nigeria 2015 rccg holy ghost congress news

NIGERIA 2015 RCCG HOLY GHOST CONGRESS NEWS After a brief pit stop at our home in the UK, we set out for the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Holy Ghost Congress in Lagos, Nigeria. It is an annual event that we attend every December. ALMOST DEPORTED The departures side of immigration When we arrived at the airport in Lagos. We were left waiting for a long time at immigration and nobody seemed to be able to tell us why. After waiting for almost two hours we were told by an immigration official that the Visas that we had were no longer valid as there had been a policy change and that they were working on a solution. We finally were allowed to collect our luggage in the arrivals hall but were kept waiting, as the Visa issue was unresolved. We were asked to follow some immigration officials with our luggage and it looked as if we were heading out of the airport and into the arrivals hall. In front of the doors to the arrival hall, there was an almighty argument about what was going to happen to us. One set of immigration officials wanted to let us go and another set said that we should be sent back to England. Immigration Officials arguing our fate in front of the arrivals hall BACK TO DEPARTURES We followed the immigration officials with our baggage and it was made clear to us that we were going back to departures to check-­‐in, with a view to going back to England. We couldn’t believe what was happening! Our Visas had been issued the previous year and were still valid. We waited around in departures close the British Airways check-­‐in and it was suggested that we check our luggage in which we made no move to do. Phone calls were being made to the sons of Pastor Adeboye, the General Overseer of RCCG (affectionately known as Daddy G.O.) to see if they could help to resolve the situation. A friend of one of the sons, Shino, had gone to the airport to sort out some personal business, however he met us at British Airways check-­‐in and he made calls on our behalf and did everything he could to assist. Another gentleman, who happened to be at the airport to see his daughter off saw us and asked our protocol officers (those who were there to assist us and transport us to the RCCG Camp) what was going on. It turned out that he was a close friend of the Vice-­‐President (a Redeemed Pastor) and he called the Office of the Assistant of the Vice President for them to remedy the situation. We were made to sit on the departures side of immigration and were told that we were not being detained and that due process was being followed however, we were not free to move. Just minutes before we were going to be forced to check-­‐in, a call was received by the immigration officers, who in turn had heard from the Head of Immigration at the airport, who in turn had heard from the Head of Immigration for Nigeria, who in turn had heard from the office of the Vice-­‐President that we needed to be released. Praise God! We were released on the condition that we buy new Visas at the Visas on arrival Office. Shino, the friend of Daddy G.O.’s sons paid for the Visas on our behalf. Six hours after our arrival, we were free to enter Nigeria. CONGRESS It was an honour to attend and participate in the annual Holy Ghost Congress. With well over 2 million people in attendance, gathered for 6 days to honour the King of Kings. The theme of this year’s congress was ‘The Floodgates of Heaven’. Pastor John wrote the theme song of the same name, which you can listen to by clicking the link below: https://soundcloud.com/vinesong/the-­‐floodgates-­‐of-­‐heaven It was a fantastic faith building congress and the atmosphere there was indescribable. The current auditorium, which it is estimated can hold 3 million people has become too small for the annual Convention in August so a new auditorium has been built that is 3km2 . This year it was decided that the Saturday night of the Congress would take place there. Usually Friday nights are the biggest, but on the Saturday night, we couldn’t believe our eyes, there were so many people, that the areas and chairs that they had prepared for attendees were full. Photo selection. The pictures in which the ladies are wearing red & gold were taken on stage at the new auditorium The Auditorium. Top Left: Pastor’s meet to pray before the meeting; Top right and bottom left: The choir stalls now hold 5,000. Bottom right: Part of the new stage; picture above stage: one side of the prayer foyer where the Pastors meet to pray before each meeting. THE FLOODGATES OF PRAISE On Saturday morning in the old auditorium, Pastor John took a session on ‘The floodgates of praise’. The worship and the teaching made way for such an intimate time with the Lord and thousands upon thousands responded to the message and descended on the altar. A sea of people responding to the teaching PRAYER AND THANKSGIVING •
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Thank God that we were not deported and that God provided for us
Thank God for the men He sent to assist us at the airport and their
generosity. May God bless and keep them as they live for Him.
Thank God for the opportunity to see big dreams and visions in action so
that we can take the limits off our limitless God
Thank God for the lives that were changed through our ministry at the
Congress
Thank God that we arrived safely in Nigeria and returned safely home to
the UK
Thank God for all the people who came to know Jesus throughout the
Congress and for all whose faith in God has been restored
Pray that the dream and vision of the RCCG Church would cause us all to
dream big dreams for God and see them put into action
Pray that we would seek God’s face and see Him move on our behalf