Church marks 10 years anniversary

The Peculiar Gospel Outreach Ministry has marked its 10th anniversary of church planting, celebrating a decade of growth and resilience.

The anniversary featured a two-day programme, tagged ‘Ebenezer – Thus far, the Lord has helped us,’ anchored on 1 Samuel 7:12, which began with a crusade on Saturday and ended with a thanksgiving service on Sunday at the church headquarters in Imode, Oke-Ero Local Government Area of Kwara State.

Speaking at the event, the General Overseer of the ministry, Pastor Joseph Babatunde, described the milestone as evidence of divine help, noting that the ministry has grown to 15 branches across Nigeria and Togo.

He said the theme of the anniversary reflected gratitude for God’s faithfulness over the past decade, especially as the church survived early prophecies that it would not last beyond one year.

“It therefore became expedient for us to come together to specially thank God for how far He has sustained us despite the negative prophecies and wishes of the enemies that the ministry will not survive for one year,” he said.

Babatunde explained that the word “Ebenezer,” meaning “stone of help,” symbolises God’s intervention and protection, adding that it represents moments of divine assistance throughout the ministry’s journey.

“Thus far, the Lord has helped us,” he said, describing the statement as a testimony of preservation and steady growth over 10 years of church planting.

Tracing the origin of the ministry, Babatunde recalled that the vision was revealed to him in 1989 in old Imode town, following an encounter that marked the beginning of his spiritual calling.

He said the experience was followed by a dream in which he heard a voice telling him he had been separated for a divine purpose to preach the gospel, although he initially ignored the message.

According to him, the call became clearer over time through repeated confirmations, including a significant moment in 2008 while serving as Regional Manager of the Bank of Industry in Akure, when he saw what he described as a handwritten message reinforcing his mandate.

He said the development led to consultations with church leaders and the organisation of the first crusade in Iloffa in December 2008, which marked the formal take-off of the ministry’s evangelistic activities.

Babatunde added that the ministry was officially registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission in 2013 and had since expanded into a network of churches and outreach centres.

He noted that its reach now spanned several towns and communities, including Ilorin, Ibadan, Omuaran, Oke-Onigbin and Erinmope, as well as locations in Togo.

He further explained that the acquisition of land in New Imode Town in 2015, where Peculiar Camp and the church auditorium were built and completed in 2016, strengthened the ministry’s expansion.

Reaffirming the church’s mission, Babatunde said the ministry would continue to focus on evangelism, discipleship and expansion, expressing optimism about greater growth in the years ahead.