This is contained in a statement by the Rhapsody of Realities Department, Loveworld Incorporated and  on Sunday in Abuja.

It noted that the extravaganza was to celebrate efforts  made by the church in  fulfilling Jesus’ mandate of spreading the gospel to every part of the world.

Speaking at his teaching programme tagged:  “YourLoveworld”, which held on Tuesday, Pastor Chris said the work of world evangelism had been passed on, uncompleted.

“From one generation to another, the work of world evangelisation has been passed on uncompleted, but for the first time in history, we have the chance to take the gospel to the whole world.

“This is the first time that the church has had such an extraordinary opportunity to finish this work which was started long ago by the Lord Jesus Christ himself and commissioned to his apostles, and now to us through the generations.

“For the first time, the Gospel of Jesus is being preached in all the world’s known languages through Rhapsody of Realities. The blind and deaf are not left out; everyone has an opportunity.”

He said this was why the church organised the  ReachOut World Extravaganza.

“So you get to know what we are doing and how you can be a part of it. This is the most significant opportunity the church has had in about 2000 years, and we cannot miss or blow it. We must finish the work.”

He also said the department had rhapsody for children and teenagers, and those who were visually impaired.

“We have the Braille version, which is also available in hundreds of languages.”

According to the statement, the ReachOut Extravaganza is for all Christians, and Christian organisations interested in taking the gospel around the world, and it will hold online at www.reachoutworld.org on the aforementioned dates.

The post Chris Oyakhilome to host global event to showcase devotional spread globally appeared first on New Mail Nigeria.

While lifting the ban on religious centres, the presidential task force on COVID-19 had limited the duration of services in churches and mosques to one hour at a time.

Boss Mustapha, secretary to the government of the federation and head of the task force, had explained that the decision was taken for safety purposes.

But in a broadcast to members of his church, Oyakhilome expressed disgust at the directive, saying the government had no such right.

He said the number of hours they were imposing on churches was what they had left in the world. “I am appalled that some people have the audacity to tell us how many hours we can spend in church. How dare you?” he asked.

“What in the world do you think you are? You cannot tell God’s people how long they can spend in church. If you built the building for them and you are saying you are not going to let them enter the building, maybe because you built it.

“But if you didn’t, you have no right to tell God’s people you’re going to spend one hour or two hours in church. I tell you, the number of hours you tell them they have in the church is the number of hours you have left.”

In May, Oyakhilome had kicked against shutting of churches over the pandemic, saying they ought to be opened for healing.

The post Oyakhilome tackles FG for limiting duration of services over COVID-19 appeared first on New Mail Nigeria.

Like mosques, churches have remained closed in several states across the country for weeks as part of measures to combat spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

But according to The Sun, CAN had last Thursday said it released a 10-point guideline to be presented to the federal government for approval.

Samson Ayokunle, CAN president, said the guidelines, drafted in compliance with the government’s efforts to tackle the COVID-19, would determine the operations of churches when they reopen.

The guidelines, among others, propose that churches should strictly observe social distancing during services.

“Every worshipper must wear face mask. Social distancing should be observed in the sitting arrangement with one meter gap between two worshippers. One and a half hour service is enough for a start. There should be a gap of 25 or 30 minutes between one service and another where there are multiple services to avoid crowd,” Ayokunle had said.

In his reaction, Okotie, in a statement on Sunday, wondered why CAN would allow the coronavirus pandemic to determine the scope of worship in churches.

“Greetings. I am Rev Chris Okotie. I called earlier to discuss a report in today’s Sun Newspaper in which CAN recommended guide lines for the Opening of Churches. Social distancing in the Church of Jesus Christ is tantamount to blasphemous infidelity and an impeachment of the integrity of the word of God,” he said.

The clergyman said such directives undermine the divine healing characteristic for which the church is known for.

He went on to call on CAN to reconsider its position, adding that no true minister of God would support such initiative.

“Healing is fundamental to the redemptive work of Jesus. To allow the idol of coronavirus to determine the scope of congregational worship in the house of God is an abomination of gargantuan proportions,” he said.

“No true minister of the gospel will succumb to such travesty of the faith. This is a summary of my objections. I have sent this message hoping that you would respond as one who bears the burden of the cross of Jesus.

“I have restrained myself from making a public outcry of this desecration and profanation out of respect for you and the CAN hierarchy. But be assured that this position is transient.”

Okotie’s statement comes about three weeks after David Oyedepo, the presiding bishop of Living Faith Worldwide, declared that anyone against the rise of the church will die.

Chris Oyakhilome, founder of LoveWorld Incorporated, had also scolded pastors for shutting down their churches in compliance with the federal government’s ban on religious gatherings.

The post ‘Social distancing in church is like blasphemous infidelity’ – Okotie disagrees with CAN appeared first on New Mail Nigeria.

The clergyman, while addressing his congregation in a viral telecast, said such religious leaders should have demanded that the government give them ample time to consult God and pray with their members before taking any decision.

According to him, by complying with the government’s ban on religious gatherings, such clerics have inadvertently shut their doors against those who are infected with COVID-19.

“COVID-19 compliant churches will mean churches that people who are infected with COVID-19 cannot come there. If you allow your church to be that labelled, it is not the church of Jesus Christ,” he said.

“Is the church of Jesus Christ not a place of healing? So, those of you who love to run around government officials to get your validation, come and get COVID-19 compliant registration for your church. That is the last day Jesus will be in that church. But that is coming.

“In different cities, ministers of God gathered together and shut down the congregations of the Lord. How many said, let us pray; give us time to pray? They consulted you; they consulted you in different nations and states. How many of you said, let us pray? Instead, you said oh yes.

“Because they said there would be compensation for the period of the lockdown. What compensation can be enough to replace the praise and worship of the congregation? I hope you have enjoyed the time so far, only you in the cathedral did online transmission. Hope you enjoyed it so far? But thank you very much for what you did to the House of God.”

The cleric also expressed reservations with the procedures through which people are tested for the virus as well as the search for a vaccine for the disease across the globe.

“What they are using to test, do you know what it is? Do you know why it can show positive and negative? Do you know? A virus they told us they are still studying, why don’t they study it first? They are still studying it and they already have a vaccine that could be ready in July for a virus they are still studying,” he added.

Oyakhilome had made headlines in April after claiming that the introduction of 5G technology was responsible for the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic — a claim without any scientific backing.

He subsequently said he was not opposed to the 5G technology but only concerned about its perceived health risks.

The post Oyakhilome tackles pastors for closing churches over COVID-19, says ‘Is it not a place of healing?’ appeared first on New Mail Nigeria.