Kingsley Oparah
It was a beehive of activities on the night all roads led to the Shepherdhill Baptist Church, Obanikoro, Lagos, for the 7th edition of the international worship event tagged ‘Just Worship’ held on November 17.
The event which started 30 minutes earlier scheduled had praise and worship led by the Shepherdhill Baptist Church choir. About 10p.m. came the voice on arrival in cowboy style by the comperes of the night, Pastor Oluwatobi Adeniji and Rev. Ifedapo Bamidele, the youthful and energetic pastors who set the hall agog with their witty delivery of the programme of the night.
The wife of the host pastor, Mrs. Kristilere came on stage thereafter to assure worshipers that the night was a night of blessing and victory. The idea of ‘Just Worship’, according to the organisers, is to bring out the glory of God on earth.
The event proper started with a poem rendition by the young and beautiful Miss. Heritage Kristilere, whose powerful rendition and performance reminded one of the late Martin Luther King Jnr. Bishop Sax also gave a good account with his trumpet.
At the peak of the night was the arrival on stage of the ‘Welu-Welu’ coroner, Sammie Okposo who held the crowd spell bond for over an hour with lyrics such as ‘Jesus I Thank You’, ‘I no know wetin you see’. The marriage DUO of Praise and Joy performed extremely well to the admiration of the crowd yearning for more. Other great performances came from Onos Ariyo, Bola Dada (KakakiJesu), Dupe Olulana, Indian Christian congregation and other anointed worship leaders.
Speaking at the event, the lead worshipper and visionary, Dr. Israel Kristilere who also led a worship session said they got the vision to lead worship in 2008 while he was attending a training at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to gather believers of all denomination not for prayer but ‘Just Worship’.
He said this year’s theme ‘Victorious’ is an assurance from God that His Glory is manifesting and chains are broken.
Also speaking, Praise and Joy said it was a great privilege to be identified with the programme since inception which has also opened doors of blessings for the group, noting it is their prayer for the purpose of ‘Just Worship’ to be fulfilled.
Bola Dada (KakakiJesu) who performed for the first time said it was a good experience and she hope to be a regular to the event. The energetic singer and dancer said praise and worship keep her joy, adding that she will reach out to the world and bless souls through her music.
The show which attracted both young and old, witnessed people coming from within and outside Lagos. Mr. Kunle Yusuf who is based in UK said he was in the country to attend the event for the third time. A student of University of Lagos, Gbenga Olaojo said he never missed the event even if he was writing exam, he would make out time to be there.
The 2018 event comes up on 23rd November. Over 10,000 worshippers participated in this year’s edition as the 5,000 auditorium was stretched beyond capacity and over flowed outside the hall.
