Special to USAfrica magazine (Houston) and USAfricaonline.com, the first Africa-owned, US-based newspaper published on the Internet.
By Godwin Nkeonye-Joe
Except in situations such as war and armed conflict, few groups and individuals thought that we will be holding services and worships in our various homes. Until January 1st, 2020, we had not prepared to face the deadly challenges of Covid-19 with our own church/faith group in Nigeria.
Let me offer a little background. I grew up in an Anglican environment in Nigeria — with some infusion of Catholicism during my secondary/technical school years. Other denominations were far from my school. But I recall with pride that my school was one of the best around.
During the school holidays, I will return to my family. By then Pentecostalism crusade was coming up around the cities. Benin City stadium/arena had the late Archbishop Benson Idahosa preaching. Enugu/Aba stadia had Rev. Umar Ukpai, and late Rev O. Ezekiel spreading the word of God, just to mention a few.
Every Sunday in my family, just as it was in many others, was special. So special that when my late mother became born again, the Anglican church in our community came begging and pleading that my mother should not leave them. The rest is history. For me, I was a cross bearer and a chorister in the church. I started singing with angelic voice (treble), moved to Alto, Tenor and finally Bass.
Then came the dark days of the 1967-1970 Nigeria-Biafra war, we were sent packing from the city to the village (my maternal home). Whether I was being carried at the back or by hand throughout is a story for another day.
In the village by 5.am, gong will sound for people to gather for morning prayers. Sleep is usually sweet during hamattan. People must surely gather despite the hamattan. Thank God churches were not closed during the civil war. Except the war-torn communities. There was no lockdown for churches. There were evening services on Sunday, and we will attend. Coming back, another gong (ekwe in Igbo) will sound for family night prayers.
In 1970, the war was over, people began to move to cities. No time to pray both morning and evening in the cities. You can count families that observe morning devotion and night prayers. Especially in Lagos. Husband, wife, and family members will leave the houses between 4.00am and 5.30am (depending on your location) to beat the traffic. Morning prayers, sometimes, were said in a car or bus. Hmm, God have mercy.
Thank God for early morning prayers being observed by some churches between 5.30 and 7.00am. Some people rush to meet this morning prayers in different locations within the city. Also, satellite fellowship holds every Saturday or Sunday in homes for different churches. Families make up these groups. Husband, wife, children, relations, sisters, and brothers.
Now, the questions are:
How did you handle the church in your house?
Who was the pastor in your house? Certainly, somebody must lead. Who were the members of the church in your house?
Advantages of church in the house:
Some husbands who usually go to church only on Christmas and New Year’s eve had no choice. They participated. The worship/church was in the house! I leave it to you to figure out the rest.
The important thing is that covid-19 pandemic took everybody unawares. And Church in the house has made every christian to be ever ready for those who care.
Here are some Bible verses to support ‘Church in the house: Romans 16:5, 1 Corinth 16:19, Colo 4:15, Philemon 1:2, Acts 8:3
Acts 2:46. and others.
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