THE BIRTH OF TACSFON
On the 25th February, 1978 at the University of Lagos, there was a day solemn
assembly of students of The Apostolic Church from institutions of higher learning
within the LAWNA Territory. This solemn assembly was preceded by a three-day prayer
and fasting from the 20th to 22nd February, 1978. In the presence of Pastor Z.A
Alabi, the 1st National General Secretary of TAC, Nigeria and a representative of
LAWNA Executive Council, God confirmed the inauguration of TACSFON (The Apostolic
Church Students’ Fellowship of Nigeria) through a prophetical ministration given by
Elder S.A Olorunleke, an elder from ABU, Zaria who was in the entourage of Pastor
Z.A Alabi.
OUR MOTTO
Let No Man Despise Thy Youth (I Timothy 4:12).
OUR VISION
Pursuing of the spiritual growth and welfare of young and adults including students in educational institutions and members in the local assemblies of The Apostolic Church.
OUR OBJECTIVES
TACSFON is a loyal, dependable and willing agent of the Glorious Vision of The Apostolic Church, Nigeria.
OUR PROSPECTS
We strongly believe that this vision and goal are achievable as God’s dealings and success indices over the forty three years of existence have indicated and proved.
OUR GOAL
To give undiluted Gospel News to the youths within and outside The Apostolic Church so that they can experience the dynamics of divine redemption and be built up to spiritual maturity and turned “world changers” to bring glory and praise to God and the Master, Jesus Christ. They should be able to say like late Pastor David Powell William (1882-1947), the 1st President if TAC, Great Britain, “I have seen Him, I have found Him (TAC at Seventy-the Vision, the Mission by Pastor S.S Jemigbon, page viii). Christ is the Sum and the Substance of our vision (John 12:19; Acts 13: 47-49; 17:6; 26:29; I Cor. 7:7).
THE VISION BEHIND TACSFON
Longman’s Dictionary of Contemporary English defines a vision as the ability to see
and the power of imagination and expression of a picture or an idea seen in the mind
and the wisdom in understanding the true meaning of facts. However, spiritual
visions are glimpses into the realm of the supernatural; the unveiling of secret
matters of divine plan and purposes of a human vessel or a group of people e.g. the
vision of Israel’s Nation or that of the Israel of God-the Christian Church as seen
in Genesis 3:15; 12: 1-3; 17:19; 22:15-18; Exodus 3: 7-8; 19: 5-6; Isaiah 7: 14;
Matthew 1: 21,23; Titus 2: 13-14 and I Peter 2: 8-9 is the vision of God to have His
own people that will be a holy nation, a kingdom of royal priests and a special
treasure for His glory and praise. This vision conceived before the foundation of
the world was revealed to Adam and Eve in Genesis 1: 27-28. This vision was lost by
Adam and Eve in Genesis chapter 3 and God revisited it and made it the substance of
divine demand on the Church in the wilderness and the Christian Church both in the
Old and New Testaments respectively.
Also, a vision is a motto that forms the compass to direct the thoughts and actions
of an organization. It is the source of inspiration for daily activities and
spirit-led decision making. It is the spiritual password that unlocks a ministry’s
life, purposes, existence, destiny and destination. Also, a vision statement
determines the momentum and the pace of interpretation for the reason of the vision
and becomes very necessary in achieving a ministry’s goals and objectives. Divine
vision is the only thing God backs and finances. Therefore, all TACSFONITES must not
only know TACSFON vision but also work it out in their lives and other youths. Helen
Keller said, “The greatest tragedy to befall a person is to have sight but lack
vision.”
PROGRESS SINCE 1978
TACSFON has expanded from LAWNA to all the fields of The Apostolic Church in
Nigeria; both at the institutional and assembly levels until recently when
directives from NEC of The Apostolic Church, Nigeria forced some of our Church-based
fellowships to stop operating within the Church premises.
TACSFON’s sense of globalization of the gospel brought about a robust
fraternalisation with APOSA, a sister Christian Youth Fellowship of The Apostolic
Church, Ghana and this has allowed vital links with youths of The Apostolic Church
in Benin Republic, Ivory Coast, Cameroon and overseas countries.
TACSFON National has grown from FOUR zones in 1978 (Lagos, Western, Eastern and
Northern Zones) to FIVE in April, 1981 and to a total number of SEVEN on 19th
August, 2003.
As at December, 2010 TACSFON National had 20 (Twenty) sub-zones and about 180 (One
Hundred and Eighty-Two) chapters or fellowship centres in all the states of Nigeria.
Attendance of TACSFONITES in National Conferences rose from 67 at University of Ife
(now OAU) in April 11-13, 1980 to about 1,500 at Police College, Akpabuyo, Calabar
in August 20-26, 2012.
Establishment of Child Evangelism Unit (CEU) and Children Churches in all fields of
The Apostolic Church, Nigeria is advancement on the spiritual welfare of children in
the mother Church and the creation of better conducive atmosphere for adult worship
services. What TAC, Nigeria had before the advent of TACSFON was Sunday School.
Greater participation and support of TACSFONITES in TAC’s activities, in youth
witness, women and men movements’ programmes, in Church Officiating and Committee
meetings and in engagement in full-time ministering.
TACSFON fellowship centers have become training centres over the years where members
and non-members of The Apostolic Church have been trained and prepared for future
life and services in TAC, other Churches and ministries and in the nation.
TACSFON chapters and zones have severally been involved in evangelism and church
planting over the years: Lagos, Western and South Eastern Zones. I know individual
chapters that are involved in evangelism till today; at least when I was at
University of Ife in 1975-1979, we were doing it within and outside Ife and Modakeke
townships.
TACSFON fellowships serve as reformative centres to youths who have been rebellious,
carnal, uncontrollable, wayward and problematic to their parents at homes and could
have been worse on the campuses of institutions of higher learning or in the
Nigerian societies.
With God on our side, TACSFON and TACSFONITES are winning. We have gone too far.
NO GOING BACK! NEVER!! NEVER!!!
NATIONAL
OFFICERS OF
THE APOSTOLIC CHURCH NIGERIA
Pastor (Dr.) S. E. Igwe
President
Pastor (Dr.) E. S. Awojide
Vice President
Pastor Dr. M. F. Olumbo
National Secretary
Pastor Dr. S. A. Isaiah
National Deputy Secretary
Pastor T. O. Agbeja D-min, Ph.D
National Finance Secretary
TACSFON National Leader
PAST
NATIONAL
LEADERS OF
THE APOSTOLIC CHURCH NIGERIA
Late Pastor S. G. Adegboyega
1st African Superintendent
Late Pastor E. E. Okon
1st National President
Late Pastor I. G. Sakpo
1st National Vice President
Late Pastor S. S. Jemigbon
2nd National Vice President
Pastor (Dr.) G. O. Olutola
Immediate Past National President
NATIONAL OFFICERS OF TACSFON
P/Elder Isaac Ameobi
National Coordinator
Elder Usen Usen
National Vice Coordinator
Barr. Okey Igbokwe
General Secretary
Elder Femi Adegelu
Legal Adviser
Pastor Gbenga Oyedapo
Bible Study Secretary
Dcns. Imaobong E. Ekpo
National Sisters' Leader
Other National Officers
| Name | Designation |
|---|---|
| Brother Simeon Ojobe | Assistant General Secretary |
| Deaconess Eunice Owolabani | Treasurer |
| Brother Kunle Alao | Finance Secretary |
| Pastor Udochukwu Onwunali | Assistant Bible Study Secretary |
| Elder M. D. Bebeyi | Prayer Secretary |
| Brother Busayo Adeniyi | Assistant Prayer Secretary |
| Sister Bunmi Oludolasi | Assistant National Sisters Leader |
| Deaconess Blessing Don-Okpara | Sisters Secretary |
| Elder Sunny Peter Osong | Public Relations Officer |
| Brother Aniebet Obot | Assistant Public Relations Officer |
| Elder Daniel Jemirin | Organizing Secretary |
| Elder Christopher ThankGod | Assistant Organizing Secretary |
| Sister Tosin Alao | Choir Director |
| Pastor Joseph Owolabi | Assistant Choir Director |
| Pastor Clement Arikpo | C.E.U. Coordinator |
| Sister Dupe Ogundeyi | Deputy C.E.U. Coordinator |
| Deaconess Bunmi Olomolaye | Welfare 1 Secretary |
| Pastor Timothy Akintola | Welfare 2 Secretary |
| Pastor Timothy Adeniyi | Deliverance & Counselling Coordinator |
| Pastor Bassey Isaiah | Deputy Deliverance & Counselling Coordinator |
| Elder Mayowa Banji | Missions and Evangelism Coordinator |
| Elder Sunday Oluwole | Technical Director |
| Brother Tope Ogunleye | Deputy Technical Director |
| Elder Lionel Effiom | Editor |
| Elder Abayomi Babaniyi | Alumni Coordinator |
| Elder Bola Ogunkola | Corpers Coordinator |
| Elder Segun Obafaiye | Project Coordinator |
| Elder Dare Ayo | Deputy Project Coordinator |
Zonal Coordinators
| Name | Zone |
|---|---|
| Elder Segun Savage | Lagos Zone |
| Elder Dr. Johnson Adejuyitan | Western Zone |
| Pastor Edet Essang | South Eastern Zone |
| Elder Peter Arokoyo | Northern Zone |
| Pastor Paul Amachukwu | Eastern Zone |
| Pastor Olamide Eseyin | North Eastern Zone |
| Pastor King Esedo Friday Umossoh | Maritime Zone |
Ex-Officio Members
| Name |
|---|
| Presiding Elder Olu Akinsanya |
| Deaconess Bisi Olowo |
| Pastor Bernard Eni |
| Elder Bode Olomolaye |
| Professor Andrew Obafemi |
TACSFON Advisers
| Name | Territory/Field |
|---|---|
| Pastor Dr. M. O. Gbadero | LAWNA Territory |
| Pastor O. N. Arisa | Eastern Zone |
| Pastor U. E. Usen | Akwa Ibom Field |
| Pastor Eta E. Edet | Cross River Territory Leader |
| Pastor M. N. Teeh | Maritime Field |
| Pastor U. S. Udoh | Uyo Field |