N.K.S.T. Church is one of the oldest churches in Benue State. The acronym “NKST”stands for Nongo u Kristu u i Ser u sha Tar, translated in English: The Universal Reformed Christian Church. The acronym, from 1957 to June 2012 stood for Nongo u Kristu u ken Sudan hen Tiv, translated in English: The Church of Christ in the Sudan among the Tiv, which was the name given to the young indigenous Church by their founders, the Sudan United Mission. The new name (Universal Reformed Christian Church) was suggested by members of the Church and adopted by the NKST Synod of July, 2012. The Church is a Christian Reformed Church based in Nigeria. The church has its headquarters at Mkar-Gboko in Benue State but has spread all over Nigeria, and even beyond. The members are predominantly the Tiv speaking tribe but other tribes in Nigeria belong to this church.

It was first introduced in Sai on 17th April, 1911 a village in Katsina Ala local government area of Benue state, Nigeria. 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 then Gongola and Benue Province. The Dutch Reformed Missionaries on their arrival, came with four Boxes in them contains: Bibles which was meant for Evangelism, the second box contained medicine which was meant for health, while the third box contained books meant for education and the fourth one contained fruits and implements for agriculture, work and technology. 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 Church of North America, a branch related to NKST, gave it strong support until about 1985. In 1957 the church was formally organized as an autonomous, self-supporting, and self-propagating church with first four indigenous (Nigerian) pastors. A full translation of the Bible into Tiv was completed and dedicated on 4th November 1964. The church also has a synod that meets twice in a year.

Thus commencing from Saai in the now Katsina Ala in Local government Area, they established Churches throughout the Tiv land. They also established hospitals at Sai in Katsinal Ala, Zaki-Biam, Ukum local government; Mkar, Gboko Local Government; Apir, Makurdi Local Government; Adikpo, Kwande Local Government; Garagboghol, Buruku Local Government and several Dispensaries throughout the Tiv area.

In the area of Agriculture, the Dutch Reformed Church Mission established several orchards and other farm lands wherever they settled.

The Mission’s tremendous love for functional education has throughout its history been clearly demonstrated. As if they had decree No. 16 of august, 1985 and Decree No. 9 of 1993 in mind, they established kindergarten, primary, Secondary schools and Teacher Training Schools throughout the areas of their activities. The Church has identified several problems militating against the effective development and sustenance of quality education and do hereby give the mandate to the education department to evolved solution-strategies to tackle the problems.