Praying Band Announces 100th Anniversary, Affirms Active Role in C&S Unification Centenary

The Praying Band of the Cherubim and Seraphim Church (Ijo Ita-Balogun) has officially flagged off its 100th anniversary celebrations.

The church also reiterated its commitment and active involvement in the ongoing C&S Unification Centenary celebrations.

Themed “Embracing Unity in Diversity,” the milestone event was announced at a press briefing held on Monday at the church’s headquarters in Lagos.

Addressing the newsmen, church members and leaders present, the Secretary General of the church, Apostle Timothy Odukoya, emphasised the historic establishment of the first prayer unit within the Cherubim and Seraphim Church by St Moses Orimolade in 1925.

He said members of the prayer warriors were the founding fathers of the church, necessitating the church’s right to mark its centenary celebration.

Odukoya, however, clarified that the anniversary was not a parallel celebration to the centenary plans of C&S Unification.

He said, “The Praying Band is celebrating its 100 years because it is our right to celebrate. The prayer warriors established and anointed by Baba Orimolade in 1925 are our founding fathers. So we can authoritatively tell you that Praying Band is 100 years old. We are part of the C&S Unification centenary celebration, and we have been playing our role both physically and financially.”

Special Apostle Z.A. Ogunleye of the Central Executive Council, who earlier spoke on behalf of the supreme head, His Grace Baba Aladura (Engr.) F.A.O. Eneogwe J.Pil (Spiritual Moses III), highlighted the trajectory of The Praying Band, saying that it was founded to support St. Moses Orimolade’s mission of prayer and evangelism across Nigeria.

He also noted that despite the internal challenges the prayer group faced, it retained its identity and evolved into “The Praying Band of the Sacred Society of the Cherubim and Seraphim,” under the leadership of Elder Ezekiel Akindele Davies.

According to him, the church had since then remained committed to its core spiritual practices, including faith, healing, evangelism, Bible study, prophecy, fasting, and prayer.

He further revealed that the Church has maintained the legacies of its past leaders, notably St. Hezekiah Akinola Philips (Spiritual Joshua), who was called the Foundation of Liturgy while linking it with Bible classes, children and youth development, ordination and anointment.

“Some other notable achievements are in the expansion of the Church, which has led to an increase in the number of constituent churches and districts across Nigeria.

“The church has been committed to the growth of its members through the Establishment of an Education Directorate and has a National Planning and Assets and Management Committee, which works hand in hand with the Leadership on the development of the Church,” he added.

Speaking on some of the church’s enduring legacies, he said, “It is worth noting that the Praying Band Church kick-started the Spiritual Shiloh worship programme designed for pregnant women, seekers of the fruit of the womb, the children, the sick and the job seekers. It is noted today that the Shiloh worship and the gift of celestial visions, Prophecy, dreams and speaking in tongues, which started since the inception of the fold, still blossom today within the C&S Church Worldwide.”

Apostle Ogunleye honoured early members such as Leader E.A. Davies, H.A. Phillips, A.B. Lawrence, C.B. Olumuyiwa, D.K. Dow, J.A. Phillips, and J.O. Adefope. He said they were chosen from the original seventy disciples as spiritually gifted pioneers who laid a firm foundation for a global Christian movement.

The planned centenary events include a nationwide revival crusade, church growth seminars, remembrance services for departed members, corporate social responsibility projects, a grand musical concert, and an anniversary thanksgiving service on Saturday, December 6.