By SAM EYOBOKA & Olayinka Latona
A MULTITITUDE of men and women drawn from different parts of the world were ordained as deacons and deaconesses to mark the beginning of the 59th National Convention of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG on Monday.

The event which was supervised by the General Overseer of the church, Pastor Enoch Adeboye too place at the Redemption Camp along Kilometre 46, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

As early as 7.00 a.m., the mass choir had already taken its stand to minister in praise and worship session while a mammoth crowd of candidates and their relations responded in ecstasy as they sang along to the choral rhythms. They danced on enthusiastically until 7.55 a.m. when one of the very senior pastors of the church mounted the pulpit to take the opening prayers.

Shortly after, the General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye dressed in a Navy blue French suit and, a white shirt with a bow tie to match, took the microphone to begin a special worship session preceding the ordination.

Acknowledging the huge crowd of ordainees, Pastor Adeboye detailed his Special Assistants to do the yeoman’s job of laying hands on the new deacons and deaconesses to mark the 59th national convention.

The General Overseer had to make the public proclamation, saying “We ordain you all as deacons and deaconesses in the Redeemed Christian Church of God, in the name of God the Father, the name of God the Son and the name of God the Hoy Spirit. The Almighty God will overshadow you and the Holy Spirit will back you in such a way that anything you bind here on earth will be bound in Heaven…”
And there was an echo of AMEN! by the huge crowd.

Today there will be four sessions in the morning, afternoon and evening as many potential assistant pastors will be ordained at 8.30 a.m. while in the afternoon, Children of God will meet.

The main attraction of Day 2 of the convention will be the Welcome Service, also known as Plenary Session 1 at 8.30 p.m. which will be preceded by six Group seminars at 4.30 p.m..

The General Overseer, Pastor Adeboye will be ministering along with other ministers.

Food vendors make brisk business

THOUGH participants at the ongoing 59th national convention of the Redeemed Christian Church of God are being fed free of charge, food vendors are making brisk business. The vendors had pitched their tent outside the camp long before the commencement of proceedings yesterday.

Several women from Lagos, Abeokuta, Sagamu and the adjoining towns had secured advantageous positons opposite the main gate of the Redemption Camp where they sell solid African dishes, fast foods including the popular bean cake, posh posh and all manner of eatables. Some are being helped by their holidaying children who do all the runs including going to fetch water from the neighbourhood.

They also display all shades of soft drinks, water as well as  biscuits for commercial drivers and people who are, either not patient to tale advantage of the official meals or are searching for special dishes.

There are also numerous traders who had travelled from far and near to market books, bibles, jotters, tamborenes and other relevant religious materials and the way people are trooping in during intervals, one can surmise that the traders are making brisk business.

GROUP SEMINARS (4.30 – 6.30 p.m.)

1.    Youth One: We are bound for the top
2.    Youth Two: A family of high flyers
3.    Elders: A Glorious Exit
4.    Teen & Twenties: See you on the             mountain top
5.    Primary & JSS: Spiritual Eaglets
6.    Good Women Forum: Glorious             Eagles.