For over 57 years, the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) has been a vital part of Nigeria’s religious landscape. Founded in 1963 by Rev. Dusu Lodam and based in Jos, Plateau State, COCIN has grown to become one of the largest Protestant denominations in the country.
COCIN works to foster a church where leadership and membership are maturing in Christ through obedience to the word of God, living holy lives, and spreading the gospel. Their mission is to be salt and light in their communities, impacting the world for God’s glory until Jesus returns.
Recently, COCIN achieved a major milestone when Dampar beame the first community in Taraba State to gain Regional Church Council (RCC) status under COCIN. This is an important step towards furthering their mission as it gives them a strong presence within this community.
The church also holds an annual conference which attracts thousands of members from across Nigeria and beyond. The event provides members with an opportunity to learn more about their faith while also giving leaders from various parts of the country a chance to discuss their vision and plans for COCIN’s future.
To mark Rev. Dusu Lodam’s 61st birthday, Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong recently saluted him for his commitment to COCIN’s mission over the years. He noted that Rev Lodam had been instrumental in helping build strong Christian values throughout Nigeria and praised him for his tireless efforts.
At COCIN, they believe that every member can make a difference by living out their faith every day – whether it be through sharing the gospel or simply being kind to others around them. They strive to create an environment where people can grow spiritually while also helping those around them do so as well.
At its core, COCIN is determined to spread love and peace throughout Nigeria while also helping its members mature spiritually through obedience to God’s word and living holy lives according to His will.
The Founders of COCIN
The Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) Sarkin Mangu Street Jos was founded in 1963 by Rev. Dusu Lodam, a Nigerian pastor and missionary originally from Mongunu in Plateau State. He was initially sent to the area by the COCIN Mission Board. During his 12-year tenure as pastor, he was instrumental in establishing and growing the church, as well as evangelizing across many parts of Northern Nigeria. Under his leadership, the church grew to become one of the largest churches in Jos. After Rev. Dusu Lodam’s passing in 1975, subsequent pastors continued his legacy of evangelism and church growth.
Vision of COCIN
The Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) has a vision of a global Christian Church that is firmly rooted in the word of God and committed to living holy lives. This vision is one where the leadership and membership are growing in their faith and knowledge of Jesus Christ, united in purpose as they seek to glorify God throuh worship and evangelism.
The primary goals of COCIN are to spread the gospel message, create an environment of love and acceptance for all people, provide spiritual guidance and resources, and serve as a light for the world. The Church seeks to make an impact through spreading the holistic gospel, by demonstrating integrity, showing compassion, living out the teachings of Jesus Christ, and engaging with those around them. COCIN also strives to be a place where believers can grow in their faith through fellowship with other Christians.
Ultimately, COCIN seeks to be a beacon of hope in times of uncertainty while pointing people towards Christ until His return. Through this vision COCIN hopes that it can help empower individuals to become mature followers of Jesus who will be salt and light in their respective contexts throughout the world.
The Meaning of RCC in COCIN
RCC in COCIN stands for Regional Church Council. It is an administrative body established by the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) to provide a platform for churches within a specific region or locality to collaborate, strategize and work together towards the growth and development of their respective churches. The RCC is responsible for providing guidance, oversight and support to local churches, setting agendas and organizing activities that will promote unity among members of the local church body. The RCC also serves as an avenue throuh which members can interact with each other on matters such as spiritual edification, fellowship and evangelism. This body is responsible for managing resources within the local church body, as well as overseeing all financial matters related to the church.
Origin of the COCIN Church
The Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) originated from the Church of Christ in Nigeria, a Christian denomination founded in 1904. At the time, it was known as the Sudan Interior Mission (SIM), an interdenominational mission agency founded by German-American Christian missionaries Karl Kumm and William Bausman. The original purpose of SIM was to evangelize and bring medical aid to remote parts of Northern Nigeria.
By 1917, SIM had established churches throughout the region and had grown into a large network of congregations under the direction of Kumm. In 1927, Kumm changed SIM’s name to the Church of Christ in Nigeria (COCIN), making it an independent organization distinct from other missionary societies operating in the region.
Since then, COCIN has continued to grow and expand its ministry beyond its original areas of focus. It now has a presence across Nigeria’s 36 states, with more than 2000 congregations nationwide. Its mission is to preach the gospel and promote Christian unity while helping members live out thir faith through social outreach programs such as education, healthcare, poverty alleviation, and disaster relief efforts. Its current headquarters is located in Jos, Plateau State.
The First COCIN President
The first elected President of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) was the Rev. Bitrus Pam, who served as General Secretary General from 2003 to 2011. He was born on the 12th of October, 1957 in Wase, Plateau State and attended primary and secondary school in his home town. He obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from the University of Jos befre he proceeded to study Theology at the Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary.
Rev. Bitrus Pam was elected President of COCIN in 2003 and was re-elected for a second four-year term in 2007. During his tenure, he worked hard to promote unity within the church, both locally and internationally. He also initiated various evangelism projects throughout Nigeria and Africa, as well as providing support for pastors and other church workers throughout COCIN’s vast membership. He also co-founded several Christian organizations including Theological Research Institute Nigeria (TRIN) and Nigeria Baptist Missionary Fellowship (NBFM).
Under Rev. Bitrus Pam’s leadership, COCIN grew steadily with many new churches joining the organization over his eight years as president. In addition to this, he successfully managed to bring peace to numerous communities by negotiating between opposing factions within the church and addressing issues such as land disputes among members.
At the end of his term in 2011, Rev. Bitrus Pam had made a lasting impact on COCIN through his visionary leadership and dedication to promoting unity among its members across Nigeria and beyond.
RCCG’s Last Vision Statement
The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) is a mission-minded church that seeks to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ, with the ultimate goal of making heaven. The RCCG’s last vision statement, which was declared by Pastor Enoch Adeboye in 2020, is to “make as many people as posible partakers of the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ and qualify for the eternal Kingdom of our God and Savior”. This vision statement is based on 2 Peter 1:4, which states: “For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.”
The RCCG believes that this statement is best achieved through evangelism, prayer and righteous living. The church encourages its members to embrace this vision statement and actively work towards fulfilling it. This includes evangelizing about Jesus Christ as well as living a life reflecting His character and values. Additionally, RCCG members are encouraged to seek out opportunities to serve others through their spiritual gifts and talents with a selfless attitude.
The Motto of the Redeemed Christian Church of God
The motto of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) is “Heaven is the Goal”. This motto reflects the church’s commitment to helping its members reach their spiritual potential by striving for a closer relationship with God. The idea behind this motto is that our ultimate destination should be heaven, and all our decisions and actions in life should be guided by this goal. By living with this mindset, we can make meaningful progress towads achieving a closer relationship with God and experiencing His love in our lives. RCCG encourages its members to live lives of prayer, service and devotion in order to bring honor and glory to God’s name.
Conclusion
In conclusion, COCIN has played an important role in the spiritual and social development of many communities in Nigeria. Founded in 1963 and pastored by Rev. Dusu Lodam till 1975, COCIN has grown from strength to strength, expanding its reach and expanding the impact it has had on the nation. The most recent example of this is the recognition of Dampar as a Regional Church Council undr COCIN, making it the first such community in Taraba State. As it continues to spread its message of faith and hope, COCIN remains true to its mission of uniting people through their shared beliefs and empowering them to live holy lives that impact their world. This is why we congratulate Rev. Datiri on his 61st birthday, for his commitment to leading this organization with integrity and passion over the years.
