•He remains our spiritual father — Members

24  hours after the Supreme Court  upheld  death sentence on Rev Chukwue­ meka Ezeugo, a.k.a. Rev King, members of his Christian Pray­ ing Assembly (CPA) in Ajao Estate,  Lagos, yesterday, were making preparations to celebrate the convicted pastor’s birthday today in their service.

Choir practice was ongoing while our correspondent visited. Members were indifferent about the judgement of the Supreme Court which ordered their bearded founder to be executed by hanging  for murder.

Rev King

During a visit to the church, it was observed that the Anambra State-born pastor still commands respect and loyalty from his church  members as normal activities went on. Majority of the men wore beard  and had clean-shaven heads just like their founder.

Some of the members were seen in groups chatting in subdued tones and carried on as if nothing had happened to the founder of the church while choir members were having their usual  Saturday  preparatory practice inside the church hall.

One of the men, who volunteered information outside the church premises, was stopped as a hunky youth interjected, asking the reporter to call one Pastor Ifeanyi who was in a better position to speak on behalf of the church leadership. “If you have an appointment with any man of God here, call him instead of staying here or you come back to see him, just go now,” he said angrily.

Some of the church members also refused to make comments on the Supreme Court judgement but they maintained that the church was making progress despite what they perceived as many trials of faith, adding that such trials will take the church to its next glory. According to some members, worshippers did not miss any of the church’s weekly services “where signs and wonders abound”.