The Lagos State Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria CAN has put to rest the controversy surrounding the holding of all night Cross Over services in the state usually held by Christians in Churches on the eve of a new year.
As the last day of the year was approaching, the state governor Babajide Olusola Sanwoolu had warned Churches not to violate the 12midnight to 4.00 am federal government imposed curfew by holding all Night Cross Over Services in the state.
The State CAN has intervened by coordinating a central service via television between 11.00pm and 12.30 am between Thursday night and Friday morning by instructing all Churches in Lagos to get linked with the televised service.
This was disclosed by the newly elected Chairman, Bishop Stephen Adegbite in an interactive session with members of Christian Press Association of Nigeria led by its President Gracious Akintayo, who had paid a courtesy visit to him at his ogba office on Wednesday.
The CAN Chairman said the service would be so organised to put on hold the controversy over the disagreement between the state government and the leadership of CAN in the State.
According to him, the step would be taken “In compliance with the state and federal government order of no crossover service in Churches and in line with the new guidelines over Covid -19 second wave upsurge.
Bishop Adegbite explained that the Lagos state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), will coordinate a one hour crossover (watch night) service in the state through a general television broadcast between 11:30pm on Thursday 31 December and 12:30 am of Friday 1 January 2021, to usher Christian faithfuls in Lagos into the New Year.
According to him, the church leadership in the state came up with this arrangement to ensure harmonious worship, the safety of Christian worshippers in Lagos and to protect Christians against the molestation from overzealous security operatives.
Bishop Adegbite explained that the crossover service would be broadcast live on Lagos Television (LTV) and other Television channels in Lagos, and will be coordinated by the church leadership from all denominations to promote the unity and oneness of the church in line with CAN motto, “That they may be one”.
Earlier, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has directed worship centres to suspend all-night services, including vigils and crossover events, noting that the Federal Government imposed a curfew between 12 midnight and 4 am would be strictly enforced.
He said, “This is part of the emergency measure being employed by the government to halt the outbreak of the second wave of the pandemic as the governor also urged religious leaders to ensure their followers observe the protocols put in place to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
It could be recalled that there has been the outbreak of the second wave of the pandemic, with Lagos State regarded as the epicentre. The state government had directed the shutdown of all schools indefinitely and had warned of strict implementation of the Covid-19 protocols and measures across the state.
In the same vein some notable Church leaders have instructed their members to keep to the federal government’s advice not to hold cross over services in the church.
The national leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministry and Living Faith Church Worldwide (a.k.a. Winners Chapel), have backed down on their insistence to hold Crossover services in to usher their members into the new year 2021.
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