Day Seraph youths shut down Lagos

THE stretch of Billingsway Street, at Oregun in Ikeja, Lagos State, was shut down last Saturday, as about 7,000 youths who are all members of the Cherubim & Seraphim Church, converged on 10 Degrees Event Centre.

The youths, defied the heavy downpour to participate in the maiden edition of a conference and capacitybuilding programme organised by a non-governmental organisation, Dr. O. YomiSholoye Foundation. YomiSholoye, also the Managing Director of International Alpha Limited, said the conference was to give back to the society, through the church of her birth.

It was the first such gathering of youths of the church as the organisers said it afforded participants the opportunities to network and share common values binding them together, which is the Cherubim & Seraphim Church.

The youths, all adorned with customized T-shirt, were entertained by notable gospel artistes and stand-up comedians. Some of the performing artistes were Laolu Gbenjo, Shola Allynson, Seun Aransiola, Big Bolaji, and Mike Abdul.

It was not all dancing for the youths as some leaders in the public and private sectors and clerics gave motivational talks to the youths. Foremost among these were Teju Babyface, Asiwaju Tobi Lawal, a former Executive Director of Fidelity Bank; Nolly

wood Yoruba actors like Yinka Quadri, Balogun Oluwo, Mrs. Idowu Philips otherwise called Iya Rainbow and a host of others.

The convener of Seraph Youths Arise initiative, Gen. Supt. Apostolic Mother Oluseye Yomi-sholoye, said the programme was divinely inspired. Her words: “The commission I was given, among others, was to focus on youths in the C&S church since they are the leaders of the church tomorrow. But there can be no proper starting point from rejuvenating the church without understanding where we are coming from.

“We all have to recall that for a long time, the C&S became a laughing stock and ridiculed in Christendom. Members were disparaged as second-class Christians and often castigated as being occult.”

She charged the youths to re-dedicate themselves to holy lives with deep knowledge in the Word of God and remain loyal to the church into which they were born.

Also, philanthropist and member of the church, Rev. Mother Ester Abimbola Ajayi, encouraged the youths to remain undaunted by the challenges they faced today. She urged them to always believe in themselves and be focused on their dreams to be able to achieve greatness in life.