RCCG, Winners, MFM Others Adjust Cross-Over Services

Cross-over services are significant events that usher in a new year. It often attracts huge worshipers in which church leaders make proclamations or prophecies for the new year. 

As a custom, the services start a few hours before 12 am and end some minutes after 12 am, but with the reality of the COVID-19 pandemic which has disrupted livelihood and ways of doing things, the cross-over services into the year 2021 will be different in many ways as global health authorities discourage large gatherings to curb the spread of the virus.

AllNews Nigeria reports that as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 crossover service will be celebrated differently.

Recall some states in Nigeria like Ogun, Lagos, Osun, Cross River, amongst others have warned churches against holding cross-over services this Thursday, insisting that the 12 am to 4 am curfew imposed by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 subsists.

READ ALSO: Second Wave Of COVID-19 Is Due To Poor Adherence To Guidelines - NMA

Following these directives, Christian clerics in the country have adjusted their cross-over services with many opting for the virtual experience.

The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, on Monday, said the church’s cross-over service would start by 6 pm.

In a Facebook post on his verified page, the 78-year-old cleric wrote, “God has been so good to us. He has kept us despite the many hurdles of this year. It is time to crossover gallantly into 2021. Be a part of the crossover service and be empowered for the year 2021.”

However, RCCG instructed members to connect with the virtual service of the church due to the surge in COVID-19.

RCCG stated further that the January Holy Ghost Service (the first of the year 2021) taking place on Friday, January 8, will be held virtually.

Members of the church were advised to tune in to Dove television and other electronic media to link up with the General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye’s End of Year message and other aspects of the RCCG crossover service programme.

Also, the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries led by Dr Daniel Olukoya said the church’s cross-over service would hold physically between 9 pm and 11 pm while it would continue virtually into the New Year.

A circular dated December 29, 2020, and signed by Pastor Gbesan Adebambo, the church’s Assistant General Overseer in charge of Administration, partly read, “The leadership of this ministry has directed that, in view of the government safety and health regulations, coupled with the imposed curfew between 12 am and 4 am, the cross-over night service on the 31st of December, 2020, would now hold from 9 pm to 11 pm on Thursday.”

The Living Faith Church Worldwide aka Winners’ Chapel led by Bishop David Oyedepo has also said the church’s cross-over service would hold between 6 pm and 8 pm.

A member of the church who craved anonymity confirmed this to The PUNCH. “My pastor announced it on Sunday and he said it was the instruction from CanaanLand,” the member said.

Lagos-based church, Covenant Christian Centre, said the crossover service of the church would hold physically between 7 pm and 9 pm.

The senior pastor of the church, Poju Oyemade, stated this in a broadcast on Tuesday, adding that a second service would hold virtually and would be televised between 11 pm to 1 am.

Furthermore, the Deeper Christian Life Ministry led by Pastor William Kumuyi would hold cross-over service starting from 10 pm.

“We are having it based on district and location basis. We are not going to have large gatherings like the previous years. We are starting by 10 pm,” said an official of the church who said he was not permitted to speak on the matter.

Lagos-based church, Daystar Christian Centre led by Pastor Sam Adeyemi, has also announced that the church’s cross-over service would hold strictly online between 7 pm and 9 pm on Thursday.

Recalls that Rev Samson Ayokunle, the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), said CAN understand the unfortunate state the coronavirus pandemic has put everybody worldwide, urged its members to comply with the directives of governments at federal and sub-national levels.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) on Tuesday evening, 29th December 2020, confirmed 749 new cases of Coronavirus disease infection in Nigeria.

The new cases of COVID-19 infection were confirmed via a statement on the official Twitter handle of the health agency.

This brings the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Nigeria to 85,560 which includes 71,937 discharged cases and 1,267 deaths.