Soul-winning and spiritual re-awakening of the world
Women have been part and parcel of Christ Apostolic Church from its inception. Among the
seven members of the prayer band (that is, Precious Stone Society) that metamorphosed into
CAC was a young spirit-filled school teacher named Miss Sophia Odunlami (later Mrs. Ajayi).
Her prophetic gifts furthered the activities of the prayer band. It was through her that the miracle
rainwater that cured those who were afflicted with the global epidemic in the area was revealed.
Many referred to Sophia Odunlami as the first female prophet in Nigeria and a major instrument
through whom the Aladura revival spread to Ibadan. Wherever she preached churches filled
beyond capacity.
The Lord performed many miracles through her so much so that people around Ijebuland began
to fear the Word of God.
In the same way, Mrs Myers and Miss Daisy Crayford were among the European missionaries of
the Faith and Truth Temple Mission of Canada were among the first foreign missionaries that
were initially invited to assist the Faith and Tabernacle Nigeria before its cooperation with
British Apostolic Church. Mrs Myers and Miss Daisy Crayford both died in the course of their
ministry in the mission field in Nigeria. Another figure, Mrs Pearce served as the principal of
CAC Bible College for 18 years. She taught most of past and present pastors of Christ Apostolic
Church Nigeria.
History has it that the spread of CAC to several regions of Nigeria and abroad were by the efforts
of women. The scholarly works of Mrs Dorcas Akintunde reveals that there are examples of
some CAC branches too whose inception can be traced to women. Examples are CAC Bethel at
the University of Ibadan. Mrs J.D. Ogunranti founded it in 1969, with branches now in Ile-Ife,
Warri, Port Harcourt, Ajaokuta, Lagos, London, United States of America and Canada. CAC
Agbara Olorun Kibati was founded by Mrs Bola Odeleke. Today she is the first Nigerian female
to be ordained as a Bishop on 20 July 1995 by the International Ministerial Council.
Joanah Ogunranti (a nurse of University Teaching Hospital, Ibadan) is acclaimed a church
planter whose gifts straddled prophecy, pastorship, evangelism, teaching, and even apostleship as
a result of the impact of her ministry in Nigeria and abroad. The first CAC in London and some
other parts of Europe were founded by her in 1974. She founded CAC Bethel Special District.
The spread of CAC in the Niger Delta area is primarily through the ministry of Prophetess
Elizabeth Shadowei (of Ugwerhu town in Delta State) and various yoruba business women who
helped in evangelising the area, all of whose contributions are worthy of note in the history of
indigenous churches in Nigeria. Prophetess Elizabeth was said to have been converted in the year
1958 (probably through the ministry of Babalola or some other minister of CAC) and was called
to ministry in the year 1962. She was the instrument through whom God converted most pioneers
of Christ Apostolic Church in Niger Delta region. Many of those who received healing through
her later went propagating the good news and establishing CAC branches. Among those who
were healed in ministry are prophet John O. Erimu, Mrs Rebecca Omotor, Mr Macaulay, Mr
Seen, among others. These mentioned later became ministers and church planters in Christ
Apostolic Church. According to S.A. Onoreha (who was a catechist under prophetess Elizabeth)
prominent ministers of CAC such as pastor Orogun, pastor Medayese, and prophet Igabor paid
her visit regularly. John Erimu claimed that several sicknesses that include insanity, prolonged
pregnancy, leprosy were healed through Elizabeth Shadowei. A healing home was built to the
capacity of about forty rooms which housed about four to six patients at a time.
Prophetess Rebecca Omotor, who later became a renowned prophetess and evangelist in
Isokoland founded Christ Apostolic Church, Ozoro Number 2. She was cured of sickness that
defied both native and orthodox medicines for two years at Elizabeth Shadowei healing home.
Her husband took her to the healing home of Elizabeth Shadowei at Ogwerhu were she was
healed and she was said to have received a call to ministry. She served as a prophetess in the
church of John Erimu for a period of time until she was commissioned to begin her own mission
as a prophetess and spiritual healer. She later founded CAC, Ozoro No. 2, with a healing home
for the sick.
Other women minister in the Niger Delta region is Esther Enatiku of Iluelogbo town in the Isoko
North Local Government Area of Delta State. She was born in March 1920. Church records have
it that she got converted during Joseph Ayo Babalola evangelistic campaign in the year 1948.
She was baptized of the Holy Spirit after conversion. Besides her prophetic endowment, she was
also gifted and trained as midwife which she practiced alongside her prophetic activities.
In the present era, women are practically serving in all the units of the church except in the units
that are exclusively for males, such as Christ Apostolic Church Men’s Association (CACMA)
and Christ Apostolic Church Ministers’ Fellowship (CACMF). Their major areas of ministry
beside the general fellowship are Christ Apostolic Church Good Women Association
(CACGWA), Christ Apostolic Church Ministers Wives’ Fellowship (CACMWF), and Christ
Apostolic Church Association of Midwives (CACAM). These associations (CACGWA,
CACMWF and CACAM) provide fora for women to serve in the church but their ministry is not
limited to these associations alone because they currently serve in other units that involve both
genders.