DAY 3: RCCG convention

By SAM EYOBOKA &OLAYINKA LATONA
THE official opening of the  60th annual convention of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, took place Tuesday evening with a superlative callisthenic display by a multitude of children drawn from across the country. The theme of the week-long programme is “Come Up Higher.”

The welcome service which started at 8.30 p.m. featured a performance by a group of uniformed elders known as the Redemption Chaplaincy International. They rendered the Nigerian National Anthem and a classic titled Ancient of Days in an excellent manner that would make the original composer, Ron Kenoly, grin with envy.

Crowd of worshippers

The crowd of worshippers rose in salutation when the children were ushered into the empty space in front of the altar from different parts of the auditorium for the flag parade as the kids carried the flags of more than 150 countries where the church has a presence.

Cross sections of participants in a special seminar tagged From Glory to Glory anchored by Rev El-Samaila

Christ the Redeemer’s Band supplied the medley music while the young lads dressed in different colours danced around the parade ground, showcased their versatility in callisthenic display forming all manner of shapes depicting the celebration mood of the church at this particular moment.

After the performance by the children, the matriarch of the mission, Pastor (Mrs.) Folu Adeboye announced the presentation of a giant plaque showing the logo of the church celebrating its 60th anniversary – RCCG @ 60. Six thousand balloons were also released to mark the 60th anniversary of the church

When the General Overseer of the church, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, was ushered to the altar by the sax wizard, Pastor Kunle Ajayi, at 10.50 p.m., he particularly acknowledged the young lad that portrayed the G.O. in a drama sketch, saying “we have to meet later after the programme.”

Acknowledging the wonderful performance of the children, the G.O., said this year’s convention would go down in history as one convention that participants would never forget for the rest of their lives. He preached a short sermon entitled “Out of the miry clay”, and outlined seven pathways in the Christian race.

They include: Gathering, Salvation, Sanctification, Holy Ghost baptism, Gifts of the Holy Spirit, Fruits of the Spirit and perfection, pointing out that many Christians today very often displayed un-Christianly characters which are not fit for the Kingdom.

He, therefore, warned that the teachings during this year’s convention may not be palatable to many but he had been instructed by God to call people to come up higher, noting that nobody can come up to higher ground without being set apart for the King’s use.

Adeboye also warned ministers of the gospel who have perfected the art of merchandising the gifts of the Holy Spirit, saying that people must wary of those who teach people to speak in tongues, noting that spiritual gifts only come from God and not taught.

“When you become truly born again, the power comes and you begin to speak in tongues. I am talking of the tongues that comes from Him and not the one the pastor teaches you…Don’t mind those who are pretending to be operating under the power of God and their behaviour is not portraying Christ. If you want the real power of God, you must be sanctified.”

7,600 graduate from Redeemed Bible College

TWO staff of Vanguard Media Limited were among the 7,600 persons who graduated from the Christ the Redeemer’s Bible College, CRBC, yesterday, as part of the ongoing 60th annual convention of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG.

They are Brothers Ben Okpere and Nicholas Esekhile both of whom collected their scrolls alongside the multitude of graduands at the ceremony.

The graduands, made up of men and women, are drawn from different parishes of the church all over the nation and in neighbouring countries including Benin Republic and other West African nations.

They are in two different categories: post graduate diploma and ordinary diploma.

The General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, prayed for them while his wife and other senior officials of the church distributed the certificates to the graduands.

Principal of the Redeemed Christian Bible College, RCBC, Pastor J.A. Bolarinwa in a 10-paragraph speech to the graduands outlined the vision of the college which included the expansion of the kingdom of God on earth, noting that that testimony of King David in Psalm 34:1-3 succinctly describe “our experience in the college this year.”

Free transportation for participants

THE Transport and Mechanical Department of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, yesterday, offered free transportation for people attending the 60th annual convention at the Redemption Camp.

A statement by the department urged persons coming to the camp within this period to take advantage of the buses stationed at different parts of Lagos and other surrounding towns to reduce the number of cars coming into the camp.

Also speaking on the traffic situation in the camp, the Camp manager, Pastor A.F. Elufowoju, urged participants who were yet to come to the camp, to park their cars in Lagos and take a ride in any of the official buses, stressing that facilities at the camp were already overstretched.

More babies arrive

ADDITIONAL 13 children were delivered at the Redemption Camp, Tuesday. The new arrivals include nine boys and four girls. This brings to 31 the number of babies delivered during the convention.

According to the nurses in charge of the Redeemer’s Maternity, 10 babies were born during the three days of the church’s ministers conference, adding that all the babies and their mothers are doing well even as some have already been discharged.