CAC parish marks 10 years anniversary

Christ Apostolic Church Vineyard of Comfort Brandon marked its 10th anniversary Sunday, reflecting on the congregation’s growth from a small home fellowship to a church of more than 200 people.

The anniversary service brought together current and former church leaders, members and guests, including former evangelist Prophet Samuel Abiara, who travelled from Nigeria for the occasion.

The Brandon congregation began in 2016 after a couple who had been travelling from Brandon to worship in Winnipeg helped establish a local fellowship.

The first gathering had only seven people — three who travelled from Winnipeg and four in Brandon, Fela Keshinro, pastor-in-charge of the Christ Apostolic Church Vineyard of Comfort Winnipeg Zone, said.

“It’s a privilege for me to be the one to come over here to start the church,” Keshinro told the Sun. The congregation later held its first Sunday service with about 18 people.”

Ten years later, the average attendance has grown to more than 200, with some services drawing between 240 and 250 people, Brandon pastor-in-charge Lolade Ogunbanwo told the Sun.

“On average, we’ve never been less than 200 for maybe two, three years back now,” Ogunbanwo said.

The church’s journey included several moves as its congregation expanded. After meeting in a home, it moved to a community hall and later another facility.

“The congregation eventually purchased its current property in 2024 and held its first service there during Christmas that year,” Ogunbanwo told the Sun. “The church also supports newcomers and other members of the community.”

The congregation includes people from several African countries, with Nigerians making up the majority. Ogunbanwo said the church has helped newcomers settle in Brandon and has supported organizations such as Samaritan House and Seniors for Seniors.

As part of its 10th-anniversary activities, members organized a walk-through downtown Brandon to Princess Park, where they sang, raised awareness about the church and handed out gifts, he said.

The church also supported a local soup kitchen, with members volunteering and the congregation providing financial support.

For Keshinro, the church’s growth is evidence of what he described as God’s faithfulness.

“Despise not the days of small beginning,” he said. “The congregation had experienced lots of ups and downs, lots of shakings, lots of challenges, and lots of psychological persecution. But we thank God, when God gives a vision, He gives the provision as well.”

The congregation’s growth was significant given its beginnings, Pastor Ademola Oyeniyi, who travelled from Toronto for the anniversary, said.

“I can see this is a miracle of God,” Oyeniyi said. “For a church to start with about seven people, and for that church to go to more than 200 people in a period of 10 years … I see it as the hand of God, nothing but the hand of God.”

Looking ahead, Ogunbanwo said the church has already purchased additional land behind its current building on 1525 Pacific Ave. and hopes to expand soon.

“We already envision it. We know this place will not seat our members in the next one, two years,” he said.

The church also plans to continue supporting newcomers and community organizations while encouraging members to be law-abiding and contributing members of Canadian society.

“I am very impressed by the congregation’s anniversary gathering and encourage the church to continue expanding,” he said. “The members and leaders should not relent reaching out to more people in the community and must not break the law of Canada.”

For Keshinro, Sunday’s anniversary was a moment of personal satisfaction after watching the congregation develop from its earliest days.

“I’m elated, overflowing joy. No word to describe.”

He said the Brandon church is one of several congregations now under his jurisdiction, with churches in Steinbach, Vancouver and Edmonton and plans for further expansion.

“It can only be God,” Keshinro said.

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