HISTORY OF CAMC
The church was founded by Apostle Ajayi Agbona who started his ministry in the Christ Apostolic Church. At first, he was an itinerant preacher, preaching the gospel of Christ with zeal and vigor in the same Ogunpa area of Ibadan where he had received the divine call. One of the signs and wonders that confirmed his ministry was that although he was not educated, God had taught him to read the Bible in the dream. This was considered to be a great miracle by those who had known him before, when he was illiterate. Another miracle recorded by him during the initial stage of his ministry in Ibadan was that he prayed for a woman who had been pregnant for seven years, and she was able to safely return to bed. Also, a witch confessed and submitted to the power of God under his ministry. In time, Agbona became a full-time minister of the Christ Apostolic Church, conducting evangelical revivals. His ministry was backed up with convincing signs and wonders.
However, after working with the Christ Apostolic Church for some time, Agbona felt led to start his own church. Ajayi received initial mandate on Wednesday, November 22, 1952, that he should give out all that he had to the poor, even his bed spread. God specifically told him on Tuesday, December 5, 1952, to give all his belongings to the poor but he should retain “a pair of knickers, one white ‘buba’, a pair of trousers and one small ‘agbada’. Ajayi responded to the heavenly instruction. On 6th December, there was dialogue between God and Ajayi. According to him, God asked why Ajayi gave away his properties as instructed without enquiry or objection, He told God, would he ask to know why God gave instruction since God is his Lord and God is always good. God then told him that long and many as the coaches of the train might be, it will never be spacious enough to carry his properties by the time he would leave Lagos. He shared this divine leading with the authorities of the church, and he was formally released in 1952. With support from Apostle Babalola, he founded his church on December 13, 1952.
On the 13th of December 1952, Ajayi called the name of the new church, Church Apostolic Mission Church, which God later instructed him in a dream to add Christ to it to make it Christ Apostolic Mission Church. Two young men accompanied Ajayi from the bar beach. Two other people joined him, making five and they moved from Ojo street at 4pm to start evangelistic campaign through open air service. Ajayi preached the word of God and people were touch by the Holy spirit and at the close of the service twenty people followed Ajayi, which became the first congregation that went to pray at Ojo Street as founding members. That was the beginning of Christ Apostolic Mission Church.
On 14th December 1952. It was this second service that Master Michael Tunde Kuku, Graduated from Igbobi college, a Muslim before but encounter Christ in this second meeting, which later became the Vice President of CAMC. that same day others that joined the church that day were Mr. Nathaniel Olukoya, Mr. Ige and Mr. Adeogun. At the close of the first service held at Ojo Street, Odi-Olowo, Mushin, a church committee was appointed. John Ajayi Agbona was the chairman while Mr. Ogundare was elected the church secretary and Mr. Ige the church treasurer.
The church that is now known as the headquarters moved from 42, Ojo Street to Akala Street in 1955 and later relocated to Mushin Public School at Aletile Street along Ikorodu road where they worship for some months before a friend of Ajayi offered his sitting room at agbekolade street where they stayed for just few days before they got the place where the church was permanently located at 6 Iyasuna street, Idi-Oro, Mushin Lagos State. After the movement to Iyasuna street that year the church was once renovated in 1979.
The growth of the church became monumental from that moment to the present generation. Ajayi held to true in God. as he learnt from his mentors in Christ Apostolic Church.
Ajayi conducted revivals at the church known now as the headquarters located at Iyasuna Idi-Oro Mushin Lagos. where people were told to bring to bring water and sponges. God use those faith extenders so much that the first Sunday of every month was testimony galore. Necessary committees were instituted for smooth administrative purpose. The promise of God that graduates and learned fellows would work with Ajayi actually came to pass in his lifetime. several parishes were planted, and a college of Theology was established to cater for manpowerneeded for a growing church.
Apostle John Ajayi Agbona, under the guidance of God, handed over the administration of the Church to Pastor Simon Ajayi as the new president while he was still alive. God had greatly used the man to enlarge the frontiers of the church in scope, structure, and services mostly to CAMC Headquarters in renovating the church again in year 2013, which tremendously improved the outlook of the denomination.