Barely a week ago, the expansive Tafawa Balewa Square tucked in the heart of Lagos Island witnessed massive influx of members of the white garment churches, as they converged to celebrate the comforter. Meanwhile, the programme has come and gone, but not only has it left a memory that will linger on, but it has also made a historic statement which projects the divine potentials of the white garment churches which comprised the Cherubim and Seraphim Church and the Celestial Church of Christ.
Put up by renowned evangelist and philanthropist, Reverend Mother Esther Ajayi, this year’s edition happens to be the third in its series.
In what turned out a successful outing, despite being the first in Nigeria, Acts Of Seraphs hereby seeks to highlight 7 takeaways from the event which reverberates the state of aquatic splendor and, as such, commands the attention of a good percentage of seraphs and non seraphs from across the the globe, as they watched via various mediums. Here are the highlights:
MOBILIZATION: Indeed, right from the word go, almost every member of C&S and CCC who got wind of Celebrate The Comforter to be held in Nigeria became receptive to it. This was a proof that the wind of change blowing across the white garment churches, much of which is engendered by Mother Esther Ajayi was not only contagious but also had scores of members of the fold who are willing to be a party to the paradigm shift. This became more evident when the rally and publicity kick-started. A sizeable number of them turned out in large numbers. It does not require one to discern, as it was obvious that some went as far as taking it upon themselves by deploying logistics to publicize the event. This is not to say because they anticipated a reward of their effort from anyone, but for the fact that they take pride in their heritage – the white garment fold.
THE TURNOUT: This was indeed massive and historic. It is also an incontestable fact that there has never been a gathering that comprised the two denominations, yet of such magnitude. All one could see at the Tafawa Balewa Square was sea of heads. The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, upon mounting the podium, was dazed at what he saw from such position. Governor Babajide Sanwoolu of Lagos state could not but bare his mind on what he as well saw thus thanking the convener for considering Lagos for the event. This was an event that drew attendees from far and near. Prior to the day, the convener exuded a certain level of confidence in her God that the venue would be filled to the brim. The rest is history. To have achieved that, she had certainly left no one in doubt of her seemingly inimitable capacity to do much more.
THE AGED ONES DEFIED ALL ODDS: So much that the youths and adults in the two folds joined efforts with the convener to ensure the event was successful, they however ended up struggling for space with the aged ones at the event. What seem significant here is the fact that the latter could have decided to stay back home and not bother themselves considering their faint energy which may have much to contend with amidst a surging crowd, but they showed up at the programme, against all odds. To the discerning, it is safe to conclude that, beyond just attending the programme, they may have registered their presence in fulfillment of a long time dream of being an eye witness of the new developments currently taking shape in the white garment fold. Some of them could be seen being held by the hand to the event.
ALL DEPARTMENT UP TO THE TASK: From the security to the ushers, without exception to logistics, these three departments assigned to undertake one task or the other, without having to state the obvious, were indeed up and doing. The proof of the pudding, they say, is in the eating; so was their effort evident in the outcome of the event. It was, though, a function of proper planning that meets commitment. This is not to leave out the health officials who resuscitated a handful of attendees who craved their attention. The security were also seen manning strategic locations across the venue. This notwithstanding their utmost sense of intelligence at the stop and search entry point. As for the logistics, they indeed had much up their sleeves, but they sure lived up to expectations.
COMMENDATIONS ACROSS BOARD: Truly, one does not need to keep ears to the ground in a bid to ascertain the coterie of feedbacks about the programme. Even before the programme rounded off, reactions became rife of how the programme had kept many people awake as they watched from their respective abode. To say the reactions and feedback were from Seraphs and Celestials can only be an understatement. To also say they were from Christians alone is as good as not being predisposed to the deluge of reactions that followed. Without being immodest and to succinctly put, the programme spurred feedback that cuts across religious and ethnic lines. One of our Elders who works with The Sun newspapers while giving his own account said his boss, who is of the Igbo ethnic stock, got confined to his chair as channels TV switched to the live broadcast of the programme shortly after their news broadcast at 10pm. He was said to have stayed awake all through the night. Members of our sister religion were equally not left out according to information gathered, afterwards. Some went as far as pouring out their mind in awe of the nature of the event via social media platforms. What forms the fulcrum of the submissions was that they least expect the fold could put up an event of such magnitude, just as they appraised the efforts of Mother Esther Ajayi for such initiative.
PROSCRIPTION OF ALCOHOL: In what is known to be their stock in trade, those who make brisk business in sales of alcohol are usually unmindful of the nature of the environment they ply their trade, so far it somewhat thrives. Just like a sociologist will explore his profession so far people exist where he is, so is the case of the alcohol vendors, they will always find their customers, the kind of gathering regardless. At worst, they attract their ilks who will trace them to their location to patronise them. But to the amazement of many and a historic move at that, Reverend Mother Esther Ajayi declared them proscribed at the venue of the programme. Of course, quite a number of them who had the intention were disappointed by the declaration, even as Iya Adura didn’t stop at the proscription alone but went ahead to ensure it was enforced. For that, they became a persona-non-grata at such religious gathering. Safe to, however, say that some of them may have had to switch to selling puff- puff, eventually. But it is also worthy of note that such pronouncement generated a lot of applauds and commendations; and not only would this be replicated elsewhere in the fold, but also serve as a statement that the change we profess is not business as usual.
THE ELDERS SHOW SUPPORT: The elders of both the C&S and Celestial churches threw their weight behind the convener. The presence of Supreme Heads of C&S and CCC lends credence to the fact that the authorities of the churches are solidly behind Iya Adura as Mother Esther Ajayi is otherwise called. The leaders prior to the event led and canvassed in large numbers, their followers, to be part of the event. Their presence also speaks volumes. Other Baba Aladuras in the C&S church were equally present to be part of such historic event. But for their support, the combined choir from both sides may not have been that realistic, particularly at such enviable level.
Seraph Dayo Oyewo. A Journalist/Social Entrepreneur. He loves meeting new people. Favourite Hymn: Ji Okan mi dide layo
