RCCG ordains 12,327 deacons, deaconesses, others under open heaven, observes covid-19 rules

RCCG Ordination

The Redeemed Christian Church of God today August 15 ordained about 12,327 deacons, deaconess and others in a quiet ceremony devoid of the pomp and ceremony that usually accompany such event in previous years.

Before now the church had sent a notice to all the ordinands to come for the ordination with nose masks and hand sanitizers. They were required to also dress well and come with towels they would use when kneeling on the ground.

They were also told not to come with well-wishers as only the ordinands would be allowed access to the venue of the ordination.

One of the ordinands who spoke with Church Times said the COVID-19 rules were fully observed during the ordination today.

He said the ordination was strictly private, very brief and in line with COVID-19 hygiene rules with all the ordinands wearing face-mask.

Pastors who carried out the ordination sanitized their hands as they laid hands on each of the ordinands. The ordinands stood within a marked box on the open field close to the Church’s old auditorium. They were also ordained in batches at the event which began around 8 am and rounded off at about 2 pm.

Those to be ordained as pastors are expected to pass through the process between 2 and 4 pm today August 15.

Before the ordination, the General Overseer of the church, Pastor Enoch Adeboye who spoke for about three minutes at the event encouraged the ordinands to hold fast to God noting that the event was unique in all ramifications.

He said that would be the first time that the church would be carrying out ordination under an open heaven.

He compared the ordination with the way Moses received the commandments from God under an open heaven and how several other people in the Bible received impartation from God.

Adeboye said to them, “We have access to God and he is looking at us so that if there is an issue of temptation we should remember this day that God is seeing us. We should also remember this day that God will always open heavens on us in the days of our trials and difficulties.”

By Our Reporter