OGBOMOSO— It was an atmosphere of gratitude, sober reflection, and historic expansion as Atunbi Baptist Church (also known as Victorious People’s Church), located at the Ogbomoso South Housing Estate, celebrated its landmark 10th-year anniversary today, Sunday, June 7, 2026.

The momentous decade-long milestone was marked by major infrastructure triumphs, including the launch of a mega educational group of schools and the planting of a new missionary outpost.

Dignitaries, Clergy, and Church Planters Rally Support

The anniversary service drew prominent community leaders, veteran missionaries, and ministers of God who gathered to solidarity with the growing church.

Among the notable dignitaries present were Prince Aderemi Farooq Olude, Chairman of the Ogbomoso Parapo Agbaaye Headquarters; Rev. Dr. Steve Enyi, Former Director of the Global Mission Board of the Nigerian Baptist Convention; and Rev. Gabs Owolabi, Pastor of New Era Baptist Church, Ogbomoso. A large contingent of fellow indigenous church planters also attended to celebrate the milestone.

A Journey Borne Out of Tribulation

Addressing the congregation, the pioneer home pastor, Rev. Gbenga Stephen Ogunniyi, delivered an emotional recount of the severe challenges, tribulations, and institutional roadblocks he, his family, and the congregation endured before and during the inception of the church.

Rev. Ogunniyi specifically recalled the painful lack of support from the Nigerian Baptist Convention during their early ministerial struggles. He noted that the convention failed to back the ministry despite the passionate, direct intervention of the late former General Secretary of the Ogbomoso Baptist Conference, Baba late Rev. Dr. Joseph Ayanlola.

In a moving moment of remembrance, the cleric asked the congregation to stand for a minute of silence to honor the memory of three foundational pillars whose immeasurable support sustained the church through its darkest times: his late mother, Dns. Dorcas Ogunniyi; the late Rev. Dr. Joseph Ayanlola; and his wife, Mrs. Dorcas Dupe Ogunniyi.

Mega Educational and Missionary Expansion

Turning its trials into triumphs, the church used the anniversary week to execute massive evangelical and developmental projects:

Atunbi Group of Schools: On Thursday, June 4, 2026, the church officially hosted a foundation-laying ceremony for a mega educational complex. The project comprises Atunbi Baptist Nursery School, Atunbi Baptist College, and the Light to the World Bible College.

New Church Branch: On Saturday, June 6, 2026, the church expanded its terrestrial reach by launching and laying the foundation for a brand-new church branch in the Pakiotan area of Ogbomoso.

Cleric Slams Baptist Convention Over Mission Neglect.

Delivering the anniversary sermon, Rev. Dr. Steve Enyi tasked the church on its core spiritual mandates. Drawing his text from Matthew 16:18 and Acts 1:8 on the topic "Foundation and the Power of Church," Rev. Dr. Enyi traced the linguistic roots of the church to the Greek words Ek (Out of) and Kaleo (Called), forming Ekklesia—the called-out ones.

He sharply criticized the heavy bureaucracy within the denomination, asking, "Why hierarchy in the church of God?" He reminded the audience how simple, grassroots church planting originally started at Idikan Baptist Church in Ibadan back in 1914.

Rev. Dr. Enyi openly condemned the current attitude of the Nigerian Baptist Convention toward missions, underdeveloped churches, and indigenous church planters. Striking a firm note, he warned that the church must never be treated like a commercial institution.

"The church is not a financial institution, it is not a family house, and it is not a political party," Dr. Enyi declared. He challenged the leadership to examine whether they allow the Holy Spirit to work freely, emphasizing that the unchanging foundation of the church must remain Jesus Christ, and its sole source of power must be the Holy Spirit.

He concluded by encouraging Rev. Gbenga Stephen Ogunniyi to remain steadfast and continue executing the work of God despite past institutional betrayals.