A SHORT HISTORY OF THE QUA IBOE CHURCH FOUNDED IN 1887 -Barr. Emmanuel Etti

BRIEF BACKGROUND

 In 1846 the Presbyterian Church was founded in Calabar through the pioneering work of Rev. Hope Waddell and Rev. Edgerley. Being a very important administrative and commercial headquarters in Southern Nigeria, Calabar attracted many people from the hinterland among whom were the Ibeno people. In 1886 they came in close contact with the Presbyterian Missionaries and Efik Christians in Calabar and became keenly interested in the Gospel. When they reported their experience to their people at home, Mr. Williams from Sierra Leone, one of the foreign traders who settled in Ibeno, started to teach them the Ten Commandments, assembling them on Sundays to tell them the Word of God. Enthusiasm grew and the people sent a letter to the Presbyterian Missionaries in Calabar, asking them for a missionary to be sent to Ibeno to teach them more about God. The letter was received by Mr. Foster, a Jamaican Missionary, who forwarded it to Dr. Grattan Guinness, the Principal of Harley College in London, where missionaries were trained.


SAMUEL ALEXANDER BILL
HIS BIRTH AND CALL
Born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, January, 1867, was Samuel Alexander Bill, whose mother had offered him to the service of the Lord. Samuel had earlier made up his mind to go out as a missionary to one of the many unoccupied fields scattered over the globe. To get him well equipped for the work his mother sent him at the age of 22 years to Harley Missionary Training College. One day in June 1887, at breakfast time, Dr. Guinness read the letter from Ibeno Chiefs to the students. He announced to them that it was an appeal from some Chiefs of Ibeno tribe on the Southern shores of Nigeria for a white teacher to tell their people about God. Adding that it was a wild country with a treacherous climate, he asked if any of them would go. Through this appeal Samuel Alexander Bill heard God’s call, took the challenge, and decided to go. It was made clear to him that there was no missionary body to send him. He knew that he had to go to Qua Iboe; that was all. Like Abraham, he was called to go out in naked faith, not knowing where his steps would lead. As he had no money, he hoped to earn his living by working, while teaching the people about Jesus Christ. Dr. & Mrs. Guinness volunteered to provide his passage and a slender tropical outfit as well as support him as far as their means could permit.

THE BIRTH OF THE QUA IBOE CHURCH
On 14th September, 1887, Samuel Bill left Belfast for Ibeno, arriving Calabar on the 6th October 1887. He stayed for two weeks in Calabar with the Presbyterian Missionaries who taught him the language and the customs of the people. At last on 1st December, 1887, he arrived at Ibeno and was warmly received by the people. Samuel Bill went straight into teaching the “hungry” people about Christ. He had difficulties but the divine care over him never failed. Psalm 23 which he often read proved a source of encouragement and inspiration to him. He usually got his provision through a launch that sailed between Calabar and Eket. Mr. & Mrs. Williams often accorded him warm hospitality and constantly the people of Ibeno sent him yam and fowls. In 1888 Samuel Bill was joined by Achie Bailie. Both of them working with untiring effort soon began to see the fruit of their labour. The first convert was a woman, Mma Etia. The second was Mr. Bill’s house servant, David Ekong who later became the first ordained pastor of the Qua Iboe Church. The first Communion Service took place on 18th February, 1890, with eleven communicant members participating.

QUA IBOE MISSION COUNCIL
In 1890 Dr. Guinness and his wife could no longer support Samuel Bill. They suggested that the two missionaries should abandon the Qua Iboe Church venture and proceed to the Congo. But Bill and Bailie refused to leave the people, saying, “God had set before us an open door from which we dare not withdraw”. In 1890 Bill went back to Belfast for a short holiday, taking with him his servant David Ekong, but leaving Bailie at Ibeno. At home he got married to Gracie Kerr who was trained also in Harley College, London. While at home Bill went about appealing for help for the spread of the Gospel in the Qua Iboe valley. A Qua Iboe Mission Council was formed in January, 1891 for sponsoring the Qua Iboe work. The members of this Council represented the leading churches of different denominations in Belfast. The constitution of the Qua Iboe Mission was then framed on evangelical and interdenominational lines. In May 1891 Bill returned with his wife and David Ekong to Ibeno. The work in the Qua Iboe field was growing rapidly and many more missionaries volunteered to come out. More converts had been won for Christ. Many had learned to read and write and some were appointed teachers and preachers. The church workers were paid by the Council in Belfast up till 1908, when it was decided that “All native work should find its support from native sources”. From that time the Qua Iboe Church has been solely and wholly responsible for the support of its ministry without any external help.

EXPANSION OF THE CHURCH
Bill and Bailie were not satisfied to confine themselves to Ibeno. They went up the river preaching and establishing stations all over its basin. From Ibeno the Church extended gradually to the following centres:- 1. Okat, later transferred to Mbioto, by Bailie 1900 2. Etinan, 25th November, 1898, by John Kirk 3. Ikot Ubo, by Edward Heaney 1904 4. Ikot Edong by Eddie Smith 1909 5. Aka, Later transferred to Itam,
by J. Westgarth in 1909. 6. Ika by John Nelson 1915/1916 7. Aba by A. V. Wilcox in 1917 8. Oloko by A. V. Wilcox and Wheatley 1921 9. Ibesit by McEwan 1922/1926 10. Mbioto by George weeks - 1912 11. Igala Field (Kogi State) 1931 by Rev. David Neil 12. Bassa Field – (Nasarawa State) 1932/1933.   Each of the above centres with its out-stations was originally called “District”, but later “Superintendency.” In 1932 the Qua Church advanced into Northern Nigeria among the Igala and Bassa people. So well established is the Qua Iboe Church in the Northern States that it constitutes Area Conferences of the Qua Iboe Church comprising many Superintendencies, namely, Idah, Ankpa, Igala Central, Ogugu, and Ibayi and others. The Pioneer Missionary used by the Lord for the planting of the Qua Iboe Church in this area (now identified as Benue, Koyi and Nasarawa States) was Rev. H. W. Dickson. All the Qua Iboe Stations were constituted into a Church by a resolution adopted and passed by the Qua Iboe Mission Trust Association at a meeting held in Belfast on the 11th September, 1944. One of the most striking features of the Qua Iboe Church in recent times is the establishment of Township Churches. These Churches began to spring up spontaneously in the early 1960’s. There are at present large promising Qua Iboe Churches in Lagos, Kaduna, Calabar, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Aba, Kano, Zaria, Markurdi, Lokoja, Ikot Ekpene, Abak, Uyo, Oron, Warri, Benin, Owerri Abuja etc.

EDUCATION AND HEALTH SERVICES
Reading and writing received no little encouragement right from the founding of the Qua Iboe Church. Wherever a church was planted there was at least a night school or adult education class. The Efik version of the pilgrim’s progress was popular in the top classes. In 1904 the first Primary School was opened at Ukat. In 1906 a Girls’ Institute was opened at Afaha Eket, later known as Grace Bill School, Etinan Institute was founded in 1915 as a boarding Primary School for boys and converted into a Secondary School in 1936. In 1941 a Bible College was opened at Ikot Ekang, Abak. The first hospital was opened at Etinan in 1927. On January 4, 1928 Samuel Bill dedicated the new hospital to the service and glory of God. “Wherever the Gospel is carried,” he said in his address, “two things are always linked together, preaching and healing.”

PRINTING PRESS
In order to provide religious tracts, vernacular readers, and record books required for the work of the church a printing press was established at Nditia in Afaha Eket in 1916, but later transferred to Etinan in 1928. The press was hard hit by the Nigerian Civil War and the untiring effort of the church to rehabilitate it has proved very unsuccessful. Nevertheless, in spite of many setbacks the press has been an indispensable “companion” in the work of evangelism.

THE NAME “QUA IBOE”
The Qua Iboe River is so named because it enters the sea at a place in Ibeno called “Aqua Obio” (Big Town), but wrongly spelt and called “Qua Iboe” by the early Europeans who came to Nigeria. The river had already been named Qua Iboe (Aqua Obio) before the arrival of Samuel Alexander Bill. In order to locate the area of his missionary activities which were concentrated along the basin of the Qua Iboe (Aqua Obio) River, he chose to call the mission field “Qua Iboe Mission,” that is, the Mission operating along basin of the Qua Iboe (Aqua Obio) River. Had the name “Aqua Obio" not been corrupted he would certainly have named the Mission “Aqua Obio Mission,” just as the first Presbyterian Missionaries called their mission “Calabar Mission”. The Qua Iboe Church has therefore grown up as a result of the pioneer-missionary vision of the late Mr. Samuel Alexander Bill, with the kind co-operation of the Qua Iboe Mission, which is an evangelical and interdenominational Council of friends in Great Britain. The Qua Iboe Church now numbers over 1000 congregations with more than 2,000,000 communicants. It is served by over 400 ordained Revd. Pastors and not less than 950 pastors and evangelists. The Qua Iboe Church is completely autonomous and has, at present, no constitutional ties with any overseas Church. It is a fully protestant, evangelical, independent and indigenous body in partnership with the Qua Iboe Mission (Fellowship) which it is happy to work with. Prior to the takeover of schools by the Government the Qua Iboe Church had over 300 Primary Schools and ten Post-Primary Institutions in the Country, it maintains 3 Theological Colleges in Abak, Akwa Ibom State, Ankpa in Benue State, one in Oloko. It runs two General Hospitals and two Leprosy Hospitals at Etinan, Ekpene Obom and Ochadamu. To conclude, we quote the words of Jean Corbett, “Samuel Bill’s work may be finished, but the Plan revealed to him is still developing in remote rural areas, and teeming modern cities of the new Nigeria. As Mission scaffolding disappears, the Qua Iboe Church not only survives, but continues to grow and mature according to the plan of God”.

THE TRUTH ABOUT QUA IBOE
CHURCH CRISES
As pointed out earlier, Qua Iboe Church was founded at Ibeno in 1887 by Rev. Samuel A. Bill, an Irish Missionary and had remained very peaceful till recently. The current crises began in 1996 when one Nathaniel Issah, then a revered Pastor in Qua Iboe Church of Abuja Area Conference submitted a memo demanding a change of name from “Qua Iboe Church” to other name(s). He claimed that the name “Qua Iboe” Church is demonic, occultic and hinders evangelism, alluding that the name derives from the water spirit. Qua Iboe Church did not, and will not change her name as the constitution of the church makes no provision for such. The name change thing was to be subjected to experiment as decided by 2001 Annual Conference. That decision sparked off protest from a large section of the church that went to court to challenge the attempt to do anything to the name of the Church. Some went to Corporate Affairs Commission (C.A.C) Abuja and placed a caveat. When Issah saw he was not making any headway, he split the Church in 2002 and declared himself president of United Evangelical Church. He later changed to trustees group; then Chairman, Five Man Interim Management Committee and recently he again claims to have returned to Qua Iboe Church. But Congregations who supported his rebellion at Port Harcourt, Abia, Imo, Kogi, Abuja etc use Qua Iboe Church Compounds and property but display United Evangelical Church on their signpost.

LEADERSHIP SUCCESSION IN QUA IBOE CHURCH FROM 1887-2008 Qua Iboe Church had been enjoying peaceful existence Administration since inception in 1887. There had never been power tussle as one Conference Chairman handed over to a duly and Constitutionally elected successor thus:- 1887-1930 Rev. S. A. Bill ruled and handed over to Rev. Wesgath, Wesgath handed over to Rev. William Usen in 1935. The line continued undisturbed until during the Nigerian Civil war, when Rev. Graddon handed over to Elder A. J. U. Ekong in 1967. The line continued undisturbed after the civil war; until Rev. J. E. Akada took over as chairman of Qua Iboe Church Conference, thus:-

YEAR
CHAIRMAN OF CONFERENCE
SECRETARY
1977-1980
Revd. John E. Akada
Revd. A. N. Udonsak
1981-1983
Revd. S. I. Irondi
Revd. R. O. Ogbonna
1984-1986
Revd. David J. Usen
Revd. R. O. Ogbonna
1987-1989
Revd. Okon Udo
Revd. R. O. Ogbonna
1990-1995
Revd. John E. Ekpenyong
Revd. S. U. Usoro
1996-Jan. 2004
Revd. (Dr.) E. A. Ossom
Elder E. O. Inyang & Revd. Nse A. Umoren
30th Jan. 2004 - 2013
Revd. Dr D.A Udoudom Ph.D, D.D. (Honoris Causa)
2013 - 2016 -  Rev. Sunday D. Essien (Pastor by God's Grace)
2016 - Date Revd. Ekpedeme Moffat Effanga.

Rev. Dr. David A. Udoudom was constitutionally and democratically elected and staff of office handed over to him by Rev. (Dr.) E. A. Ossom. Who handed over to the Rebel who is parading himself as conference chairman? From 2002 when N. S. Issah split the church through rebellion, the rebellious group have borne different names. Some congregations were lured and deceived into joining the rebellion. Those that realized they were misled into rebellion now desire to return to the fold - the mainstream of Qua Iboe Church - declaring their loyalty to the Church Conference under the democratically and Constitutionally elected General Superintendent and Conference Chairman. The United Evangelical Church Group would want to hold them life-hostage in their rebellion and are fighting tooth-and-nail to hinder their return and want to keep them in their spiritual captivity therefore infringing on the fundamental human right and freedom of worship and peaceful existence of their victims. May be the rebel leaders and their allies should be advised to leave Qua Iboe Church alone and try to register their United Evangelical Church (U.E.C) since all attempts to bring them back to the fold had failed. They should stop holding people or congregations as spiritual-hostages. This brief information is necessary at this point in time so that people will not be misled to believe that Qua Iboe Church is now United Evangelical Church. Qua Iboe Church remains Qua Iboe Church while United Evangelical Church shall be another organization altogether (when registered by the Corporate Affairs Commission).

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF QUA IBOE CHURCH: CHURCH CONFERENCE
The Conference is at the apex of the church and its decisions are final on all issues of doctrine and faith. The General Superintendent / Conference Chairman presides over all meetings of Conference which is convened at his call at least once a year. All Elders, Reverend Pastors, and Representatives of Women Fellowship, Youth and Men Fellowship are members.

CHURCH STANDING COMMITTEE
The Church Standing Committee is the Executive Council of the Church and meets periodically to deliberate and take decisions on policy and other topical issues affecting the church. The General Superintendent/ Conference Chairman is the Chairman of the Standing Committee.

AREA CONFERENCES
The entire Qua Iboe Church field is grouped into Area Conferences with Area Superintendents at the head of each Area. Each Area has its own Standing Committee which is however subject to the Church Standing Committee.

SUPERINTENDENCY
A group of at least 10 (ten) churches constitute a Superintendency with the Superintendency Superintendent as Chairman of the Central Session which is the executive arm of the Superintendency. There are also township districts/churches which report to the church conference. At the pedestal but most important are the Local Congregations with the Church Pastor as the ecclesiastical head but also served by Church Committee which decides on all matters affecting the local congregation.

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE QUA IBOE CHURCH:
(1) Revd. Ekpedeme Moffat Effanga - General Superintendent/Chairman of Conference
(2) Elder Godwin T. Obot - Church Conference  Secretary
(3) Revd. Samuel E. Otok-Essien - Church Conference Treasurer

TRUSTEES
1. Revd. Ekpedeme Moffat Effanga – Gen. Supt/Chairman of QIC 2. Elder (Gen.) Edet A. Akpan OFR (Rtd), 3. Elder (Barr) U. J. Asamudo 

(To be updated)