All hotels and hostels in adjoining communities around the Redemption Camp of the Redeemed Church of God on Lagos-Ibadan Express-way have been fully booked for the next one week as thousands of Christian worshippers have started arriving the ever expand-ing City for the church’s 63rd annual convention which opens tomorrow with the ordination of deacons and deaconesses.
The programme is preceded by a 4-day Ministers’ Conference which began on Thursday and ends today.
The one week spiritual fiesta scheduled to hold at two locat-ions within the Redemption City has as its theme; “The All Sufficient God.” A statement by the church’s head of Media and Publicity, Pastor Segun Adegbiji said the convention will hold at two Arenas—the new three-kilometre by three-kilometre Arena on Simawa Road and the outgoing one and half kilometre by one kilometre Arena.
The statement which noted that the new arena, still under con-struction, is billed to host plenary sessions of a few evenings, advis-ed those who have not already secured accommodation within the camp to make alternative arrangements in the neighboring communities of Simawa, Lotto, Loburo and Ofada.
Established in 1952 in a suburb of Lagos by late Rev. Josiah Akindayomi, the RCCG is expecting delegates from, at least, 188 nations of the world in addition to local and foreign gospel ministers who will join the General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye to minister during the programme.
As at the last count, the church once described as a ‘homegrown Pentecostal denomination that is crusading to become a global faith’ has 24 regions in Nigeria and another 24 in foreign nations comprising Mainland Europe with three regions with head-quarters in Holland, Spain and Sweden. UK has four regions in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland while the USA has five regions. Asia/Middle East has two among others.
Stressing the significance of the convention at a recent Holy Ghost service, the General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye said the annual spiritual fiesta is designed for those who are serious and desire a great encounter with the all sufficient God and want to see Him in action.
Addressing participants at the July Holy Ghost Service on Friday, July 3, 2015, Pastor Adeboye said the theme of this year’s convention alone “is enough to tell you that if you come to the convention, there’s nothing you want from God that you won’t get.
“But then, like I’ve always told you, the church’s convention is not for just anyone. It is for those who mean serious business with God. So if you know you are just com-ing to chat or while away time, please stay away. Only those who want to do serious business with God are welcome,” he stressed.
According to the General Over-seer, despite efforts by the church to provide adequate accommod-ation for participants during major programmes at the camp, “we still have accommodation problem. So if you are not coming for serious business, stay home so that those who are serious will be able to have a wonderful time in the presence of God.”
He then urged his listeners to pass the message to their friends that “they are welcome provided they are coming for serious business with God, otherwise have a nice time at home, they will hear the testimonies.
“This year’s convention is going to be absolutely awesome. You can’t talk about the All Sufficient God and go away empty. It’s not possible. This year’s convention is absolutely going to be heaven on earth,” he stated.
Briefing newsmen a few days after, the church’s Head of Media and Public Relations, Pastor Adegbiji said Pastor Adeboye will be joined by other anointed guest speakers from home and abroad.
According to him, RCCG Mass Choir, RCCG Praise Team and guest music ministers will render refreshing and edifying gospel music during the convention, assuring that there will be adequate security to be provided by detachments from the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC and Redeemer’s volunteers.
“There will also be aerial monitoring,” he said, pointing out that the church had perfected plans to ease traffic on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway during the programme.
He faulted claims in certain quarters that the church is res-ponsible for the incessant traffic gridlock on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, maintaining that such traffic is often caused by bad patches on the road.
Adegbiji further stressed that the church’s activities have rather prevented traffic on the road instead of the claim that they are responsible.
According to him: “Our activities do not take place by the road. In fact, the new arena where the forthcoming convention will be held is on Simawa Road and the outgoing arena is far into the village. It has a capacity of 12 million people and as much as possible, we want to avoid using the expressway for our transp-ortation.”
He maintained that the church, over the years, had created sufficient parking lots within the camp for the use of the ever-growing number of participants.
Pastor Adegbiji also noted that because of the church’s in-dependent power and water system which supplies uninter-rupted water and power in the camp, residents of Mowe/Ibafo had written to the church to provide electricity for the community.
“They think we are government. If we can afford it, we will do it. We build and repair roads all around,” he said, noting that RCCG Turbine has recently been upgraded for the purpose of participants at the church activities,” he said
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