The first Brethren worship service in Nigeria was held on March 17, 1923, by H. Stover Kulp and Albert D. Helser under a tamarind tree in the village of Garkida. "Each of us prayed that this spot might be a fountain to which people might come and drink of the Water of Life and eat of the Bread of Life," Helser wrote. Although beset by personal tragedies, the missionaries began to translate the Scriptures into the local Bura language, engage in health care, and establish schools and a hospital. In the following decades, the Church of the Brethren Mission (CBM) continued to establish schools and other programs, and its influence spread from Garkida into new areas.

The need for teachers to train Nigerians after independence in 1960 resulted in an expansion of the Church of the Brethren presence in Nigeria during that decade to its highest levels ever. The nationalism that inspired the teacher boom also led to scaled down numbers of external educators as Nigerians graduated and were able to step into teaching roles.

As the Nigeria church emerged as a national church in 1972, the US church shifted from directing ministry toward working in partnership with this new Brethren body. Nigerian Brethren gained a strong foundation from their mission education at places like the Waka Schools at Biu. Many well-educated Brethren have held positions in local and state governments, as well as important posts in government institutions such as schools.

The 1970s also saw development of the much-celebrated Lafiya rural health program, based at Garkida, with its “primary health care” approach emphasizing immunizations and health education. The program relied on the village-based health care worker, and has trained illiterate workers through the use of traditional African teaching methods of song and story. The health program in particular was studied and copied by numerous governments and church agencies. The need for clean water as a public health issue resulted in a wells program to supplement this effort.

Over the second half of the 20 th century the Nigerian church grew dramatically. Records show membership at 2364 (1954) expanding to nearly 40,000 by 1982. Church structure also was strengthened with the addition of a headquarters and an annual conference, or majalisa. While dozens of tribal languages continue to be used in rural settings, the Hausa language has become predominate in northeast Nigeria where the church is concentrated. In urban settings English is increasing used in worship.

Timeline:

1923: First worship service in Garkida

1924: Boys and Girls schools opened in Garkida

1925: Garkida Hospital plans finalized

1927: First baptisms

1929: Work started at Garkida Leprosarium

1942: Hillcrest School for missionary children started in Jos

1952: Waka Teachers College opened. M. Karbam was first Nigerian to be ordained.

1959: Theological College of Northern Nigeria and Waka Secondary School opened.

1960: Kulp Bible School begun at temporary site, moving to permanent location in 1961.

1963: First Nigerian graduated from TCNN to teach at Kulp Bible School.

1964: Ngamariju Mamza became first Nigerian general secretary of the church.

1972: Nigerian church became independent as “Lardin Gabas.”

1973: Lafiya rural health program begun.

1976: Church re-named Ekklesiyar Yan'uwa a Nigeria (EYN-Church of the Brethren in Nigeria).

1985: Annual workcamps begun.

1995-2000: EYN membership surpassed US church membership