A Brief History Of the Redeemed Christian Fellowship

Redeemed Christian Fellowship has the aims and objectives of propagating the biblical Christian teaching of faith, love and holiness, thereby, promoting the spread of the gospel.

It also has the aim of promoting the work of God on the campuses by raising true and devoted men and women who are filled with the Spirit of God.
The Fellowship is aimed at uniting other Fellowships on campuses with e same similarities and objectives.

History

Redeemed Christian Fellowship was officially inaugurated by the visionary, Pastor E. A  Adeboye the general overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God in May 1988.

Background

Redeemed Christian Fellowship was originally called “Christ Redeemer’s Fellowship” in 1984 at Obafemi  Awolowo University where the Fellowship started. The need for the establishment was becoming great as the students from other denominations on campuses were coming together.



Pastor Ayo Obafemi the Pioneer President of R.C.F O.A.U (Obafemi Awolowo University) Chapter and currently the National Secretary in the Redeemed Christian Church of God upon discussing His passion for a Student Fellowship with Pastor Ezekiel Olubayo and Pastor Dele Olowu they encouraged Him with Prof Dele Olowu releasing  His Office for the First Meeting of the Fellowship.

The Fellowship after a while moved to the Sport Centre of O.A.U in 1984 and was just crawling until the Visit of our Daddy, Pastor E. A Adeboye to the fellowship during which He held a Bible Study Programme with the University Community.
With the visit and prayers from our Daddy, the growth of the fellowship took a new dimension and it began to explode.

Historical Dates

The Fellowship commenced in 1985 at the Federal University of Technology, Akure by Bro Wale Ogunkunle (now Dr. Wale Ogunkunle) and with the Help of Pastor Oguntelure (now Pastor Oluwatelure) a lecturer; the Fellowship was well rooted in the Campus

In 1986, Federal Polytechnic Ado-Ekiti Chapter was established by Bro. Paul Bankole.
Bro Mathew Somide Started the Fellowship at the Ogun State College of Education (Now Tai Solarin University of Education) in 1989.

Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries under the able Leadership of Pastor E.A Odeyemi and Pastor J.F Odeola gave the Christ the Redeemer’s Campus Fellowship a better orientation and harmonise the different names being used to “Redeemed Christian Fellowship” at the maiden edition of the National Student’ congress.

Pastor J. F Odesola the then National Travelling Secretary (C.R.M) started visiting Campuses. He visited Pastor Ayo Obafemi at O.A.U,Ile-Ife and Pastor E.A Odeyemi ,the General Secretary of C.R.M also embarked on inaugurating the Fellowship.

He inaugurated the R.C.F Chapter in Federal polytechnic, Ilaro in 1989 after Bro Paul Bankole started the Fellowship in the Campus.

Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries initiated the Voluntary Christian service and N.Y.S.C (National Youth Service Corps) schemes for the R.C.F graduating student. This programme was aimed at increasing R.C.F in other tertiary institutions.

With the help of Prof Tomori and His wife RCF Chapter at the University of Ibadan was established with Bro Tunji Sunkanmi becoming the first president
With the encouragement of Pastor Oluwafemi and commitment of Sister Bolugbe Adeboye (Daddy G.O’s daughter) a fellowship was established at the College of Education, Oyo with Bro. Bukunmi becoming the Fellowship Coordinator.

With the encouragement of Pastor Siyanbola, a fellowship was established at LAUTECH (Ladoke Akintola University of Technology) with Bro Wale Adesanya became the first President.

To God be the Glory, Pastor Olu Ajayi joined CRM in earl 1990s and the Lord used Him greatly to continue the good work of inaugurating the RCF and organising the Fellowship.
In Kwara State, Pastor Oladayo inaugurated RCF, Offa Chapter in August 1995 and Bro Sunday Agboniyi became the first President

In Nassarawa State University, Bro. Ogbolaiye Samuel Abayomi was the Pioneer President of RCF.
In UNILAG (University of Lagos), Bro Dapo Olowo implemented the vision of establishing RCF. This Spread to Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) where Bro Famudehin Kehinde was the founding President.

In LASU, Ojoo, the fellowship started with six (6) members under Bro. Niyi Timothy in 1991.
In the East, the Fellowship started in UNIPORT under the vision of Pastor Belemin Obunge and on First February 2000, the Fellowship was inaugurated y Pastor James Dagunro.
In ESUT (Edo State University of Technology), the fellowship started in 2001 by Pastor Mike.

To the Glory of God, the fellowship has spread to the Northern, Eastern Western and Southern parts of the Country with the strong support of CRM, the parent body which, continue to provide materials such as RCF constitution, tract for evangelism and visiting pastors to the students. In addition, CRM also do train the leaders from RCF through the National Leadership Training Conferences, National and Zonal Students’ Congresses.

Presently, Redeemed Christian fellowship is the Largest campus Fellowship in all the tertiary institution in Nigeria with over 150 chapters and far above 30,000 memberships, though there is still many more grounds to cover and over 150 campuses unreached.

Today, RCF has become a fellowship that has also given birth to REDEEMED CHRISTIAN CORPERS’ FELLOWSHIP (R.C.C.F). To God be the Glory.
Let somebody shout Halleluyah!!

Culled from 20th Annual LTP Programme Brochure