Nigerian churches are adjusting their traditional Cross-Over Night Services that mark the end of one year and heralds the arrival of a new one.
Pressed by both the federal and state governments, various church organisations have announced changes in the format of the night watch services, choosing in most cases a mixture of physical and virtual sessions to meet government requirements.
The adjustments being announced by the churches are a compromise by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN),between not holding such services at all, and holding abridged versions in the light of the current realities.
The federal government imposed a curfew from 12 a.m. to 4 a.m., following the resurgence of the COVID-19 infection in the country. It warned churches of the dangers of contravening the order through holding the end-of-year services that usually run into the early January 1.
“There is no sacrifice that is too much to put an end to the Coronavirus pandemic in the interest of all and sundry,” CAN’s National President Rev. Samson Ayokunle, said in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday.
He urged Christian leaders to cooperate with the government, noting that the directives by the governments were quite understandable.
“We understand the unfortunate state COVID19 infection has put everybody world over, which caused some state governments to place total ban on crossover night service and we are not happy that we would not be able to enter into the New Year prayerfully in joint fellowship with our brothers and sisters.
“We, however, urge you all to abide by the directives of each state government on this so as to prevent the spread of the infection. One thing that is certain is that, the end of COVID-19 is here at last in the mighty Name of Jesus Christ,” he said.
“In those states, services should be closed about 10:30pm or at most 11:00pm to enable worshippers to return home on time. It is a passing phase and this too shall pass away in Jesus Name. Very soon, the pandemic will become history and we will return to our usual routine services in Jesus’ Name.”
Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, has announced that the church’s cross-over service would start by 6pm on Thursday.
“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.”
Members of the church were encouraged to link up with the service online.
Similarly, the Living Faith Church Worldwide or Winners’ Chapel cross-over service has been planned to run virtually between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Thursday. and Bishop David Oyedpo’s sermon scheduled to kick-off from 6pm tom
On its part, the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries has announced that its cross-over service would hold physically between 9pm and 11pm, and later continued virtually into the New Year.
“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,” the church announced through a circular dated December 29, 2020, and signed by Pastor Gbesan Adebambo, the church’s Assistant General Overseer in charge of Administration.
Nigeria’s COVID-19 infection cases have surged past 85, 000, as daily infection rates rise above the 1000 mark in in the second wave of the pandemic.
