A Journey of Faith: Bishop Ogunmola's Mission to the Lagos Branch

A Journey of Faith: Bishop Ogunmola's Mission to the Lagos Branch

By the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, a mission trip to the Lagos State branch of The Church of God in Nigeria had been planned as a joint visit — Bro. Ogunmola Matthew and Bro. Tayo Ogunmola were both meant to make the journey. But plans don't always unfold the way we expect them to. Logistical difficulties struck while Bro. Tayo was en route from his base to Lagos, and in the end, he was unable to join. So Bishop Ogunmola set out alone, travelling from Omuo to Lagos on Wednesday the 2nd — trusting that God would still make the trip fruitful, even without the full team.

He arrived safely that same day, welcomed by one of the brethren who helped him settle into his lodge. By Thursday, he was already back in fellowship, attending the church's Bible study meeting and reconnecting with the congregation.

Friday: Matters of the Church

Friday brought the real work of the visit. Bishop Ogunmola sat down with the church leaders for a meeting that covered some weighty ground — the church's properties in Lagos, the ongoing repayment of the loan used to purchase their current place of worship, and broader conversations about loyalty, faithfulness in service, evangelism, and the church's spiritual and administrative growth.

To understand why that loan mattered so much, you have to go back a bit further.

The Backstory: A Property in Aradagun

When the Lagos branch was first established, the church purchased about one and a half plots of land at Aradagun, Badagry, with plans to build there. It made sense at the time. But life has a way of redirecting even the best-laid plans — the pastor later took up employment at the University of Lagos Teaching Hospital, and relocating closer to Aradagun became impractical. The church needed somewhere more accessible, closer to where its members actually were.

After consulting several real estate companies, a suitable property was found within the town. But the purchase came with a real financial weight, and the General Headquarters wasn't in a position to help cover it at the time. So the pastor stepped in personally, securing a staff loan from his workplace to make the purchase happen. The Church of God in Nigeria began repaying that loan in December 2025.

As for the original land at Aradagun — the leaders are still weighing what to do with it: develop it for the church's use, or sell it, whichever serves the church's interests best.

You can also see the property's setting on Google Street View.

Saturday: Preparing the Workers

Saturday was about preparation. Bishop Ogunmola met with the church workers ahead of the Sunday service, drawing from Philippians 1:27 to encourage them to live in a manner worthy of the gospel, stand united in faith, and serve God with loyalty and faithfulness. It was during this meeting that the group agreed to visit and inspect the Aradagun property in person.

Sunday: Worship, Fellowship, and a Visit to Aradagun

Sunday brought worship and warm fellowship with the congregation.

Group photograph with the church members after the Sunday worship service

Photograph taken during the Sunday worship service

After the service, Bishop Ogunmola and some of the brethren made the trip out to Aradagun, Badagry, to see the land for themselves and assess its condition and potential.

📍 Location on Google Maps

Reflecting on the Trip

Looking back, this mission trip accomplished a lot in just a few days: it strengthened and encouraged the brethren, prepared the workers for more effective service, tackled important spiritual and administrative matters, and got eyes on the church's property in Badagry so the leadership can make an informed decision about its future.

We give thanks to God for the safe journey, the successful meetings, the fruitful fellowship, and the progress recorded throughout the visit.

God bless The Church of God.