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God's Kingdom Society

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God's Kingdom Society (GKS) (Church of the Living God) is a Christian sabbatarian denomination founded by Gideon Urhobo.[1][2] He served as its life president from its inception in 1934 till his passing in 1952.[3][4]

History

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Origins

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Gideon Urhobo was influenced by some of the teachings of the Jehovah's Witnesses, but developed his own conviction in his mission after a vision from Jesus Christ in 1934.[3] He disagreed with certain teachings of the Jehovah's Witnesses, leading him to split from the organization and start his own Society in Lagos called "the Lagos Division of Jehovah’s Witnesses".[5] He began to criticize not only the Jehovah's Witnesses' beliefs, but also the Muslim faith and mainline churches.[6] He later renamed his group the "Lagos Company of Christian People" and expanded to Port Harcourt. The name was changed to the "Nigerian Christian Society" in 1942, and to God's Kingdom Society (GKS) in 1943.[7]

Succession

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After the passing of Gideon Urhobo on February 25, 1952, his vice-president, Bro. Ebenezer T. Otomewo became the president of GKS. Under Otomewo, the Church spread to most cities in Nigeria and London. He died in April 1997. Four years later, on September 1, 2001, Bro. Emmanuel Oseghale Aighalua (then aged 39) was installed as president.[8] The third president was removed on March 18, 2011.[9] On Sunday, March 27, 2016, Brother Godwin O. Ifeacho became the president and served until his passing on Thursday, April 22, 2021.[10] On Sunday, February 27, 2022, Brother Felix Ekundayo Adedokun was installed as president.[11][12]

Splits

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God's Kingdom Mission split from God's Kingdom Society on January 5, 1991, through the efforts of Brother Benjamin O. Tietie, who served as the first Archminister of the Mission.[3][13] Pastor David O. Amanoritsewo also broke away to form the Acceptable Christian Church, with similar doctrines as those of God's Kingdom Society (GKS).[14]

Spread

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The God's Kingdom Society (GKS) spread from Warri in Delta State to many parts of Nigeria as a sabbatical movement with doctrine which resembles the Jehovah's Witnesses. It grew into hundreds of members by the 1950s.[7] Saint Urhobo founded Church branches in Lagos (1934), Port Harcourt (1940), Warri, and Sapele (1942), followed by Onitsha (1946) and Aba (1948).[7] It was involved in the struggle for the independence of Nigeria in the 1950s.[15] By the 1960s, it grew to over 2,000 members.[1][2] GKS has grown to have followers in Nigeria, Liberia, Ghana, North America, Benin and England.[16]

Interventions

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During the inter-ethnic crisis that shook Warri in 1998 and 2003, the God's Kingdom Society was instrumental in putting an end to the violence and brotherly war by issuing two distinct statements on Tuesday, November 17, 1998, and August 19, 2003.[17]

Doctrine of GKS

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The majority of the Watchtower Society's liturgy and beliefs are observed by God's Kingdom Society, these include rejecting "speaking in tongues,"; defining the Holy Spirit as "the invisible, active force of God,"; believing that Jesus was born in October; avoiding interfaith relations; opposing racism, and only baptizing adults.[16] God's Kingdom Society also accepts the idea that 144,000 chosen and anointed Christians will be selected to live and reign with Christ in heaven.[16] But there are many differences.[18][16] The Second Coming of Jesus Christ and the establishing of God's Kingdom on earth are highly valued concepts in God's Kingdom Society. The tale of G.K.S.'s battles with various movements and institutions is heavily influenced by both secular and religious factors. The Society holds that it has been tasked by God with exposing the "false" beliefs of other religious organizations and that it is in possession of the truth of God's word, which must be conveyed to all peoples. The G.K.S. is always prepared to combat atheism on behalf of God and its interpretation of Christianity. Because of this, the Society has occasionally engaged in polemics with politicians and their parties.[19] The religious group has been known to observe a week-long Feast of Tabernacles.[20][21][22] They do not celebrate Christmas.[23][24]

References

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  1. ^ a b "God's Kingdom Society". Oxford Reference. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  2. ^ a b "Gods Kingdom Society | Encyclopedia.com". www.encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  3. ^ a b c GKM (2021-10-15). "A brief history of Saint G.M Urhobo -God's Kingdom Mission". Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  4. ^ felastory (2022-02-20). ""Fela was Poisoned"". Real Global News. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  5. ^ "HOW WAS THE GKS FOUNDED? – God's Kingdom Society". www.mountaingks.org. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  6. ^ Barnes, Andrew E. (2004). "'Religious Insults': Christian Critiques of Islam and the Government in Colonial Northern Nigeria". Journal of Religion in Africa. 34 (1/2): 62–81. ISSN 0022-4200. JSTOR 1581481.
  7. ^ a b c "About – God's Kingdom Society". www.mountaingks.org. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  8. ^ "An Address by Laity". Digital Library and Museum of Urhobo History and Culture. 2020-12-11. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  9. ^ EYOBOKA, SAM; THOMAS, LAJA (March 23, 2011). "GKS President: Laity, Elders meet". Vanguard (Nigeria).
  10. ^ Falade, Olaotan (2021-05-06). "GKS President, Brother Godwin Ifeacho is dead". TheNewsGuru. Retrieved 2024-06-25.
  11. ^ Eyoboka, Sam (January 10, 2022). "GKS appoints new President, other officers". Vanguard (Nigeria).
  12. ^ "GKS appoints new president, other officers". Guardian Nigeria News. 1969-12-31. Retrieved 2024-06-25.
  13. ^ GKM (2021-10-01). "Background - God's Kingdom Mission". Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  14. ^ "Ordaining a woman as Pastor is unscriptural –Cleric". Freshangle News. 2016-10-27. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  15. ^ Ilega, D. I. (1988). "Religion and 'Godless' Nationalism in Colonial Nigeria: God's Kingdom Society and the N.C.N.C". Journal of Religion in Africa. 18 (2): 163–182.
  16. ^ a b c d "God's Kingdom Society, Gideon Urhobo, and Jehovah's Witnesses". ed5015.tripod.com. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  17. ^ Reporter, Our (2018-08-05). "Spreading the gospel in the territory of militants". Tribune Online. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  18. ^ Mbabuike, Michael C. (1996). "Skimming the New Waves: A Survey of New Age Religions in Nigeria". Journal of Black Studies. 26 (4): 401–413. ISSN 0021-9347. JSTOR 2784715.
  19. ^ Ilega, D. I. (1988). "Religion and "Godless" Nationalism in Colonial Nigeria: The Case of the God's Kingdom Society and the N.C.N.C." Journal of Religion in Africa. 18 (2): 163–182. doi:10.2307/1580768. ISSN 0022-4200. JSTOR 1580768.
  20. ^ Eyoboka, Sam (January 21, 2018). "God wants Christians to mark Feast of Tabernacles". Vanguard (Nigeria).
  21. ^ AriseNews (2023-12-06). "God's Kingdom Society Celebrates Week-Long Feast Of Tabernacles". Arise News. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  22. ^ "Warri agog as feast of tabernacles rocks city". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 2024-01-21. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  23. ^ "Flashback: Nigerian churches that don't celebrate Christmas and why -". The NEWS. 2023-12-25. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  24. ^ "Desist from Sinful Lifestyle, GKS President Warns". National Reformer News Online. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
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