UMCN NO: 1 Kunini District

BREAKING NEWS!

The sacrifice as a gift Church (SAG-C) a church denomination domicile in most local Governments of Plateau State has officially joined the United Methodist Church Nigeria Episcopal Area.
What began like a spark of fire of discussion between the seer of Sacrifice as a gift Church with Bishop Ande Emmanuel within the past couple of days has become a booster to the mission and ministry of the United Methodist Church in Nigeria.
The meeting which is currently ongoing began with welcoming address by Bishop Ande I Emmanuel followed by exhortation anchored by the seer of the Sacrifice as a Gift church Rev. Sabo Iliya Goyol.
The United Methodist church is not only reclaiming its pass glory. The church making a great headway by expanding it missional territory.
The new God says he will do for us remain unstoppable. Can't you see it? Yes I can see it is yielding fruits 🙏🙏

BISHOP ANDE I EMMANUEL PAYS A HISTORIC EPISCOPAL VISIT TO THE CRADLE OF UMC IN NIGERIA

By Rev. Filibus Bakari Auta

27th October, 2025

Testament to his drive to connect with all local churches across the episcopal Area and other historic sites of the church. Bishop Ande Emmanuel yesterday 26th October,2025 paid an Episcopal visit to the first United Methodists church in Bambur District.

HISTORY OF THE FIRST UNITED METHODIST BAMBUR AT A GLANCE

The first United Methodist Church which is also known as Aliyu Baraya Memorial Cathedral is a church started by Dr. C. W. Guinter in 1923. The church marked the first foundation for mission work in Muri in September, 1906 that spread to other parts of Bambuka, Jen, Filiya and Lankaviri in Jalingo, when the Reverend Dr. C. W. Guinter of the Evangelical United Brethren mission, a forerunner of the Evangelical United Brethren (E.U.😎 traveled up the Benue River to Ibi near Wukari. Guinter had come from the United States with four other missionaries to work for Jesus Christ in the Sudan – a region extending across Northern Africa, south of the Sahara.

In 1946, the Evangelical church became part of the newly merged Evangelical United Brethren (EUB). Meanwhile, the British Methodists were having trouble staffing and financing their mission work in Nigeria while still recovering from World War II. So, in 1947, the British missions on the southern side of the Benue River were merged with those of the EUB on the northern side.
From 1923 until 1954 the mission work that began in Bambur which was originally the EUB Church in Nigeria had been run by the Missionary Council. In 1954, it became the Muri Regional Church Council. The foreign missionaries were brought under the same Church Council as the indigenous Nigerians.

In 1954 as the work expanded to other parts of Muri, the first indigenous leaders were elected. After pastoral training, the first ordinations of Nigerian indigenous clergy took place in 1958 and 1964. Four district churches were also created in 1964, two on each side of the river. Today there are 84 districts and 750 local Churches.
At the United Methodist General Conference of 1984 it was resolved that the Evangelical United Brethren Church in Nigeria would become part of the West African Central Conference as “Muri Provisional Annual Conference.”

Bishop Arthur F. Kulah of the Liberia Annual Conference was appointed as Itinerant Bishop to Nigeria from 1984 to 1988, same bishop Kulah was reassigned to Nigeria Episcopal Area on an interim basis to serve between 2008 -2012 after the unfortunate demise of Bishop Kefas Mavula in 2008. In 1989, he was replaced by Bishop Thomas S. Bangura of the Sierra Leone Annual Conference. Finally, in May 1992, Nigeria became a full Annual Conference, and on August 14, Dr. Done Peter Dabale was elected as its first Resident Bishop.

In 1989, the church established its theological seminary at Banyam to prepare students for ministerial work and degree programs at other theological seminaries. The Kakulu Bible Institute in Zing and the Didango Bible School met the United Methodist church of Nigeria’s demands of evangelists.

An evangelical program in our Church is at work establishing new churches and directing annual workshops and courses for the clergy and evangelists.

The church sponsors programs in agriculture, rural health, rural development, women’s work, youth technical training, Empower Women, Evangelism, Orphanage Home, Primary and Secondary Schools e.t.c. The United Methodist church, his creation in 1923 have been able to work harmoniously both at home and abroad for the success of church growth and development in Nigeria.

The United Methodist Church in Nigeria is fast growing. A brief overview of the historical movement of the United Methodism in Nigeria reveals that from 1984 –2018 the church has maintained a steady membership growth of more than 15% annually. Between this period the United Method Methodist Church has grown in Nigeria from: one Muri Provisional Annual Conference to five vibrant Annual Conferences, from 28 pastors to 785 pastors, from 15 districts and 180 charges to 84 districts and over thousand charges with about 162 preaching centers, from 145,000 membership statistic to 742,652professing membership statistic in 2018. Looking at work of bishop Ande I. Emmanuel is doing especially in the area of infrastructure development and church planting, between 2020 – 2030 we are projecting 18% Annual growth which means by 2030 we are going to have 2, 079,425 professing membership growth.

Infrastructure:

The bishop directed the building committee of the first United Methodist in Bambur to submit quotations for fencing of the first UMC church building, building of tower, renovation of the DS house located at the premises of the first United Methodist Church to the Episcopal Area Treasurer for immediate action. The term of reference for submission of this building project budget shall be with effect from 26th October, 2025 to 31st January, 2026.

In another landmark achievement, the bishop declares a willingness to kick-start building projects for a new secretariat at Gwaten Secretariate Bambur, with three other industries which shall be for the Central Nigeria Annual Conference. The industries are:

Pure (Sacket) water factory, Block industries and Rice Mill. All these projects said are expected to be completed before the end of 2026

Education:

The student of C. W. Guinter memorial secondary school which was opened recently as a result of an ownership battle with the GMC made a heart touching poetic and music presentation yesterday during the Sunday worship service. Moved by the student’s intelligent presentation, bishop Ande declared Guinter memorial secondary school a tuition free secondary for all United Methodist churches for three years.

The bishop encouraged all United Methodists from across the five annual conferences in Nigeria to as a matter of urgency send their ward to acquire secondary education at the Guinter memorial secondary school Bambur.

STAYOVER AT UMC DIDANGO;

Didango is the headquarters of Didango District, while traveling to Bambur Bishop has a stopover to greet the thousand worshipers at the church. UMC Didango has a building which was not completed, as his custom and drive to infrastructure development, bishop pledged to support the church building with the staggering sum of six million and five hundred thousand naira. The bishop further directed the building committee to ensure completion of this project before the end of this year.

Join us for a time of worship at Milton Margai Memorial United Methodist Church Freetown Sierra Leone.

Unity and Mission Take Center Stage at the 2025 Joint District Conference of Pero East, Pero Central, and Gwandum Districts

18th October 2025

The United Methodist Church Northern Nigeria Annual Conference (NNAC) witnessed a remarkable moment of unity, and shared purpose as the Pero East, Pero Central, and Gwandum Districts came together for the 2025 Joint District Conference held at UMCN No. 1 Filiya.

The event served as a powerful reminder of the church’s unshakable commitment to the mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ and advancing God’s kingdom through service, witness, and compassion. It marked yet another milestone in strengthening the connectional bond that defines the United Methodist tradition.

Delegates from across the three districts converged in faith and fellowship to evaluate ministry efforts, celebrate God’s faithfulness, and chart new pathways for growth and transformation. The conference reflected the deep connectional spirit of the United Methodist Church, a spirit rooted in shared mission, mutual support, and a passion to see lives transformed through the gospel.

Throughout the sessions, one truth resounded in every report and testimony: God is at work in the Northern Nigeria Annual Conference. From rural congregations to growing urban fellowships, the light of Methodism continues to shine through evangelism, education, women and youth empowerment, and community service. The conference celebrated inspiring stories of revival, renewed commitment among clergy and laity, and visible impact in the lives of individuals and communities.

Rev. Absolom Jeremiah, Conference Administrative Assistant to the Bishop (CAAB), Northern Nigeria Annual Conference presided over the session

At the West Africa Central Conference Youth and Young Adult Gathering in Freetown, Sierra Leone, young people renewed their pledge to the United Methodist Church, emphasizing the need for unity across West Africa.