The founder of the Rock of Salvation Baptist Church in Alaaka Elelu Adegbayi, Ibadan, Rev. Simeon Olasungade Ola-Oni, honored his former primary school teacher, Dn. Simeon Adebowale Taiwo, during the church’s 20-year anniversary celebration on Sunday.
The church, which started as a preaching station under Rev. Ola-Oni’s leadership at the First Baptist Church, Adegbayi in 2004, recognized the individuals who were instrumental in its establishment. Dn. Taiwo, who was Rev. Ola-Oni’s primary school teacher in 1964 at Olohunwe Baptist Day School, saw the church during its formative years and offered to join in propagating the work of God.
According to the church’s program pamphlet, the first service was conducted at a rented place near the then Dill pure water company, and the church later moved to the residence of Pa. E.O Oyelayo on November 19, 2006. The permanent site was purchased on May 27, 2009, after being launched by the mother church and the preaching station under Rev. S.B Bamikole, who was the Pastor of First Baptist Church, Adegbayi at the time.
The church initially bore the name “Alaaka/Elelu First Baptist Preaching station” from its inception until April 2012, when it was changed to “Rock of Salvation Baptist Church,” which it has maintained since then.
In his sermon, Rev’d (Dr.) Ademola Mabawonku spoke on the topic “Voice of Salvation,” encouraging Christians to seek true salvation and learn to be spiritual Israelites. He shared a story about his experience in the United States, where he witnessed Israelites using their technical expertise to retrieve a car key for a hefty fee, with a portion of the payment being sent to their synagogue back home to support their economy.
Mabawonku emphasized that a true Christian must learn to pay tithes to the church in order to prosper in life, just as the Israelites do.
