AFRO-CULTURAL SUNDAY: BREAKTHROUGH FAMILY MARRIES CULTURE AND EVANGELISM

A great day it was Sunday, September 1, 2019, in God of Glory Christian Church, Ketu Lagos Nigeria, aka Breakthrough Family when Church members turned out in their cultural apparels with gospel songs and dance-steps to glorify to King of kings and Lord of lords. It was a Sunday of culture and evangelism.

This was done with a view to calling general attention to the need to win souls by understanding the nuances of different cultures of the world and areas needing the good news.

Speaking to E-life, the general overseer of the Church, prophet A.T. Williams opined that “Afro Cultural Sunday, an annual event is designed to inspire moments of optimism in the body of Christ in the possibility of unity in the diversities of our people.

We seek to promote love, unity and move our people from mere involvement to commitment for culture and evangelism.

The programme came alive after four weeks of intensive work by the committee charged with the assignment and the individual groups within the Church segmented into Northern Nigeria, Western Nigeria, South East/ South-South and Other African Cultures.

See more pictures from the event

THE TUNNEL

The Afro Cultural Sunday opened early in the morning with a segment called Touring Nigeria.

The church built a tunnel, inside of which flexes containing various information about the North, East, West and other African cultures were displayed.

In the tunnel were four tour guides who educated visitors on the highlights of each region: languages, foods, personalities, landmarks, spread and impact of Christianity, with a view to showing places needing the good news and missionaries.

Outside the tunnel, visitors were treated to the foods peculiar to each region.

Speaking on this some minutes later, Tosin Daniels, a pastor in the Church said, “if you must be a missionary, you must be ready to eat the food people in your local community eat and offer you.”

There were foods like Dokunnu from Ghana, (also called Chapati in Nairobi); Wara from Kwara; Abacha, Usoji, garden egg, Kola nut from Igbo land; Kunnu, Masa from North; Aadun, Eko and Moinmoin, etc from West.

At the food-stand were guides telling tourists how the foods are prepared and their nutritional values, after which you were served. You don’t want to miss Church on Sundays like this.

See more pictures of the tunnel and food stand

THE DANCE, PRAISE WORSHIP
SOUTHEAST/SOUTH-SOUTH NIGERIA

After the tunnel experience came the extravaganza in culture and evangelism. First in line was the South East/South-South Nigeria. Trust the Igbo!

Cha Cha Cha Cha Cha Igbo kwenu! What can Nigeria do without them! These people are vibrant. Without them Nigeria is incomplete.

The people appeared on stage in different apparel peculiar to them. The Isoko, Urhobo, Benin, Igbo, Calabari, Ijaw, etc, each sing praise in their local dialects.

The Igbo extraction brought in Igbo drums, gongs and their players to accentuate their performance. It was a great praise worship session.

See more pictures from South East/South South’s presentation

SOUTH-WEST NIGERIA

Challenged by the sterling performance of the South East/South-South, the South West presented a very formidable team, songs, sermon and stage presence.

One of them even dressed up in full regalia of a Yoruba oba.

In their presentation, one of their leaders, pastor Bunmi Oduwole, spotting artificial tribal marks of Ibadan, gave exhortations in Yoruba on the majesty of our Lord Jesus Christ and the pertinence of being born again, while the group were singing quietly in the background.

The highest point of their performance was when they sang Ekiti gospel songs, the Church rose in unison.

There are diverse dialects in South West though they have the Yoruba in common. They exploited this beauty to their advantage.

Kudos to another member of the group, the deputy chairman of Osodi LG, Honourable Daisi Oso who interpreted the nuance of the Yoruba culture vis-a-vis how they give adoration to God almighty, Oba ton gba idobale oba.

See more pictures of South West Nigeria’s presentation

OTHER AFRICAN CULTURES (OAC)

Next was the non-Nigerian group called OAC, an acronym for Other African Cultures under which all other African Cultures were subsumed.

The group spoke in both English and French.

Members of the group turned out in Ankara imitation of Ghanaian Kente, while others appeared in Zulu, Sierra Leonian, and Senegalese dresses.

The group sang some Zulu and other African songs showing the diversity in Africa.

The group showed us the highlights and truths of Christianity in Africa, regions needing the gospel and the likely challenges involved. They had a great showing in their culture and evangelism.

See more pictures of OAC’s presentation

THE NORTHERN GROUP
The Northern Nigerian group were ushered on stage with the popular song of Jeremiah Gyan.

A Nupe lady read the highlights of the Northern credentials which were translated into Nupe. The group displayed the Fulani, Hausa, Nupe, and Tiv cultural appurtenances.

The Fulani dressed women had the hienna art on their hands while the Fulani man had the Fulani stick, (Sanda) to match.

While preaching, the Hausa-Fulani group leader, Deacon Bola Adewara told the church that the Afro Cultural Sunday was not a cultural jamboree but a veritable form of evangelism.

The game plan is to acquaint members with different cultures and how to win the people to Christ, ala culture and evangelism.

“If you want to win people of different cultures easily, first capture their languages and their cultures. Know their foods and eat with them.

When they find out that you love them, it would be easy for them to listen to you and bring you close.

He told the Church that, “the Northern group is asking Christians in the South to think of the North always, help them concerning the challenges facing them.

Send more missionaries and relief materials to the region and IDP camps, pray for the North concerning the power holding her down.

See more pictures of Northern Nigeria’s presentation

SCORECARD
Speaking to E-life, the Church administrator, Deacon Tunji Iyanda said the culture and evangelism programme was a success.

This is because they saw a demonstration of unity and commitment in the passion shown by all group members.

Iyanda added that a lot of resources were invested by the group members to ensure the success of their group with a view to retaining in the Church new members and converts who came to celebrate God with them.