Monday, June 15, 2020
Sunday, June 14, 2020
Thursday, June 11, 2020
Coming Soon || Spoken Word by Marve Wonder
Anticipate for another inspiring Spoken Word by Marve-Wonder (11year old kid) Titled: God First.
Stay tuned and get in touch with her via her Instagram page @marvewonder1412.
Do well to follow her.
Directed by: adigun_alaposuccess
DRAW NEAR TO GOD
DRAW NEAR TO GOD
In separating yourself from Him, you can't do anything.
God is all we need to have all our needs meet. We are nothing without him. Acknowledge him in all your ways and he will grant you your heart desires.
SHALOM
POSITION OF CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (LAGOS CHAPTER) IN RESPONSE TO LAGOS STATE DIRECTIVE ON THE OPENING OF RELIGIOUS HOUSES FOR WORSHIP
"POSITION OF CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (LAGOS CHAPTER) IN RESPONSE TO LAGOS STATE DIRECTIVE ON THE OPENING OF RELIGIOUS HOUSES FOR WORSHIP IN LAGOS STATE"
We refer to your document containing the conditions/protocols, for the above subject -matter, sent to us by your Ministry on Thursday, June 4, 2020. A cursory look and study of the document, revealed a complete disregard for items on our Association’s resolution list and the follow-up discussions/submissions at the various meetings held with you to date, and we are wondering why sir? We do not want to believe this to be deliberate! We therefore ask, that you please do the needful in this regard, in the interest of Religious peace and tranquility in the State.
Our Key Observations:
1. We observed that you chose this time and in this season, to introduce some inconsiderate and tangential measures to the discussion, without consultation. Hence, we wish to place it on record, that CAN is a duly-registered Association under CAC; and the umbrella-body for all Christian churches in Nigeria at all levels, of the Nation's administrative architecture, including Lagos State.
Therefore, we wish to state for the record, that we are a religious institution, not a "religious center", as indicated. The list and registration of churches, already approved by government, is the prerogative of our Association. Hence, registration of churches should not and cannot be a requirement for opening of Church buildings which were closed, because of the pandemic of Corona virus, in cooperation with the Lagos State Government.
Furthermore, we do not take responsibility for churches approved by government, without CAN recommendation letter. Please take note of this.
2. As the only authentic mouthpiece of all Christians in Lagos State, C.A.N, Lagos State will appreciate an acknowledgment of this fact, in the engagement of Christian Ministers, especially during the assignment of roles and functions at State functions and ceremonies, as done for the Muslim leadership.
The CAN leadership is not a figure head, but a public functional office, that has to be respected, whenever a function is to be ceded to a non-executive member, without due consultation or approval. Kindly take note of this, as CAN standard protocol in external engagements with government, as we wish to respect your invitations whenever we are called upon.
3. In particular reference to the matter at hand, we rose from an online zoom meeting held on Friday 5th June; and chose to align with items 2 to 9,11,13,16 & 17 of your document, while aligning with the Governor’s pronouncement on 40% attendees at any given service, up to a maximum of 500 people, subject to the size of the Church auditorium.
4. Another area worthy of note, is that we have put in place a CAN monitoring team, under the CAN secretariat leadership at all levels, to cooperate and interface with your compliance team. This is to avoid unnecessary confrontation, by overzealous enforcement officers, at any of our church services. We appeal strongly against any undue interference during our worship, in the name of enforcement. As an independent institution, we reserve the right to our own mode of worship; and will not accept directives that may interfere with these sacred heritage, under any disguise.
5. Rest assured of our maximum cooperation, as always."
Letter was signed by Heads of the Five Blocs of C.A.N along with the State EXCO.
The meeting agreed to with the Commissioner, took place on Tuesday, June 9, 2020. It turned out to be a larger meeting with many more Muslim Religious leaders in attendance. Also in attendance, were State Health Officials and other Government Agencies, including the new Safety Commission. The following is an extract of our meeting with the government on Tuesday, 10th June, 2020:
1. The Muslims on their part, stated that they were not ready for the mosques to be opened as pronounced by the governor for Friday, 19th June 2020, primarily because of the available scientific and medical
evidence at the moment.
2. They also said, that it would be difficult for them, to meet up with the conditions or protocols attached, due to the peculiarity of their mode of worship.
3. They suggested that the Government should move the date of opening religious houses to September, 2020.
4. C.A.N as represented by Apostle Alexander Bamgbola, stressed on the decision of the church, to abide with the directive of the State Governor, that church buildings be opened on Sunday, 21st June 2020.
5. In view of this lacuna between the two religious bodies, it was agreed that each should follow their own individual preference.
6. We further advised that the issue of registration should not even be on the table for now, until after the tension generated by COVID 19, is nipped in the bud. The Muslim leadership had the same position.
7. Furthermore, we asked the government to look into the letter submitted by CAN urgently and call us for another urgent meeting to resolve all issues as the opening date is very close. We will continue to pray that the cases would show a downward trend, through the continued mercy and grace of God.
We now await their call for this meeting.
On behalf of the State C.A.N leadership, I want to thank all stakeholders, for your patience, maturity, understanding and prayers all through this most challenging period in our Nation's Church history. Our God will see us through, as He continues to build His Church, against which the gates of hell shall never be able to prevail, in Jesus Name. Amen.
Yours in Christ Jesus
Apostle (Prof.) Alexander Bamgbola
CAN, Lagos State Chairman
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