine (Heb. 10:25; Matt. 28:19; I Cor. 11:23-26; Jude 3). 

To contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the Ministry, the expenses of the Church, the relief of the poor and the spread of the gospel to all nations (Matt. 6:33; 1 Cor. 16:2; Mal. 3:10; Number 1:13). 

We also engage to maintain personal and family devotion, to religiously educate our children (Matt. 6:6, Proverbs 22:6).

To seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances, (Mark 16:15). To walk circumspectly in the world; (Rom. 13:13) to be just in our dealings, faithful in our engagements, and exemplary in our deportment (Matt. 5:6).  

To avoid all tattling, backbiting and excessive anger (Psalm 15:3), (Rom. 12:90). To abstain from the sale and use of intoxicating drinks as a beverage, (Judges 13,14 & 125; Luke 1:15-17, Proverbs 31:4, Heb 12:15; Isaiah 5:11-22); and to be zealous in our efforts to advance the kingdom of our Saviour.

We do adhere to the New Testament teaching of monogamy as God’s ideal state of family life. (Deut. 17:7, 1 Cor. 7:2.). 

We engage to stand clear, away from any secret society or cult. We pledge to abstain from same-sex practice or marriage.

We further engage to watch over one another in brotherly love (Rom. 12:10) To remember each other in prayer to aid each other in sickness and distress, to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy in speech. 

To be slow to take offence, but always ready for reconciliation, and mindful of the rules of our Saviour, to secure it without delay (Rom. 12:15). 

We moreover engage that when we move from this place, we will as soon as possible unite with some other Church, where we can carry out the spirit of this Covenant and the principles of God’s Word”. 

So help us God.

Brief History of Yaba Baptist Church

The origin of Yaba Baptist Church (YBC) actually dates back to 1937 when Miss. Lucille Reagan, a Baptist Missionary in Lagos Area, bought a piece of land in Yaba. In 1937, Miss. Reagan was the Principal of Baptist Academy, Lagos with about 856 students in the kindergarten, primary and secondary sections. She had been principal for many years in Lagos. As an educationist, she was concerned with the fate of very many girls that had no opportunity to attend school; only a few girls were in the Baptist Academy then. After school hours, on several occasions, she would drive out to Yaba to look for a suitable site where a school for girls could be built. At last, she found a piece of land (the present premises of Yaba Baptist Church and Reagan Memorial Baptist Girls’ Secondary School). She notified the Baptist Mission and the latter offered her money towards purchasing the land on which a school was to be built.

Miss. Reagan was succeeded by Rev. A. Scott Patternson in the early part of 1938, both as a missionary and as the Principal of Baptist Academy, 24, Broad Street, Lagos. God used Rev. A. S. Patternson to ensure that Miss. Reagan’s wish for establishing a girls’ school at Yaba was fulfilled.

In January 1942, Yaba Elementary School was opened. Morning devotion was usually held daily in the Chapel before classes began. Mr. Akapo was the first Headmaster of the school. A few weeks later, Sunday school was held on Sunday morning in the Chapel. The Sunday school was usually attended by many children with a few adults initially, but later many more adults joined.

By the middle of 1942, some members of staff of Reagan Primary School together with some teachers of the Baptist Academy School in Lagos, but living in Yaba Area, organised themselves and obtained permission from the Baptist Mission to be holding Sunday morning services at the Reagan Primary School’s Chapel. Permission was granted to them as most of them were old students of lwo Baptist College and thus Yaba Baptist Church had begun in a simple way. This official permission marked the beginning of the church.

By Mid-1942, which was widely acclaimed the official period of inception, the church had such notable leaders as late Mr. A. Akapo, Headmaster of the Primary Section of Reagan’s School in Yaba, Mr. W. E. Okodi, Headmaster of the Primary Section of Baptist Academy, Lagos and late Mr. E. O. Akingbala.

These leaders usually took turns to conduct Sunday morning service while the school teachers in Yaba officiated as Sunday School teachers. Some of the pioneer adult members include: Messrs. G.B. Aderinokun, Mr. J.E. Bassey, E.E. Okon, O.O. Soleye, E.O. Orevba, Opaleye, J.R. Kehinde, Mrs. Phillips (nee Kuye), Mrs. A.M.  Kuye, Mrs. Olurebi and Mrs.  Silva. The name of the church at this stage was Reagan Baptist Church.

The church started with about eighteen adult members together with a few children, mostly school children. The church, at the initial stage, faced a number of problems such as instability of church leadership, few membership, lack of land on which to build a permanent place of worship eventually, lack of enough fund to build a church and lack of a trained Pastor.

Between 1942 and 1945, the church operated without a pastor and the pioneer leaders conducted morning services on Sundays in rotation. This situation was not good enough but it was the best arrangement initially. However, by 1945, the first pastor in person of Rev. N.F. Fatunla was posted to the church.  At that time, pastors were usually posted by the Baptist Mission.

The Sunday service itself was held at the Chapel of Reagan School right from its inception in 1942 to the end of 1957, a period of about fifteen years. Varying fortunes attended the church within this period. Because of small membership at this early period, only the morning service was usually held, up to 1946. It was perhaps too much for a young church to hold two services (morning and evening) on a Sunday. It was in 1947 that both morning and evening services commenced.

The church of the Lord in Yaba is waxing stronger and stronger under the direction of the Holy Spirit and the dedication of the leadership of the church. We praise God for His faithfulness because He has surprised us in many ways. He has remained true to His promises even when we, as mere mortals flagged at times. The God Almighty who has led us thus far will still lead us into the unseen future and make us achieve greater goals.

Leaders and Pastors of the Church from Inception

1. Dcn. Bola Abolade (Chairman)
2. Dcn. Oluwaseun Sofoluwe
3. Dcn. Gbemisola Onilude
4. Dcn. Ajayi Fagbemi
5. Dcn. J. Oludare Akinwale
6. Dcn. Kehinde Orolu
7. Dcn. Abiodun Olakiigbe
8. Dcn. Olayinka Ayomo
9. Dcn. Josiah O. Babalola
10. Dcn.. Olugbenga M. Ojo
11. Dcn. Ayodeji Olowoshoke
12. Dcns. Modupe Akintola
13. Dcns. Olajumoke Ibikunle
14. Dcns. Oluwasayo A. Adenihun
15. Dcns. Victoria O.A. Adekanmbi
16. Dcns. Idowu Aneyo
17. Dcns. Grace Oketola

Contact: deaconate@yababaptistchurch.org