Following the outcry of the public over Sunday service that was held on Sunday by Living Faith Church despite the clear directive of the government, the senior pastor of the church, Bishop David Oyedepo has said the church gathered not in defiance of Ogun State government directives, but an effort to use the meeting to create awareness on COVID-19 scourge.
This was contained in a statement issued by Pastor Steve Ogah, the Special Assistant to Bishop David Oyedepo.
According to Pastor Ogah, the statement became necessary to clarify issues surrounding why Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, the International Headquarters of Living Faith Church in Ogun State held church service on Sunday, although with less than half of her regular worshippers.
The statement titled “Coronavirus: Compliance with Government Order – Matters Arising, Ogah said there have been diverse responses varying from well-meaning concerns, to uncharitable insinuations, misinterpretations, and unfounded allegations that the service was held in deliberate defiance of Ogun State Government ban on high-density gatherings, in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic.
He said that nothing can be further from the truth.
“For avoidance of doubt, as stakeholders and as a responsible organisation, Living Faith Church fully supports and encourages compliance with all initiatives of government to combat the spread of this dreaded virus,” Ogah said.
He explained that however, information has to be strategically disseminated to the grassroots, noting that the Church is a family and not an industry, it is for this reason that enlightenment and sensitization from the Church platform is a most effective way to get people involved in playing their part in terms of prayers and intercessions and not just staying away from Church without knowing what to do.
“As we all know, the Church is made up of both literate and illiterate congregants; many are not in touch with any of the modern platforms of communication and this is what we did yesterday.”
“lndeed, the service was devoted entirely to sensitizing and mobilizing members of the Church regarding the danger of this deadly virus and the need to comply with government directives”, he said.
He stressed that The Bishop has since engaged Ogun State Government at the highest level to clarify this issue and any misgivings and reiterated the full support of the church for the State Government’s efforts to ensure public safety, towards curtailing the spread of this deadly virus.
