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Dayo Emmanuel
Everyone say yeah yeah! Everyone say Jesus! This line reverberated across the Afrika Shrine when Pastor Itua Ighodalo mounted the stage as guest speaker at the outreach program tagged: Encounter @ The Shrine at the weekend.
The event, organised by Christian group, GiG Time Expressions, aimed at ministering the love of Jesus Christ to souls at the Afrika Shrine, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos. Accessible
Charismatic Ighodalo and pastor of Trinity House, held the crowd who had enjoyed several performances through the night with the awesomeness of the gospel of Jesus.
Thanking participants for turning up and their patience at the show, Ighodalo said, “What transforms a man’s life is an encounter, what brings you from zero to hero is an encounter.”
He also took the crowd through a simple but powerful message. “How do you get an encounter with the mighty Jesus?” He asked. Providing answer to the rhetoric, he said, “Number one, if you are doing a thing not good, you need to stop it, secondly, you need to decide to follow Jesus. I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back.”
Continuing, he said about himself, “I did a lot of things in my life, the best thing is to follow Jesus.”
He prayed specially for those who decided after his brief message to follow Jesus. The entire hall responded to Ighodalo’s prayers echoing along as he prayed for a divine encounter for the participants. About 50 of over 100 souls who had responded to the prayers from the crowd took the bold step to the stage while he touched and prayed with them individually.
Pastor of the unlimited Waters Ministry, Pastor Ladi Thompson, later mounted the stage to minister in songs. Thompson particularly appreciated the Ransome-Kuti family for their contribution to Nigeria. He also prayed for the family before ministering in a highlife gospel song.
Earlier in the night, Sammie Okposo had electrified the audience with a brilliant performance. Saxophonist, Mike Aremu also at the event, ministered in the anointing as well as Mike Abdul of the Midnight Crew fame, who took the crowd through a session of high praise and worship.
In a release earlier signed by Oladiran Olajoyegbe, on behalf of the organisers and made available to Newsscreen, “The event is an unprecedented full blown gospel outreach at the shrine, and by the grace of God, will also ignite the building of a passion for the gospel at venues like this.”
Olajoyegbe also stated further that, “The Encounter is aimed at demonstrating the joy of being in Christ, expressing the love of God and manifestation of His power.”
Other artistes that ministered at the night included Society for the Performing Arts in Nigeria (SPAN) with Sarah Boulos, Spirit of David (SOD) with Pastor Segun Lawal, Iyebiye, ICE, DJ Mow, Jo Deep and other upcoming acts.
The event which commenced with a variety show and dance battle by 3pm provided opportunities for talent display as various gospel artistes ministered.
The organising GiG Time began in September 2003 as a Wednesday morning fellowship, focusing mainly on Christians in the performing acts.
Today, GiG Time has various expressions which include Encounter; an evangelical outreach, GiG Time Worship (GTW); a live production of performing arts in worship, Praise Him And Shout Emmanuel (PHASE); a corporate time of praise and worship, GiG Time Power Meetings (GTPM); the monthly fellowship meetings for members, GiG Leadership Training (GLT); an arm for empowerment and reforms which runs in partnership with the group’s business arm, GiG Ventures Limited.
Over the years, the group has run the Encounter as its evangelical outreach expression under the following sub expressions: Encounter on campus; an outreach to campuses, Encounter At The Shrine; a fun time at social gatherings and venues, Encounter at the Beach; a fun day out at the beach for families, friends and groups, and Word Empowerment Encounter; a social and economic empowerment through seminars.
