EKAN Church Central Consistory
     The full history of EKAN church central, Makurdi being the first of all the five (5) consistories in EKAN classis was adequately captured in chapter one of this book. However, for the purpose of emphasis we shall briefly look at some salient features of EKAN church central, Makurdi.
     The EKAN church central Makurdi which started at the new site at N0. 55 Barracks road now J.S Tarka Way, Makurdi as NKST Hausa section catechist centre was organized into a consistory on the 31st January, 1975 by the NKST church. Rev. J.K Manyam, the NKST Synod chairman led other ministers to bless the colourful ceremony. The church recorded an attendance of three hundred and ninety-seven (397) worshippers with forty-eight naira, eighty-six and half kobo (N48. 86.5k) and forty naira (N40.00) as collection and tithe respectively.
     It is interesting to note that as far back as 1970, before it was upgraded to the status of a consistory, EKAN church central began to establish preaching centres. These preaching centres include: EKAN church Wailomayo in 1970, EKAN church Gboko in 1970, EKAN church Alaide and Airport in 1975 and 1985 respectively.23
     It is important to know that with the upgrading of EKAN central into a consistory centre, the following communicant members were elected into the council of elders. They include:

       EKAN church central later established an evangelical group called “kungiyar yadda Bishara” under the leadership of late Inspector Kefas Ropshik and Segt. Isaac Yaro Wuta. This intensified evangelism outreaches from 1982 to 1995. The efforts of this evangelical group under the leadership of these duo yielded fruits and resulted in the establishment of more preaching centres at Zaki–Biam, Northbank, Agyetashi, Daudu, Akpanaja, Ijaha, Gidan Ogbole, Sabon Gida, New Nigeria, Bendo, Ijiwoh, Doma Dam in Nasarawa state, Abugbe and Mkar. These evangelical trips extended to our neighbouring countries like Cameroun, Chad among the fishermen of Lake Chad.
It is pertinent to know that the widespread coverage of evangelical activities drew people from different tribes, mostly from the northern Nigeria with Hausa language as their common means of communication into EKAN church central, Makurdi.
From when EKAN church central was upgraded into consistory, it has different set of council of elders, who were elected after a period of two (2) years.
In 2016 when the church was granted autonomy, the council of elders with their portfolio under the leadership of Rev. Siman Apela Auta were:

1. Elder Bitrus Emmanuel           -   vice chairman
2. Elder Paul Mangut                   -   secretary
3. Elder Emmanuel Akeku           -   assistant secretary
4. Elder Peter Ikyado                    -   women fellowship
5. Elder Joshua Danladi Akoki      -  children Sunday school   and chairman English section
6. Elder (Barr.) Dogara Douglas Aboshi  -  visitation
7. Elder Wilfred Dangana            -  Messiah Singers/Choir and vice chairman English section
8. Elder Solomon Akeku   -  i/c Sabon gida preaching centre
9. Elder Micah Adeyi             -  i/c Ijaha preaching centre
10. Elder Jerry Egbeta         -  i/c Airport (Anmor) catechism centre
11. Elder Emmanuel Aboshi     -  evangelism/kungiyoyi

EKAN church central has the following recognized fellowship groups which help in evangelism and administration of the church with their leadership/committees. These groups include:

1. Kungiyar Sama
2. Kungiyar Bishara
3. Kungiyar Albishiri
4. Kungiyar Sabo Rai Don Kowa
5. Messiah Singers
6. Choir
7. Youth Fellowship
8. Zumuntan Mata (Women Fellowship)
9. Zumuntan Maza (Men Fellowship)

The church has both Hausa and English service sections for the Hausa and English speaking worshippers respectively. The English service started in 1988 under the leadership of Mr. S.D Akpoko. The English service is between 8:00 am and 10:00 am every Sunday and the Hausa service is between 10:00 am and 12:30 pm in the same church building. In 2016, the leader of the English service was Elder Joshua Danladi Okwoki and assisted by Elder Wilfred Dangana.
It is important to know that with the establishment of other consistories within the EKAN classis, EKAN church central, Makurdi has lost some of her preaching centres and evangelists to these new consistories because of adminstrative structural adjustment. However, some of these preaching and catechism centres were maintained and new ones were established. During the establishment of EKAN classis, the following were the preaching and catechism centres in EKAN church central, Makurdi. These include:

1. Ijaha centre
2. Gidan Ogbele centre
3. Sabon Gida centre
4. Airport (Anmor) centre which was upgraded to a catechism centre on 14th May, 2016.

It is pertinent to note that Obugbe and Gidan Pappar centres had re-settlement and re-organization because of the herdsmen crisis and flooding that engulfed the two towns sometimes in 2012/2913. The church had two evangelists namely Evang. Yohanna Ajeh and Evang. Abraham Oche who were in charge of EKAN church Ijaha and Abugbe but later transferred to Gidan Ogbele preaching centre.
EKAN church central built a primary and secondary school to enhance the educational pursuit of her members and the public and also to enhance the financial base of the church. The primary school was established on 25th October, 1982 during the tenure of Rev. Dawuda Ikom Biriyi as the resident pastor of EKAN church central. The first headmaster of the primary school was Mr. Dennis Shisha. The primary school has graduated many pupils who are also contributing to the growth of Benue state and Nigeria in general.
The secondary school was established in September, 2017 with Mr. Solomon Isuwa Akoza as the pioneer principal. The current principal is Deacon Moses Ella. The school was established during the reign of Rev. Siman Apela Auta as the resident pastor of the church. The church under Rev. Siman Apela Auta, a second church auditorium was built. It is presently in use by the congregation.
The church upon the grant of autonomy is now known as Biblical Reformed Church of Christ for All Nations (BIRCCAN) with a resident pastor and an assistant in the persons of Rev. Siman Apela Auta and Rev. Timothy Adah Bulus respectively. Upon the retirement of Rev. Siman Apela Auta, Rev. Timothy Adah Bulus became the substantive pastor. He was later transferred to BIRCCAN Akpanaja. Rev. Dauda Ada Ikwulono is now the resident pastor of BIRCCAN LCC Central.
It is important to know that with the establishment of BIRCCAN church Airport (Anmor) LCC and Ijaha out of BIRCCAN church LCC Central, the church has lost BIRCCAN church Airport (Anmor), Ijaha, Gidan Ogbole and Sabon Gida preaching and catechism centres to Airport (Anmor) and Ijaha LCCs on 2nd/12/2017 and 9th/12/2017 respectively.
2.3.2 EKAN Church Wailamayo Consistory
EKAN church wailamayo (Agyogo) of Makurdi local government area started as one of the preaching centres in EKAN church central, Makurdi in 1970 under the permission of the clan head of Agyogo, the chief under whose domain the preaching centre was established, Evang. Dawuda Auta Malan, Mr. Elishama Mbula and Mr. Angabi carried out evangelism work in the area. The preaching centre started with two members but grew steadily in spirit and numerical strength so between 1973 and 1975, the number of worshippers increased from twenty (20) to forty (40) respectively.25
The preaching centre which was under EKAN church central consistory had her first baptism on 26th September, 1976. Those baptized include Leviticus Kwanaki Adiga, Emmanuel Anmeshi, Ayuba Aboshi, Musa Agyekela, Bulus Agyekela and Joseph Ochai.26
The worshippers who were worshipping under an open space, without a church rapidly increased to sixty (60) members after the first baptism. The project for a church building started on 20th April, 1978 under the supervision of Mr. Ciroma Dangyan Dansanda and worship service began in the church building on 20th September, 1980 with an attendance of one hundred and twenty (120) members.27
It is pertinent to observe that EKAN church Wailomayo rapidly increased in number in her early stage so by 1990, the number of communicant members rose to one hundred and fifty (150). With this numerical strength, the leaders of the church made a request in writing on 2nd May, 1990 to the council of elders of EKAN central demanding to be upgraded to the status of a catechism centre. This request was deliberated at the council of elders’ meeting of 6th October, 1990 at EKAN central, Makurdi and forwarded to NKST Apir classis for approval. The request was approved on 19th January, 1991 and by this approval EKAN church Wailomayo preaching centre was upgraded to a catechism centre.28
The following communicant members were elected leaders of the catechism centre: Mr. Stephen Ochefu, Elisha Amedu, Ezekiel Akunase, Amos Akando, Luka Omali, Bulus Akisani, Enoch Magani, Sunday Yusufu and Ishaya Yusufu.29
It is interesting to note that with the new status of catechism centre with some preaching centres under her, EKAN church wailomayo had evangelists Emmanuel Ameshi, John Ajekonye and Leviticus Kwanaki Adiga were given the responsibilities of overseeing the affairs of Agyetashi, Afubo, Daudu, Akpanaja and Northbank Wailomayo preaching centres.30
Rev. Dawuda Ikom Biriyi on the other hand maintained his duty of carrying out oversight functions. He was monitoring the activities of the catechism centre for effective and the smooth running and growth of the catechism and its preaching centres.
It is important to know that EKAN church Wailomayo catechism centre, having passed all the requisite requirements for a consistory and by the application addressed to the NKST synod, the synod in her November, 1991 meeting gave final approval for EKAN church Wailamayo to be upgraded to a consistory.
It is worthy to note that on 29th February, 1992, EKAN church Wailamayo catechism centre was upgraded to the status of a consistory and the first resident pastor Rev. Siman Apela Auta was also ordained. The ordination ceremony was performed by the president of NKST Synod Rev. P.P Agba and supported by other members of the Synod committee plus other pastors present. The new consistory at this time had a total number of four hundred (400) communicant members with a church attendance of five hundred (500) worshippers.31
With her new status of a consistory, EKAN church Wailomayo was entitled to have full council of elders as recognized by the NKST constitution. The following were her first set of council of elders: Elder Evang. Emmanual Ameshi, John Habu Agyekonye, Leviticus Kwanaki Adiga, Elder Stephen Ochefu, Amos Akando, Elisha Amedu, Ezekiel Akunase, Enoch Magani, Sunday Yusufu, Bulus Akisani, Ishaya Yusufu and Luka Umaru.32
The new consistory had EKAN church Northbank, Akpanaja, Agyetashi, Afubo and Daudu as the preaching/catechism centres under her.33 Even though the new consistory had members fishing and residing at Chad, Lagdo, Cameroun and Magba  and Umaisha in Kogi State who were in small worship groups, Rev. Dawuda Ikom Biriyi of the EKAN church central consistory carried out pastoral visits occasionally to these towns in Chad and Cameroun to administer the sacrement of baptism and the Lord’s supper and also conducted wedding as the need arose.34
Rev. Siman Apela Auta, the first resident pastor of EKAN church Wailamayo consistory was called to EKAN church central on 5th October, 2008 upon the retirement of Rev. Dawuda Ikom Biriyi on 27th May, 2006. Upon the departure of Rev. Siman Apela Auta, Rev. Leviticus Kwanaki Adiga was called to EKAN church Wailamayo consistory on 12th February, 2010 where he served the Lord in His vineyard with the support of a twelve (12) member council of elders until his retirement on the 1st December, 2018. This council of elders was: Elder Ishaya Yusufu, Joseph M. Nuhu and Williams N. Bankari as the vice chairman, secretary and assistant secretary respectively. The other members of council of elders were Elder Reuben Danjuma Idi Alegu, Dogara Asendele, Joseph Ochai JP, Peter Musa and Bulus Dangana all in charge of Boys/Girls Brigade, English section, women fellowship, choir and the mission house respectively. Elder James Adikwu and Christian Ashinika were overseeing the affairs of EKAN church Afubo preaching centre as chairman and secretary respectively. Elder Bitrus Azashi and Daniel Sabo were without portfolio.35
It is important to observe that EKAN church Wailamayo consistory had most of her preaching centres in Cameroun except Afubo which is located at an island opposite Wadata Market Makurdi in Mbalagh council ward of Makurdi local government area. The preaching centres located in Cameroun are Magba, Tapareru, Wurechido, Madarascar, Sabo Rai, Holl, Anufushi, Meyari, Tungan Makurdi, Paro and Gyarabentai.36
The consistory is also assisted in the service of the Lord by these groups: women fellowship, choir, praise band, youth fellowship, men fellowship, kungiyar Nasara, kungiyar Haske and kungiyar sabon rai don kowa (New Life for All).37
The consistory had one evangelist in her employment. He was Evang. Nuhu James who was in charge of EKAN church Hoir in Cameroun preaching centre. Like the EKAN church central consistory, Makurdi, the consistory runs two services, namely the Hausa and English services. The English service starts by 6:30am and ends by 9:00am while Hausa service begins at 10:00am and terminates at 12:30pm every Sunday. There are other weekly activities coordinated by the church and/or various groups within the church. The church has a primary and nursery school which was built and managed by the women fellowship38. This school has graduated many pupils into secondary schools.
Upon the grant of autonomy and the restructuring of BIRCCAN church, Wailamayo LCC lost some of her preaching centres. One of the remarkable parts of Wailamayo LCC is the BIRCCAN churches in Cameroun Republic which are no longer part of Wailamayo LCC. They are now upgraded to mission stations under Rev. Nuhu Joshua.
The current pastor in-charge of BIRCCAN church Wailamayo LCC is Rev. James Alume Azetu who is also the chairman of DCC Wailamayo and vice president of BIRCCAN worldwide since 1st June, 2019 upon the retirement of Rev. Leviticus Kwanaki Adiga of blessed memory.