Coronavirus: RCCG reacts to ban on large gatherings, give directives to parishes

The Redeemed Christian Church of God has issued a memo in reaction to the ban placed on large gatherings by the government of Lagos and Ogun.

The ban was placed as a precautionary measure against coronavirus after Nigeria confirmed five new cases which draw the total eight.

Reacting to the ban, RCCG issued a memo titled “Slight alteration in the mode of service for parishes in Lagos and Ogun states”.

It announces that its parishes in Lagos and Ogun with 50 members or less than can hold services while those with more than 50 should observe the ban.

The memo reads:

“We refer to the directive from the Lagos and Ogun state governments placing a ban on all religious meetings and gatherings of more than 50 worshippers in Lagos, as part of the precautionary steps towards managing the further spread of the Coronavirus disease.

“In line with this directive from the government, the mission authority has instructed as follows:

1. Parishes that have an average of attendance of 50 members or less can hold their services without any alteration or changes. 2. Parishes that have average attendance above 50 members are directed to make use of their House Fellowship centres to run simultaneous services with the main church. 3. Parishes that have the facility to run more than one service can also do so, under the strict directive that worshippers won’t exceed 50 people per service.

4. One supervising minister and an usher could be seconded to each Centre for the collation of necessary reports (attendance, New converts, Newcomers, etc) 5. All centres are requested to connect to Dove Television to join the live broadcast from the General Overseer during the period. Continuing, Pastor Odesola informed the senior pastors that the arrangement will remain in operation for the next few weeks, based on the position of the Government.

“You are therefore requested to convey the assurances of the continued prayer of the General Overseer to members, while also encouraging them not to panic in the face of ongoing crisis because God promised us victory over every battle at the start of this year,” the AGO in charge of Administration, maintained.