N.K.S.T, a brief history about the church. See more here »»

N.K.S.T stands for the "Nongu u Kristu u i
Ser u sha Tar," translated "Universal
Reformed Christian Church," a Christian
Reformed church based in Nigeria. The
church has its headquarters in Benue state
but has spread all over Nigeria. The members
are predominantly the Tiv speaking tribe but
other tribes in Nigeria belong to this church.
It was first introduced in Sai in 1911 a village
in Katsina Ala local government area of
Benue state, Nigeria.[1] Although its
headquarters is now at Mkar, Gboko , the
local government is in Benue State . The
church is the fruit of missionary work
undertaken by the Dutch Reformed Church in
South Africa. Work began in 1911 among the
Tiv people in Gongola and Benue States. The
beginnings were slow — only 25 baptized
Christians in 25 years. In 1960, due to the
apartheid system, the South African
missionaries were no longer tolerated in
Nigeria and had to leave. In their place the
SUM–Christian Reformed Reformed branch
related to NKST and gave it strong support
until about 1985. In 1957 the church was
formally organized as an autonomous, self-
supporting, and self-propagating church with
four Nigerian pastors. A full translation of the
Bible into Tiv was completed in 1964. The
church also has a synod that meets twice in a
year. The Church has seven institutions of
higher learning: 1.The Reformed Theological
Seminary Mkar, 2.Reformed Bible College
Harga, 3.School of Nursing Mkar, 4.College of
Health Technology Mkar 5. School of
Laboratory Sciences Mkar, 6. School of
Midwifery Mkar, 7. and more recently a
university, The University of Mkar [1] . The
pioneer Vice Chancellor was a renowned
academic, Professor (Mrs) Nancy Ngunan
Agbe. Until her appointment, she was a
professor at Benue State University, Makurdi.
The current Vice Chancellor is Prof.
Emmanuel Hemen Agba, Professor of Physics
also coming from Benue State University
The NKST church has over a Million
followership and over 127,115 baptised and
professing members. It has a well organised
Women Fellowship with 44,514 members. The
women fellowship has built one of the most
beautiful guest houses in Benue State at
Mkar near the Church Sacretariet. NKST
church has 674 pastors since inception with
557 who are still alive, and about 117 have
rested in the Lord. NKST has 3,891 churches
all over Nigeria, with 353 well established
congregations. Some of the congregations
conduct their services in English, e.g. NKST
ANglo- Jos, Plateu State.It also has 53 classis.
The church also has 9 hospitals, and 123
primary health centers. It has 50 secondary
schools and 500 primiry schools.
The President of NKST now is Rev. Ayohol Ate
who took over November 2011 from Rev.
J.T.Orkuma as president. The General
secretary is Rev. Peter Gwaza Azuana assisted
by Rev. Ephraim Mbateren Shir.It has about
20 different departments such as Media,
Mission, Education, Agriculture, Works,
Diaconal ministry, Sunday School, Choir etc.
which are headed by well dedicated
Christians. The Church has recently finished
revising the Tiv Bible and has since been sent
down to the Bible Society of Nigeria for the
final professional work. It has also recently
started a Mission station near Abeoukuta in
Ogun State with the aim of reaching the
Yoruba tribe with Reformed Faith.