Encomium
The 63rd annual convention of The Redeemed Christian Church of God, started on Monday, August 3, 2015 and ended on Sunday, August 9, 2015, at the Redemption Camp, Mowe, Ogun State. It surpassed expectations.
Prior to the convention, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye held ministers conference which entailed meetings and seminars with his pastors and ministers. It lasted between Thursday, July 30, 2015 and Sunday, August 2, 2015. At the conference, Pastor Adeboye opened up to his pastors on pressing issues in the church, charting the way forward.
Here are some of the highlights at the meetings and the convention.
CREATING OF NEW PROVINCES – Though creation of new provinces is usually done during conventions, Daddy G.O, as he is fondly called, said there will be a new dimension to it. He explained that there will be a delay to that to enable him pray over the recommendations made by concerned senior pastors. “Some of the provinces we created few years back are not performing as expected. So, I have asked those that are concerned to sign on each of their recommendations, I will take to my Father before it will be approved,” he said.
EARLY MORNING PRAYER – At the minister’s conference, Pastor Adeboye expressed his desire for all the parishes to begin early morning prayers in their various parishes. He told the ministers of a particular parish within the Redemption Camp which he had spied many times on his way out of the camp early in the morning that has always observed this since their inception every day without failing. Daddy GO encouraged the church to emulate this attitude and start early morning prayers in every parish at 5am.
NO MORE HONORARIUM – Pastor Adeboye also explained a shocking feedback that usually accompanied Let’s-Go-A-Fishing exercise (a form of evangelism during Easter and Christmas celebrations in the mission), whereby visiting pastors are mandated to be given money, food, petrol and gift items. According to him, “Don’t give any pastor money again”. Though, this was received with a resounding applause, he further told the council, “I don’t do anything without reason. What I only asked to be given is petrol to transport us back to the next Go-A-Fishing centre and small food to be eaten on the way.”
TREAT HOLY GHOST SERVICE AS TREASURE – According to the revered clergy, “This is the treasure that God has given to The Redeemed Christian Church of God, but you don’t even value it anymore. When God says there is someone here, God is not joking about it, you may not know when your time will come. God wants to bless you 12 times, you said three is enough. Go home and tell people we have this thing now, let’s make maximum use of it. A time will come when we will not have it again.
“I’m not going to die yet; before I go, God will make adequate arrangement. But let nobody deceive you, Isaac is not Abraham, Abraham is Abraham. When God was talking to Jacob He said ‘I am the God of your father, Abraham’. If at this period you still have me around and you are at home watching television, tell your people, it doesn’t matter to me I will do my duty. If outsiders are coming and receiving the miracle and you the owners are too big to come, half bread is better than none. What is wrong with you? Tell your people to come just one night to have an encounter with God.”
OVER 100 BUNDLES OF JOY – Counting the number of babies born during the convention as at Saturday, August 8, 2015, anointing service was 104. During the Holy Ghost Service on Friday as well, Pastor Adeboye called women who had been barren and now had their babies within the last one year to the altar for special thanksgiving and prayers. Astonishingly, the altar could not contain them.
20 SENIOR PASTORS RETIRED – Having attained the age of 60 in the service of the mission as full time pastor or staffer, you will be relieved of active service. This led to the retirement of 20 senior pastors of the church.
OVER 9,000 DEACONS AND DEACONESS ORDAINED – The ordinations of deacons and deaconesses kicked off the 63rd annual convention of RCCG on Monday, August 3, 2015, with over 9,000 participating in the exercise. Daddy GO presided over this assignment assisted by some senior pastors who did the laying of hands.
2,607 ASSISTANT PASTORS – Second ordination was on Tuesday, August 4, 2015, for the Assistant Pastors. This saw 2,607 participants anointed by senior pastors and prayed for by Pastor Adeboye.
GRADUATION OF OVER 6,000 STUDENTS – On Wednesday, August 5, the mission graduated over 6,000 students of Redeemed Bible College. The graduating students passed out in different programmes – Certificate, Diploma, Bachelor of Arts and Ph.D which had only one student.
1,800 PASTORS ORDAINED – 1,800 pastors were ordained on Sunday, August 9, 2015, at the new 3km by 3km auditorium. According to the General Overseer, this is a highest position anyone can attain in the mission.
YOUTH CENTRE OVERFLOW – The Youth Centre where the youth had their programme during the convention was over-crowded as well as the marquee. Pastor Leke Adeboye together with other youth pastors presided over the youth and the Pastor’s Seed during the convention.
RCCG RADIO 104.1 AND 107.9 – The Redeemed Christian Church of God now has a radio station, broadcasting from two frequencies and transmitting within the Redemption Camp, Mowe and environs. They are RCCG Radio 104.1 FM and RCCG Radio 107.9 FM. This is one of the new developments by the mission to reach more audience within and outside the camp.
NEW 3KM BY 3KM AUDITORIUM NOT READY – Contrary to the plan by the church to use the new 3 kilometer by 3 kilometer auditorium during the convention, the facilities could not be used. According to Pastor Adeboye, “You may be wondering why we could not use the new auditorium, there is no money. I don’t know how to do finebara, but your N1,000 can do something. Please, kindly support the project so that we can use it in December.
POLITICOS, ARTISTES ALSO CAME – Prof. Yemi Oshibajo, the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who is also a pastor in the mission, was in attendance, accompanied by Dr. Samuel Ortom, the governor of Benue State. Also spotted during the convention was Nollywood actress, Opeyemi Ayeola; soul singer, Obiwon, etc.
-JOSHUA SHOBIYE
