A Night of Blissful Worship
Kingsley Oparah and Godbless Eduviere
The annual Just Worship (JW) programme of the Shepherd Hill Baptist Church recently held at the church’s new auditorium, Baptist Academy Compound, Obanikoro, Lagos. The all-night event tagged ‘Miraculous’, which started at about 10p.m. and ended at 5a.m. was funfair. Ministering with the visionary and lead worshipper, Rev. Dr. Israel Kristilere were gospel artistes and groups such as Frank Edwards, Steve Crown, Gloria Noren, the Indian Christian Congregation, Sax Angel, Wale Ayeni, Shepherds Voice International, LSBSF Choir, The worship Clan, the Levites amongst others. Since the first edition, which started in November 23, 2012, JW has no doubt remained a “touching life” programme as the service continues to gather momentum among believers of different denominations.
Kristilere revealed that he has come to realise that in the atmosphere of pure worship, the Holy Spirit moves miraculously to glorify Jesus, adding that the programme is not a concert, musical show, prayer assembly or religious convocation but a serious spiritual exercise.
Speaking of the vision of gathering believers beyond combinational borders for the worship event, Kristilere said: “it came in 2008 when I was attending a ministry training institute in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia but because of the cost implication, I failed to pursue the vision. Instead I conducted a quarterly 11 and two hours praise and worship revival for members of Shepherd Hill Baptist Church, Obanikoro, Lagos. In July 2012, while I was on a two-week vacation in U.K, the pastor of Pentecost Baptist Church, Liverpool, Rev. Bukola Oyewale, during an early Morning Prayer programme received and gave a word of knowledge that I gathered believers of all denominations for divine worship, which he publicly declared in the church as he invited me to the altar.
“A member of the church, a deaconess, later came to us after the service and confirmed the message. Both messages confirmed the call of the Lord that I should gather believers together not for prayers, but just worship. I have no option but to heed the call of the master,” he recalled.
A participant, Mr. Solomon Adeyefe, stressed that the programme has always been a blessing to him. He said: “I have been attending this programme since the last three years and I love it because it gives you the zeal to worship God. When you truly worship God, things can turn around. For those who have not been privileged to be here, I encourage you to do so next year.” The worship was well attended with over 10,000 worshippers at this year’s event, as the 5,000-capacity auditorium was full to the brim with overflow outside the church premises.