CCIC celebrates four decades of impacting lives

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”
— Martin Luther King

The quote by Martin Luther King aptly describes the laudable efforts of Christ Chapel International Churches (CCIC) to remain a dynamic and impactful religious organisation. The church in the last 40 years has been a beckon of hope and provided inspiration for thousands of people. CCIC has indeed shown love and peace in all ramifications to better the lot of thousands of people.

The passion of the founder, Dr. Tunde Joda, a physician who left his surgical tools to fulfill a divine agenda, remains an exemplary reference point for all and sundry. He believed he had a great light shining in him and he had to showcase the light in order to give messages of restoration and redemption to the people.

The Christ Chapel International Churches (CCIC), which started, as a very young fellowship of believers 40 years ago, has remained synonymous with showing love and impacting the lives of people. The church believes that God’s light should shine to all men through the propagation of the gospel, as well as, touching people’s lives positively.

In the formative years of the church, it started small, but the founder, Rev. (Dr.) Tunde Joda had a vision to build a church that will reach out to millions of people and offer hope amidst the hopelessness in the world today. Christ Chapel International Church (CCIC) started as a House Fellowship in the house of the founder, who was a then a student at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH). The beginning had only five persons in attendance, which later increased to 20. The increase made the fellowship move to other different locations till it grew to become a nationally acclaimed ministry and globally reacognised organisation.

The church has grown numerically, spiritually and geographically, as it has branches not only in Nigeria but also across the globe. The church experienced phenomenal growth due to its focus and long-range vision to develop and empower God’s people.

The theme of the 40th anniversary: “Possessing Your Promised Land,” which is major reminder for people to be prepared to occupy their assigned place on earth. The Camp Meeting in commemoration of the 40th anniversary ran between October 25 and 30, 2022 at the Stable in Surulere, Lagos.

A strong focus of CCIC is its commitment to provide succour for the underprivileged in the society and also minister to their needs.  According to Chairman of the Church Council, Rev. Dan Ibekwe stated that the Church in the past 40 years has reached out to thousands of people by providing relief materials and food for them in order to address the social ills of the society.

The church has been a strong advocate to change the attitudinal disposition of Nigerians and also eliminate social vices through several programmes aimed at helping the people to shun improper conduct in the society. This is evident through several platforms developed to cater for the wellbeing of the people.

In the area of business empowerment scheme, the church has unveiled as part of the 40th anniversary to give out N1million to 10 entrepreneurs in order to support their businesses.

The Chairman of the 40th anniversary committee, Pastor Niyi Odetayo stated that the grant is mainly for members of the church who have established businesses and need small support to expand their business operations.

CCIC has also been doing corporate social responsibilities through several programmes aimed at improving the quality of people’s lives and organisations. It is embarking on visitation to correctional centres and orphanages across the country. This is poised to further provide succour and encouragement for the people. The visits will hold simultaneously across the country in major zones such as Lagos, Ibadan, Abuja and Port Harcourt.

To also celebrate the 40th anniversary, the church is providing solar-powered electricity for the Bode Thomas Police Station in its efforts to combat crime.

The Solar-powered energy, one kilowatt of solar inverter, according to Pastor Odetayo, will enable the police facility perform basic operations due to the incessant power outage in the country. The   church had embarked on a major project for the station in previous past.

A school, Muritala Ajadi Animasaun Secondary School, Surulere, Lagos is also a major beneficiary of the church with a borehole facility to provide water for the school community. He also said that the church will also embark on the distribution of foodstuff items to the people, as part of the anniversary celebration. The food materials, according to him, are meant to cushion the effects of high cost of food items for the people.