16/10/2024
BISHOP JACOB B. UDOBANG FOUNDATION IN MKPAT ENIN LGA, AKWA IBOM STATE COMMEMORATES LATE BISHOP JACOB BROWN UDOBANG (1945 - 2014)
By Dennis Udoma
His Lordship, late Bishop J.B. Udobang was a household name in the Mount Zion Light House Full Gospel Church of God Nigeria.
He was a devout Christian, who lived from 1945 - 2014. He passed unto glory to be with his maker in the "country" often described by the bookmakers as "The Great Beyond".
For 69 years of his pilgrimage on earth, Bishop Jacob Brown Udobang's endeavour was evangelism; taking the gospel of God to the nooks and crannies of the nation. He began his vocation first, with the ministry he established with his mother called, "Prayer House of All Nations" but, later swapped with Mount Zion Light House Full Gospel Church of God Inc in 1966 for a life time career as Clergy.
From that moment, late bishop Udobang became dedicated and grew through the hierarchy of the Church to become Bishop, a position he held until his demise in 2014.
Ever since he made that trip to the Great Beyond on October 15, 2014 barely 10 years ago, the children through the Foundation in Ikot Ekpang, Ikpa Ibom Clan in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area hardly forget his fond memories and the legacies he bequeathed to the present generation of the living Udobangs'.
Archival information in our disposal shows that, late bishop Udobang was indeed, a faith leader, whose contributions in the Church administration and over all development of the Church made Mount Zion Light House Full Gospel Church what it is today.
He was also, former Vice President and Member, Board of Trustees of Mount Zion LightHouse Full Gospel Church Inc, and was often regarded as late Bishop J. E. Ettefia's son because of the cordial relationship that existed between both of them.
HOW HIS MINISTRY BEGAN IN MOUNT ZION LFG (1966 - 2014):
His Lordship, Bishop Udobang's Ministry in the Mount Zion (LFG) Church Inc started in 1966, after he completed his Bible College, lectured by the founder, late Bishop Ettefia, who ordained him as a Pastor in December 1966.
His Missionary works in the Mount Zion Lighthouse Full Gospel Church Inc continued and in 1967, he was posted to Ukpana in the present Onna LGA of Akwa Ibom State as his first Station of assignment.
In June 1969, he was transferred from Ukpana in Onna, Akwa Ibom State during the Nigerian civil war to establish a branch of the Church in Northern Nigeria precisely, Kano State at No. 63, Yoruba Road, Sabongari.
In June 1970, he was transferred from Kano after he had successfully established a branch of the church there to also establish the church in Ijebu area. He established the church in Ijebu, Odiolowo, Ikekan Araromi and Ikene all in Ogun State, South Western Nigeria.
In 1971, he was recalled back to the headquarters of the church in Calabar for three months refresher course. At the completion of the course, he was sent back to Apoje District in Ogun State for the second time.
His transfer from Apoje to Eket in 1972 was later cancelled as a result of the crisis that erupted Lagos area of the Church. Rather, he was transferred to Apapa in Lagos to head the Lagos Section.
He was transferred in 1974 from Lagos to Atim Assam (Etim Ossam) as the Sectional Leader in charge of Akpabuyo Section in Cross River State. And later left to establish another branch of the Church in Sapele, Delta State in 1975 as a successful church planter.
In 1978, he was transferred from Atim Assam to Rumoumasi in Port Harcourt as a Sectional Leader and Executive Pastor. He left Rumoumsi to establish a branch of the Church in Jos, Plateau State in November 1979.
In 1980, he was moved from Rumoumasi to Henshaw Town assembly, at No. 6, Egerton Street, Calabar where he sheperd for only one and a half months.
Same year 1980, he was deployed again from Henshaw Town to Ikot Akpaden in Mkpat Enin LGA of Akwa Ibom State as the Superintendent in charge. Ikot Akpaden, it recalled is the hometown of the founder of the Mount Zion Light House Full Gospel Church, late bishop Etefia.
In 1982, he was transferred from Ikot Akpaden to Sabongari at No. 26, Palm Street, Calabar where he built the first ever storey building called the (Mission House) in the entire Mount Zion Church.
In 1983, he was moved from Sabongari to Ikot Abasi Obori, No. 29, Mount Zion Road, Calabar as the Superintendent of Calabar Diocese. There he completed the Mission House that was abandoned for many years.
The trio of Bishop Udobang as the Superintendent, Bishop Ayakndue as the Sectional Leader at Atakpa and Bishop Ekiso as the General Secretary of the Mission, where the transformation of the church started. Telephone lines (analogue then) were installed and Ministers' Saving Scheme was introduced among others.
In 1987, he was transferred from Calabar Diocese to take over from Bishop S. E. Uqua now late at Apapa, Lagos.
In 1989, he was transferred from Lagos to Agotaylor in Ibadan as the Superintendent of Ibadan Diocese. In 2001, he established Abeokuta Assembly through Elder E. N. C. Anyanwu, now an Apostle/Superintendent with the support of Agotaylor Assembly. He constructed and built a Duplex, another (Mission House) at Agotaylor assembly in Ibadan, Oyo State.
He was elected a Registered Trustee of the Church at Easter Convention at Utu Edem Usung, Ikot Ekpene LGA of Akwa Ibom State in 1991, and was ordained a Bishop in December of same year at the Annual Convention in Calabar, headquarters of the Church.
He was a gallant soldier of the gospel and great Evangelizer, who preached and practiced the true gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
He was a man who stood for the truth and defended the faith, as he was taught by the founder, late Bishop Ettefia.
His zeal to uphold the ethics and maintain the image/standard of the Church among the Community of Churches compelled him to publish a book titled, "Anomalies Observed In The Administration Of Our Great Church: Urgent Need To Go Back To Bethel in May", in 1992.
This was not received in good faith by the leadership of the Church because, he was a disciplinarian and fearless preacher.
DEATH:
His Lordship, late Bishop Jacob Brown Udobang died at his duty post on October 15, 2014 as a faithful and fearless soldier of Christ whom the world was not worthy. Hebrews 11:38).
Today, Bishop Jacob B. Udobang Foundation, children and the entire family in Ikot Ekpang, Ikpa Ibom Clan in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, at home and in the Diaspora commemorate the fond memories and legacies he left behind under the theme, "The World Pope: Late Bishop Jacob Brown Udobang Lives On".
His son, Barrister Jacob Brown Udobang while eulogizing his late patriarch said, the importance of the commemoration was to foster unity amongst members of the family, Community and the society in line with the late sage's ideals.
He stated that, the Foundation would continue to cater for the welfare of the less privileged, assist the vulnerable, promote christian leadership values, ethics and peace in the body of Christ and empower the Ministers' of the Gospel, Missionaries and people in need, as well as care for people in rural communities among others.
