GKS Ekpan Celebrates Freedom Day, Says Jesus Was Born In October, Not December

God's Kingdom Society (GKS), Ekpan Branch, Delta State, on Sunday, October 18, 2026, celebrated its annual Freedom Day to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ.

The service was themed: "Are We Disciples of Christ Indeed? And Was Christ Born on Christmas Day?" and featured praise songs, cultural displays and refreshments.

The celerbation featured song of praise, cultural displays and refreshments, as members mark what the church describes as the true period of Christ's birth.

Delivering the main sermon, the Minister of GKS Salem City, Warri, Brother Kenneth Onakughotor, said diligent research into Bible chronology and the climate of Palestine proves Christ was not born on December 25th, but in October.

He explained that Zacharias, successor of Abijah who served in the 8th priestly course in late June to early July (1 Chronicles 24:10), was in the temple when an angel told him his wife Elizabeth would bear John (Luke 1:5-13). Elizabeth conceived in July and hid herself for five months till November (Luke 1:23-24).

In December, the sixth month of her conception, Angel Gabriel visited Mary (Luke 1:26,36). Mary visited Elizabeth in January and stayed three months (Luke 1:39,56). Elizabeth gave birth in April (Luke 1:57). 

Counting Mary's conception from January, when Elizabeth called her "mother of my Lord" (Luke 1:41-44), nine months leads to September, and the tenth month, October, for Christ's birth.

"We say only what we can prove - John 3:11. On what day he was born, we cannot tell because there is no record," he said.

He added that shepherds could not have watched flocks at night in December, a winter period of piercing cold in Palestine (Jeremiah 36:22, Zechariah 7:1, Luke 2:8), but could in October, a period of normal weather (1 Kings 8:2). He also argued that if Christ died in April after living 33 and a half years, his birth could not have been in December, which would place his death in June.

Also speaking, the Spiritual Adviser of GKS Ekpan Branch, Brother Samuel Nwaeke, queried the basis for the December 25th celebration.

"Where is the birth certificate of Jesus being born on December 25th?" he asked.

He maintained that while the exact date of Christ's birth is unknown, biblical evidence points to October.

Brother Nwaeke also cautioned against birthday celebrations, noting that only two birthdays are recorded in the Bible - those of Pharaoh and Herod - both associated with deaths.

"What is in the Bible? Yeah, it's birthday. Pharaoh's birthday, somebody died. Herod's birthday, John the Baptist's head was cut off. There's no other mention of birthday in the Bible than these two heinous incidents. So it's not something one should encourage. Let us have God. The few years God has given us, let's maximize them to the best of our ability to serve God and help our fellow men," he said.