How the journey began

By the time Imo state was created in 1996, little or nothing was strong by way of presence of Scripture Union Ministry in Owerri and even in Imo State. Its presence was felt only in very few churches in and around Owerri, and wherever it was present, it had a very weak representation. Then, it had some title by which it was known but non of those titles was good or strong enough for any true relationship. It was in some places called, just "SU", not even "Scripture Union", or it was called "Bible Club" or even "Fellowship".

In most cases, many of its members by whatever name they identified the union did not specifically know the relationship between "SU" and "Scripture Union".

When, eventually Imo State was created during the regime of General Murtala Mohammed (Late), members of Scripture Union were not quickly known and identified. It took the eventual meetings of one with another, on the roads, markets, churches or offices to appreciate the first ever meeting place of fellowship, and that was the "l" building inside Christ Anglican Church Compound in Owerri. Before this time, one Mbaise born-again brother had been leading the group. Bro Joe Inyama was his name, and he was a business man who had a shop in which he had very many and quality goods.

When the group had grown numerically, especially with brethren who had come home to Owerri, the new capital of the state, there was also a need that everybody felt, for the harmonization of leadership of the group. At the end of the election, Bro. Joe Inyama was elected president. His wife, who is now living in their home country - Akpodim in Mbaise, was an ideal wife to Bro. Joe Inyama, named Sister Josephine lyama. She was into the same shopping business with her husband.

The Bible Study Leader then was one Bro. Emma Amadi, an indigene of Ngwa in the now Abia State and his residence at No. 9 Nwodo Street Owerri, was the centre for Bible Study Preparation by the Bible Study Leaders of the Group. Bro. Emma Amadi Late now, was then working with the Imo Broadcasting Service (IBS) now Broadcasting Corporation (IBC-Orient). Our Fellowship on Sundays was held at the Christ Anglican Church premises when the Late Rev. Okparaocha was the Priest in charge of the Mission. He was also speaker of the Group in fellowship on several occasions.

Fellowship Centres

It had always been the habit of the Scripture Union to hold Fellowship in either School premises or church halls as the case may be, depending on the openness of the ground owners to let the Union use its premises. The Late Rev Joe Inyama played a very encouraging role in helping the group to be allowed the use of Christ Church premises for fellowship and Bible Study meetings. Even the leader's preparatory meeting had to also come in to Christ Church premises, Owerri, from time to time. The Rev. Okparaocha's Committee of Christ Anglican Church, Owerri, found word to ask the Group to relocate as the spiritual growth of the Group was heightening and the church felt embarrass. At the end of the day, the Church Committee succeeded to oust the Group from its premises.

First Baptist Church

The next favourable Fellowship Centre was the First Baptist Church, No.120 Wetheral Road, Owerri. The Church position had a very favourable disposition for the Group due to its wonderful confluent position with the popular Wetheral Road and Christ Church Road running close to it. Then the Mbaise Road and Egbu Road Junction by Wetheral Road was another success in style. The Late Rev. Amadi was the Priest in charge of the Church then and very presently, the now Regional Chairman, Engr. Bon. C. Okoro, (PhD) a senior Lecturer with the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, just returned then from his academic mission in the United State of America. His presence in the Church helped to ensure the stability of the group in the use of their Church Premises for our various meetings.

A long time after the transfer of Rev. Amadi out of the Church, the committee of First Baptist Church started a fresh revolt against the use of their premises by the Scripture Union (Nig.) Township Group Owerri. Their pressure really introduced tensions growing very high and because the Scripture will not be willing to show any sign of unthankfulness to those who had allowed her over time, the next move become imminent. The then Township School Owerri, situated along Witheral Road, near the Dan Anyiam Stadium, became the next bus stop. It was a compound that guaranteed our numerical growth. Our invitees and new converts had no problems at all. Brethren who would drive or be driven to the Fellowship Centre had a wonderful day as transportation was not a problem at all.

The Group grew up to maintain a good position in maintaining her root. In view of this, from time to time, we undertook major repairs on the building that housed the fellowship to make some that the corrugated iron roofs did not continue to create embarrassment to the children of God.

The Group later had the favour of agreeing with the school authority and the Ministry of Education, to let us carry out major repair works on the buildings. It cost the Group some heavy sum of money, which the Brethren bore with pains. The Leadership was equal to the pains. Guided by the Holy Spirit, the Leadership of the Group led by the Radio Laborites, Bro. George Uzoagba, started a very persuasive call on the Brethren to not only start thinking and planning, but also contributing for the purchase of a piece of land on which we would erect our own fellowship house.

This call was most misunderstood as many of us were well aware of the policy of the Scripture Union, not to own property. There were sorry, there are very many reasons for that policy, especially, so that non members would not start thinking that we were into a "Separatist" move. Though the Brethren obeyed, almost very reluctantly, but George Uzoagba would not bend. The fact is that not many people, if anybody at all, saw that he saw. He heard from the Lord!

Meanwhile, both the authorities of the Township School-Our Fellowship Centre and the State Ministry of Education were on our nerves, persuading us to leave the environment. All of a sudden, the social impact of the change, when the State Government of the Rochas Okorocha Leadership Stepped into the promises of Township School. It dawned on us that our fleeing from there was only obvious. When it became so very sure that we were surely and undoubtedly going to leave our most beloved Township School Premises, our next organizing question was; "Where Next" "Which other Premises, School, or otherwise was going to accommodate us?" "What of the cars that God had blessed us with, where can we get and have them well parked?" etc. No, the questions, the questions were coming very quickly and there was not an answer anywhere. The Exco, the Brethren were everywhere, looking for our next accommodation.

City Institute of Commerce

One day, at the fellowship, the announcement was made that a place of fellowship had been sorted out. It happened to be the City Institute of Commerce (C.I.C). Beloved, Brethren in the Group can assuredly tell you that our first meeting at that place produced more tears from our eyes than laughter from our mouth. Too narrow, terribly compact, no parking place, no good room to appreciate God as sometimes the owners of the place, either the school or a Church would not give us all the space and time we would really need. No! It was something else.

Meanwhile, this our President, Bro. Uzor Obidike and his immediate lieutenants, Bro. George Uzoagba, Bro. Emeka Uzoho, Bro Emma Umunnakwe, Bro. Israel Akutaenwere etc were still canvassing the length and breadth of the land of Owerri, discussing, sorting nd reaching agreements over one piece of land or the other. I thank the Lord who kept this flock from fleeing the ministry of the Group for others. By this time, Brethren in the Group had understood that the doors did not lead out again. They know that since the Group had begotten and let go to form groups like Ikenegbu, Federal Housing etc that we should stay put and build what remains unto God.

By the time this present place, this Jerusalem, this property of ours, by the Grace was fully paid for, we decided that we would not spend any further for C.I.C but bring our resources to fine-tune this place which we bought and brought down for the erection of this place that we can call our own. Alleluyah!