Wale Jagun
The African Church Bethel Cathedral, lkorodu, on the night of Thursday, December 31, 2020, held a solemn service to mark the end of the year which many have described as highly turbulent and challenging, especially due to the outbreak of the COVID – 19 pandemic which has killed thousands of people globally.
Due to the pandemic which is currently unleashing its second phase on the world, the government again restricted operations in many public places, including the worship centres, which affected the usual cross – over services.
In compliance with the government directive, many of the churches ended their end of the year special service by 11.00pm while others stayed till around 11.30pm.
However, none of the churches, according to the report gathered, observe the cross – over night which usually involves prayer sessions into the new year.
At the African Church Bethel Cathedral, Ikorodu, the main part of the service started around 10.00pm and ended around 11.00pm.
The clergies, led by the Bishop of the Lagos West Missionary Diocese, The Rt. Revd. Hezekiah Adeleke Adetoro, and the congregations that attended the service engaged in special prayers to appreciate God for the preservation of their lives despite the enormous health hazard and economic challenges of the year 2020 and sought for the best in 2021.
By 11.00pm on Thursday night, most churches, shops and bars had closed while roads were deserted in obvious compliance with the curfew declared by the State government as part of the measures to contain the second wave of the COVID-19.
