How It All Started
The Gospel Faith Mission International, the Church with the Word for the World, which was founded on the Solid Rock by God, through a small group of committed men and women led by the late Pastor (Dr.) R. A. George in Lagos, Nigeria, has transformed into a divine legacy that today has assumed a global dimension.
It all began with Brother Reuben Akinwalere George (later Pastor (Dr.) R. A. George), a member of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) and a dynamic leader who had always felt a deep conviction of the call of God on his life. In 1956, R.A. George started a fellowship and Bible Study Group at his residence in Lagos, Nigeria. The fellowship then included the late Sister Dupe George, Brothers David Akinremi, Meshack Akinola, Iwaku J. Bagere, Daniel Aluko, Olusegun George, Elijah Oludele Abina, and Elkanah Obideyi. Other members of the group include Brothers Solomon Kudoro, Richard Godonu Akapo, one Mrs Dorcas Adeyemi, Sisters Mary Kudoro, Felicia Akinremi (later Matron Felicia Abina), Janet Oke, Dupe Oju (later Dupe Akapo), among others. This group began to grow and later moved to a building in Lagos and thereafter spread to other parts of Nigeria and the world.
Pastor Reuben George was ordained as Pastor in 1959 and he transited into glory in 1987 after which his deputy all along at the time, Pastor (Dr.) E.O. Abina took over the mantle of leadership in the same year. The Gospel Faith Mission International became an incorporated body in Nigeria in October 1967. The first Annual Convention was held in Lagos from November 4 – 7, 1966. The attendance then was 300.
The Annual Convention currently holds at the Mission’s campground, Gospel City, Ogunmakin in Ogun State Nigeria.
Church Growth and Expansion
The Church that started with barely 20 people has grown so large today with over 2000 branches under 24 Administrative Regions headed by Regional Pastors. The Regions are further sub-divided into over 120 Districts and Areas that are equally headed by District and Area Pastors respectively with over 1600 Assemblies.
In Britain, the Church, which was established in 1983, has extended to the Irish Republic with branches in Dublin.
GOFAMINT had its first branch in the United States of America established in 1985. This has grown into well over seventeen branches today. Equally, the Church now has branches in Calgary, Canada and Turnhout in Belgium.
Branches also exist in many African countries such as Benin Republic, Togo, Cameroon, Kenya, Gabon, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Liberia, South Africa, and Botswana among others.
In 2007, GOFAMINT berthed in the Philippines, Mexico and Australia through an initiative of the General Overseer, Pastor (Dr) E.O. Abina to take the gospel, through GOFAMINT to all the Continents of the world. The Church also has a presence in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Israel.
The GOFAMINT International Office is situated at Kilometer 40, Lagos/Ibadan Expressway, Aseese, Ogun State while the National Office remains at International Gospel Centre, Ojoo, Oyo Road, Ibadan, Oyo State both in Nigeria.
The Church is being directed by the Holy Spirit through the Executive Council, which is headed by the current General Overseer, Pastor (Dr) Elijah Oludele Abina.