By OLAYINKA LATONA

Saturday, August 13 is a day the people of Igbesa in Ogun State and its environs will not forget in a jiffy as hundreds of people including royal fathers from within and outside the state trooped into The Apostolic Faith Campground to witness this year’s camp meeting concert by the church choir and orchestra.

The church building which is still under construction was completely filled to capacity and several hundreds of people had to make do with any available space outside the auditorium where they watched proceedings from several television screens. The concert, one of the highlights of the 3-week yearly camp meeting convention of the church, featured the largest symphony orchestra in Africa, a 1,500-man choir and orchestra who are all members of the Apostolic Faith.

It was amazing as the aged, the physically-challenged as well as the young men and women sang in honour of God during the Apostolic Faith national choir and orchestra concert. Theme of the programme was: “Coming soon the marriage supper of the Lamb with the carriage prepare to meet thy God”.

The choir, all clad in dark suits and white shirts for men and white blouse atop dark skirt for women, entertained guests with several soul-searching inspirational rhythms and local renditions to the glory of the soon coming King. The choristers rendered their songs in a subtle, enjoyable fashion.

Unlike many other church-es where the congregation have the liberty to, either clap or shout halleluiah to such great rendition, church members only chorus Amen at the end of each song. Some visitors who were carried away by the performance and attempted to applaud, were subtlely cautioned not to clap because it was not part of the church practice.

Some of the classical renditions performed by the orchestra included; Kyrie Elesion by W.A Mozart, O Yes He’s Everything To Me, quartet for flute and strings in D major, Hark The Echoing Air by Henry Purcell, Oh, Had I Jubal’s Lyre by G.F Handel Millionaire Hoedown/songs of praise by J. Monti. Others were When God dips His pen of Love, Turn your radio on. Believing that Nigeria will soon be taken over by the End Time revival, the director of worship, Prof. Kayode Oje led the choir into a song titled; “Blessed is the nation whose God is thy God.”

In his address, the district superintendent of the Apostolic Faith, West and Central Africa, Rev. Emmanuel Adeniran described the concert as an offering to the great God of heaven, pointing out that the musical concert is a sacred entertainment and spiritual event that will touch and change lives of people towards their God.

Speaking on the state of the nation, Rev. Adeniran advised Nigerians to live a Godly life and also shun corruption, stressing that godliness is profitable in every country and that only righteousness can exalt a nation.