All over the world, cross-over services are significant
events that usher in a New Year. Cross-over services hold majorly in churches
on the night of December 31 every year and Christians usually gather to pray
and worship their Maker for the gift of a brand New Year. As a custom, the
services start a few hours before 12am and end some minutes after 12am.
But with the reality of the COVID-19 pandemic which has
disrupted livelihood and ways of doing things, the cross-over services for the
year 2020 will be different in many ways as global health authorities
discourage large gatherings to curb the spread of the virus.
In Nigeria, state governments like Ogun, Lagos, Osun, Cross
River, amongst others have warned churches against holding cross-over services
this Friday, insisting that the 12am to 4am curfew imposed by the Presidential
Task Force on COVID-19 subsists. The PTF also stressed the need to maintain
social distancing, use of face masks and hand sanitisers as Nigeria battles the
second wave of the virus.
Following these directives, leading Christian leaders 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, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, on Monday, said the church’s cross-over service
would start by 6pm.
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.”
The post was accompanied by a flyer which has 6pm as the
commencement time.
A top official of the church who spoke on the
condition of anonymity said, “There is no physical cross-over service; we are
linking with Daddy (Adeboye) virtually.”
In a video clip posted on its official social media
platforms, the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries led by Dr Daniel
Olukoya, said the church’s cross-over service would hold physically between 9pm
and 11pm while it would continue virtually into the New Year.
A circular dated December 29, 2020, and signed by Pastor
Gbesan Adebambo, the Assistant General Overseer in charge of Administration of
the church, 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 12am and 4am, the cross-over night service on the 31st of
December, 2020, would now hold from 9pm to 11pm on Thursday.”
Also, the Living Faith Church Worldwide aka Winners’ Chapel
led by Bishop David Oyedepo said the church’s cross-over service would hold
between 6pm and 8pm.
A member of the church who craved anonymity revealed that. “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 7pm and 9pm.
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 11pm to 1am.
Furthermore, the Deeper Christian Life Ministry led by
Pastor William Kumuyi would hold cross-over service starting from 10pm.
“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 10pm,” 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 7pm and 9pm on Thursday.
The PTF said religious
leaders are sabotaging its response to Covid management in Nigeria by holding
large gatherings.
But the Christian Association of Nigeria has since urged its
members to comply with the directives of governments at federal and
sub-national levels.
With the cross-over services approaching, many state
governments are expected to deploy enforcement teams to religious centres to
ensure compliance with the protocols outlined by the authorities.
Nigeria has recorded over 85,000 Covid infections including
more than 1,200 associated fatalities, according to the Nigeria Centre for
Disease Control.
Men of are very honest cost they follow what they bible said mean while covid-19 is just the beginning the one that is more covid-19 is coming get yourself prepare judgement day is coming is on God that have the supreme power, the highest in power and authority without the control of anyone the power government and authority are useless in his sight therefore we should not use covid-19 as an excuse
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