The enemy of men's soul had plans to scatter this group because he saw the group as having a wonderful future if they could hold on to practical holiness without compromise.
When Brother Timothy and Brother Lucas went to meet the council at Ibadan, Brother Ebenezer D.T. Robbins was left in charge. Before they came back, D.T. Robbins had brought in Pastor J.L. Hanson of the Apostolic Church. On finding out his background, Brother T's group discovered that he had been suspended from the Apostolic Church because he was living in adultery. The ministers met and told him to make his life straight as he could not labour in their midst with a crooked life. He promised to do this but failed. Robbins felt this was hard on him. Some in the group wanted the ministry to be lenient with Pastor Hanson and so there was a split. Robbins and Hanson and a majority stood together. Brother T, Lucas and very few faithful ones left them.
Brother T's records read thus: “On Sunday, 2 November 1947, we the following—T.G. Oshokoya, minister; L.A. Obakoya, evangelist; E.A. Oshobowale, M.B. Oduwole; Sisters Rebecca Oreolu Onanuga and Hannah Oshokoya—left the church at 26 Little Road, Yaba, because those left behind refused to hold on to the true Word of God, and sound doctrine. And as we determined to do the will of God to the end of our lives, we pledged to leave them according to what the Scripture says: 'What fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?' (2 Corinthians 6:14)
“On November 5, 1947, morning prayer meetings started at 80 Denton Street, Ebute Meta, where we had some people who were thirsty for the Word of God. By the grace of God and of our Lord Jesus Christ, on Sunday 16th November, 1947, we had the privilege to establish a new church in a single-room accommodation at 63 Ibadan Street, Ebute Meta, where we lived and held meetings.
SISTER RUTH ASHWELL IN HER OFFICE
WORKERS IN FRONT OF 22 SIMPSON STREET
“The morning service which started at 10am had 11 people in attendance—three girls, four women, and four men. The service was brought to a close at 12 noon and at about 3pm we as the body of the church went to the Boys' Hostel, Ebute Meta, as witnesses of Jesus Christ. And we thank the Almighty Father that we were joyfully received there by the 29 boys and their caretaker.
“After this, we held our evening service by 7pm with the attendance of three girls, five women, and five men. The following Sunday, 24th November, 1947 was the second service and we had 18 people in attendance in the morning service. After the service, we went to the Hospital and Boys' Remand Home, Lagos, while the two elders stayed back for house-to-house evangelism.”
As the congregation grew, they hired Lisabi Hall at Ebute Meta for special meetings. Thus The Apostolic Faith organization in Nigeria continued to grow from a very small beginning. Right from the inception, no collection plates were passed; it was determined that God's Work would be financed through tithes and offerings according to the Word of God. God did not fail them.