Gen 12:1 Preamble
Now the Lord had said unto Abraham ,Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house unto a land that I will shew thee and I will make thee a great nation and I will bless thee and make thy name great and thou shalt be a blessing and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curses thee and in all families of the earth be blessed towards the end of 19th century.
There was a place called Ibesikpo in the former Eastern region of south Eastern Nigeria. This area was occupied by people who were very hard working but they worshipped the gods of Ekpo masquerade.
There lived a man called Ndem Ekping who had a son Udo Ekong Ndem Ekong. He was the king of the Ekpo masquerade, Ekpo was like the governor of the people. Everything, call it life circled round Ekpo. Udo Ekong Ndem Ekong was dedicated to his office. Chief Udo Ekong Ndem Ekong married Ubaha Anwa Ekwere of Royal birth.
Following losing 5 children after childbirth, Jonathan was the first surviving son of an Ibibio Chief named Chief Udo Ekong Ndem Ekping. His mother was named ‘Akai’ meaning forest because she was known for burying her dead children in the forest. After his birth in 1881, Jonathan had one brother, Chief Effiong Udo Ekong and 4 other sisters.
He was from Ibesikpo and was called ‘Okponesip’ by his mother because she thought she would have been great if all her children were to be alive. Though he had been initiated into the Ekpo cult which was part of the tradition in those days, he showed no interest in it. Instead when his uncle Udo Mbon Eno, who was a trader told him about a Qua Iboe missionary in Uyo, he went there to meet him.
Missionaries from different churches visited Ibesikpo and gradually Christianity began to spread in Ibesikpo. In 1914, Jonathan was baptised, received Holy Communion and later became a committed church worker. The Ibesikpo people decided to send him to America for training to become a seasoned evangelist with the support of Ibesikpo United Church.
He left Uyo with many escorts including his mother (Ubaha Anwa Ekwere) for Port Harcourt and then sailed on a ship (Oceanliner) through Lagos to England and then to America. He arrived America on June 19 1928.
He studied at the Agricultural and Technical College, Greensboro in North Carolina and graduated in 1936. He furthered his studies in Theology at the Immanuel Lutheran Seminary Greensboro.
Rev. Dr. Jonathan Udo Ekong was able to convince the Lutheran Synod Conference of the need for mission work in his homeland. On his way back from America in 1938 , the ship he sailed on developed some issues in London making him stay for a month in England. It was documented that he (a black missionary) preached in London during this period.
Upon his return from America, 10years after leaving his homeland, the enlightened Jonathan decided to start his new life with a church wedding to Mrs Dinah Ekong (formerly Dinah George Offong). Jonathan travelled around southern Nigeria with his family preaching the gospel and establishing churches. He was passionate about this ministry and was dedicated to the end.
As you have read, Jonathan left the shores of Nigeria at about the age of 47years. He left a family behind but he had to sacrifice so much, happiness, comfort everything. His focus was on the Golden Fleece.
What was the Golden Fleece? The Word of God delivered in its purity, unadulterated state. Education for a people who were yearning for a new life.
In 1954, Jonathan was posted back to Afaha Ibesikpo from Calabar where in lived for the rest of his life. As an agriculturist, Jonathan loved planting yams in front of his house. He enjoyed harvesting and eating fresh corn and okro. His favourite dishes included roasted yam, roasted plantain, boiled yam with stew or Egusi soup, Coconut rice, Edikang Ikong soup, Ekpang Nkukwo, Afang soup and Abak Atama soup with rice or pounded yam as he did not like Garri.
In 1971, he was awarded an honorary Doctorate Degree of Theology by Concordia Seminary in St. Louis.
On January 6, 1982 Jonathan died at the age of 101. He was blessed with 11 children. His remains were laid to rest at the headquarters of the Lutheran Church of Nigeria Obot Idim, Ibesikpo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. His funeral was a grand ceremony with representation from Missouri synod, church leaders and government officials.
Rev. Dr. Jonathan Udo Ekong brought a church of the open Bible to Ibesikpo clan and extended to most parts of Eastern, Western and a few states in the Northern Nigeria . This church has spread to other parts of Nigeria West, East, North. His legacy lives on.