I recall my first visit to the Redemption Camp of the Redeemed Christian Church of God at Kilometre 46, Lagos Ibadan Expressway in 1987. The annual conference of the Nigeria Fellowship of Evangelical Students (NIFES) held at the Camp. It was a far cry from the plush and comfortable environment one sees today. The roads were marshy and walkways to the hostels were wooden planks placed on the muddy ground. The hostels offered the minimum in comfort and you were always reminded that you were on a campground. Even so, one could not but acknowledge the vision and foresight of Pastor Adeboye in venturing into that no mans land.

Today, much has changed. A visitor today would hardly recognise the transformed camp boasting of a University campus, several banking halls, well tarred roads and delightful housing units. Redemption Camp of today has justified the vision and courage of its founder. Its success has spawned several similar developments along the Lagos Ibadan Expressway as several churches acquired large tracts of land for campgrounds and worship centres. Together, they’ve brought rapid development to the neighbouring towns and villages along that axis with consequent improvement in the local people’s standard of living.

The success of the Redemption City (as it is now called) is all the more remarkable juxtaposed with the nation’s culture of unplanned and largely ungovernable urban development in which public services and utilities arrive several years after urban development, if it ever arrives at all. The RCCG in particular has proved that Nigerians can plan, develop and maintain urban township developments; a leaf that our different tiers of Government need to borrow from.

However, the activities of these churches have also brought largely unintended problems to commuters of the arterial road that feeds their developing centres. The Lagos-Ibadan Expressway is indisputably the nation’s busiest and most heavily traversed trunk road. It ferries a tremendous number of traffic daily; traffic that includes heavy duty trucks, commuter buses and other vehicles to and from the Lagos metropolis to every other part of Nigeria. Such is the volume of traffic that the slightest hitch or accident soon creates heavy traffic builds whose ripple effects if not properly managed (and in most cases, they are not) soon degenerates into chaos and snarls that often lasts for hours.

It is this scenario that makes the oft programs of the various churches along the expressway to impact so negatively on other commuters who use that busy corridor. Ever since RCCG relocated their famous Holy Ghost Congress to Redemption City, commuters along that axis have had various tales to tell of the horrific traffic snarls encountered during such programmes. The programs that witness millions of adherents often create bottle necks that reduce traffic on the ever busy road to complete standstill for hours on end. A one hour journey to Ibadan has been known to take over 8 hours to complete with much of the delay taking place between Lagos and the Kilometre 46 entrance of the Redemption City.

The situation has been exacerbated by the acquisition of tracts of land along the same road by Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministry of Dr. D.K. Olukoya, Deeper Christian Life Ministry of W.F. Kumuyi, World Evangelism Bible Church of Samson Ayorinde and even the Muslim’s NASFAT to mention just a few. The pressure these organisation’s programmes place on this busy road is often best imagined than experienced. According to an editorial of The Guardian Newspapers:

“During the last Easter season, what should be a simple, events-free journey through the Lagos - Ibadan Expressway reportedly became, for many travellers, a most harrowing experience. A "Good Friday Miracle Night" event held by the Christ Embassy religious group literally turned into a traffic nightmare whereby honest citizens going about their business were trapped in a post- miracle night rush that kept them on the road for anything between four and twelve hours. Citizens who had business appointments to keep, could not do so.

Over the past few years, the plots of land adjoining the stretch between kilometers 35 and 46 from the Lagos end were parcelled out to various religious groups with each holding now transformed into a sort of retreat where respective adherents seek spiritual communion under different labels. No fewer than eight denominations have, for reasons that only they can explain, chosen to locate their prayer/camping/retreat grounds along this busy highway. The result is that the right to personal freedom of worship has been allowed to constitute an impediment to the public's freedom of passage and sober and private religious activities have often degenerated into public nuisance.”

Other commuters have similar stories to tell. Members of my church travelled last month to Ekiti for a burial ceremony of a church member’s father. They arrived at Shagamu interchange around 5pm that Saturday. They arrived at Berger-Ojodu after 11pm of the same day; normally, a journey of less than 20 minutes. A friend left my home (Ikeja environs) around 4pm one Saturday for Ibadan sometimes last year. He called me around 12pm to report that he was still on the 7 kilometre bridge near OPIC. On that occasion, commuters slept on the road as he arrived in Ibadan around 9am the following morning.

Mr. Abiodun Raufu in the Nigerian Tribune of 13^th May 2008 recounted his experience along that road during its perennial religious induced traffic snarls. During one such trip, he lost his Nokia Communicator to hoodlums taking advantage of the traffic to attack helpless commuters.

Personally, I had my own baptism last year when shuttling between my hometown and Lagos in preparations for my late father’s burial. On two occasions, I spent average of 9 hours on the road between Shagamu and Lagos. On one occasion that I took public transport, I felt shamed by the several vituperations being poured on these churches by fellow commuters. One elderly man who was in apparent pain due to the long stay in one position could not but pour curses on the leadership of a church responsible for that particular hold-up. Can one blame him???

To be fair to RCCG and a few of these churches, steps have been taken to reduce the impact of their activities to a manageable minimum. However, the human factor, the deplorable state of the road, and other variables like tanker drivers etc often make nonsense of such efforts. The fact remains that the activities of these churches act as the major catalyst for the intractable traffic situation along this road.

Leaders of these churches often defend themselves by pointing to the government’s neglect of the road and other basic infrastructures as being the main reason for such problems. To a certain extent, they are right. Normally, it is not the role of private institutions to provide services that is the preserve of government. The road and transport network are indisputably the responsibility of the Nigerian Government: Federal, State and Local.

However, in a state of anomie as obtains in Nigeria where there is a lack of public leadership and unresponsiveness to the governed has been elevated into art form; it amounts to sheer abdication of the Church’s social responsibility to society for us to embrace such a warped reasoning. This is precisely where I have issues with much of our present day religious (read Pentecostal) leadership. Much of our bravado about God’s visitation of Nigeria as witness the massive turnout at our rallies and religious programmes, the many claims of ‘miracles’, ‘signs’ and wonders’ that have become ‘required’ evidence of ministry relevance sound hollow when compared to accounts of historic religious revivals in other times and climes.

One of the major hallmarks of a revived Church of God has always been its social impact on its environment. The revived Church has always led social revolutions. It has always been in the forefront of programmes and activities that connect with and alleviate the sufferings of the common man. Political activism generally follows far behind Christian activism. Recently, the Embassy of the Blessed Kingdom of God for All Nations in Kyiv, Ukraine led by Nigerian born Sunday Adelaja acted as a catalyst for the famed Orange Revolution that helped set that nation on the road to democratic practice. In my book: Foxes In the Vineyard (Insights into the Nigerian Pentecostal Revival), I observed about historic revivals in other climes:

Dr. F. Meyer comments: ‘There has never been a great religious revival without social and political reforms.’ For instance, the abolition of slavery was the result of a revival. The end of child labour in the western nations followed a revival. Killing of twins ceased in Igboland after the gospel arrived.

Before the revivals of the Wesleys and Whitefield, Englishmen worked ninety hours a week. As a result of the revival it was reduced to sixty hours. The first trade unions were also organized as a direct consequence of this revival. From this same revival in Britain arose movements like the YMCA, Salvation Army, various Missionary Societies, most charitable organizations and educational institutions. The historian, Samuel Green commented that ‘the whole temper of the English people was changed’.

True revival is characterized by repentance and profound changes, in the community.

-          2007© Lerinyo Media, Lagos; Chapter 22 @ p. 243

The Political leadership in those nations were compelled to adjust to the positive radical changes the Church was spearheading in the Society to remain politically relevant. This was because the church invaded their ‘political’ space and made itself relevant to Society by championing issues and programs that brought in its vaunted ‘saltiness’. Charles G. Finney, a major figure in the Great Awakening (as these revivals were known) was a great champion of the Church’s social relevance. According to the Christian History Institute:

"Finney believed the Gospel did not just get people saved, but it was also a means of cleaning up society. He and his followers worked to make the United States a Christian nation. Finney himself was a strong abolitionist and encouraged Christians to become involved in the anti-slavery movement. Christians became the leaders in many other social concerns such as education, prison reform, temperance, Sabbath observance, and women's rights. The Second Great Awakening resulted in the establishment of numerous societies to aid in spreading the gospel.... The large numbers of Christian workers for social reform became so influential they and the organizations they founded became known as the Benevolent Empire. The Second Great Awakening had a greater effect on society than any other revival in America."

- Christian History Institute)(GLIMPSES ISSUE #40) The second great awakening

    http://members.truepath.com/hf/2ndawake.htm (15 October 1999)

That Finney and his contemporaries impacted their Societies is clear from accounts of the national ethos at their time. They did not insulate themselves within the walls of their churches or create dislocations between secular and religious engagements. They trained their members to apply their religious convictions, acquired skills and social positions in practical ways to the social problems of their generation. The USA to which many run to today, despite its decidedly secular leanings was a nation built on strong religious foundations. Without these, America would not have achieved the greatness it has achieved today. In 1831, the Government of France sent the eminent Judge and writer Alexis De Tocqueville to America on a fact finding mission. While France was being over run by crime and corruption, America was thriving; the Judge arrived in America in 1831 to find out why America was so illustrious. He reported,

I sought for the greatness of the United States in her commodious harbors, her ample rivers, her fertile fields, and boundless forests - and it was not there. I sought for it in her rich mines, her vast commerce, her public school systems and in her institutions of higher learning - and it was not there. I looked for it in her democratic Congress and her matchless constitution-and it was not there. Not until I went to the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and her power. America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great!"

-          Tocqueville Alexis Democracy in America Translated by Henry Reeve London: Saunders and Otley, 1835 Rare Book and Special Collections Division, Library of Congress

Similarly, our religious leaders must leverage their influence positively to impact our society in ways relevant to our national needs. It is not enough to pass the buck of a solution to the problem of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway or similar national issues to political leaders. The religious mantle these leaders wear imposes on them a duty to make a difference.

I am aware that these denominations have amongst their membership several chief executives of our nation’s banks and other financial institutions. Even if they don’t, they enjoy leverage on these banks due to their large deposit portfolio with them. RCCG alone could motivate these bank executives on the need to help finance a reconstruction of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway at least up to its fabled City. The expansion of the road to the suggested 8 lanes; creation of properly serviced axial link roads to busy terminals like Redemption City, MFM Prayer Grounds etc and provision of proper lightings and traffic lights along that stretch are all possible if the churches provide the leadership. There are several Engineers and Engineering outfits amongst the Church (es)’s membership. The church (es) CAN mandate their members to come up with viable and cost effective redevelopment of that road and together with the banks approach the government for permission to work on this eye sore. As debauched as our Public officials and Politicians are generally perceived; I doubt any politically savvy Politician or administration would put up much resistance to such a well publicised move.

Such a development would have many spin offs. The first would be a construction of international standard at internationally acceptable costs; no contract inflations, kickbacks or kick forwards. Second, it would create pressure on Public officers to perform as a measurable standard would have been set. Thirdly, such development would help foster an atmosphere of social consciousness amongst our corporate citizens beyond the culture of dance competitions and entertainment to areas that really impact society. Fourthly, it would save several lives often lost in the carnage witnessed daily on the road, whilst saving the many man hours often lost as a result of these intractable traffic jams. The final spin off of such a step by our churches would be to advertise to all and sundry that the Church possesses the wherewithal to impact the political leadership of our nation. This would in my opinion provide political leverage for aspiring politicians within the church’s fold to secure political power as witnessed in some of the nations mentioned earlier. The likes of Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, John Adams (US), William Wilberforce, Granville Sharp and Henry Thornton (UK) emerged because the Church had prepared the ground for them by impacting their society.

Are these pipe dreams??? I think not. It is time our Church leaders show us by example the ‘faith’ they often preach about by applying it to tangible projects that benefit the common man and that extend beyond the walls of their peculiar enclaves. We hear so much of the power of ‘mountain moving faith’. Whilst we appreciate their prayers; let our leaders show us, with their actions in these ways the application of our faith to the mundane problems daily confronting us today.

Finally, the Apostle James says with telling effect in James 2:14-18:

14 Dear brothers, what's the use of saying that you have faith and are Christians if you aren't proving it by helping others? Will that kind of faith save anyone? 15 If you have a friend who is in need of food and clothing, 16 and you say to him, "Well, good-bye and God bless you; stay warm and eat hearty," and then don't give him clothes or food, what good does that do? 17 So you see, it isn't enough just to have faith. You must also do good to prove that you have it. Faith that doesn't show itself by good works is no faith at all-it is dead and useless. 18 But someone may well argue, "You say the way to God is by faith alone, plus nothing; well, I say that good works are important too, for without good works you can't prove whether you have faith or not; but anyone can see that I have faith by the way I act."  TLB

Seán Akinrele is a Solicitor and Advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and author of Foxes in the Vineyard (Insights into the Nigerian Pentecostal Revival). Web: http://www.foxesinthevinyard.net

Robot  Villager

# 1 ...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 23.07.2008 00:14

pappilo  Villager

# 2 The truth here is that the churches should not have been given the permission to build so close to the motorway in the first place. Even a new starter in the ministry of planning with little knowledge of urban planning knows that you cannot build churches or any other oufit that attracts that many people that close to a major motorway without taking into account what impact such will have on the local area and other road users in the area I give an example. In the UK, the thames gateway agency refused to give the KICC church the approval to site its new church building in the Dagenham after due consideration and consultation with the public. I know many people and members of the church without a clue will say it was racism and what not. It wasnt, it was simply a case of cause and effects. KICC informed the agency that it was expecting 10,000 worshipers every sunday and submitted its proposal. The agency did its own research and concluded that the local transport links in the area couldnt handle the extra capacity on a sunday and most important of all the site chosen was situated too close to the A13, a major road from Essex into London, thus the application was rejected If the Agencies in Nigeria did thier jobs propertly or even at all, the permission for the siting of those churches would never have been granted in the first place! I will personally like to see the end of those churches on the Lagos-Ibadan Road and I ferverntly await the coming of a man or woman with the guts to order such without fear of spiritual backlash. I have hated those churches with a passion since they messed up the wedding of a family member whose musician never arrived at the party in Lagos despite leaving Ibadan at 8am in the morning. Several guests from outside Lagos also never made it! Posted by pappilo| 23.07.2008 02:31

Olamide  Villager

# 3 The Redemption city is not a 'success' as you would like us to believe. If the city was 'planned' as you claimed, why were car parks with enough spaces in them to accomodate the horde of people that thronged the camp/city not provided? If parking spaces were provided, why are they not being used and the members continue double-parking their vehicles on the road? Is it the same general indiscipline and total disregard for rules, processes and regulations that afflicts all Nigerians regardless of religion, tribe, political belief and gender that is worrying the church members? The churches and Islamic organizations on the road will do well to establish car parks for their members and instruct them to use the parks and stop making life difficult for other innocent Nigerians. They have the billions which they could utilize for this instead improving the wardrobes of their leaders and buying up the blue-chip companies. What is happening on the express is also happening in other cities of Nigeria at a lesser extent every Friday and Sundays when worsippers block roads as a 'right' and deprive other road users of the right to use the road because they are worshipping 'God'. I am sure God does not condone indiscipline and people committing acts of indiscipline cannot be worshipping him. As for suggestions to ban these churches from the expressway, it is not going to work because banning them from the express will only mean they will transfer the problems somewhere else. The milions rushing to these churches are doing so because of the grinding poverty in Nigeria. What the government could do is to whittle down the influence of religion in our lives through concerted efforts to reduce poverty levels, create employment and give hope to the common man but not through populist measures like banning them. Imagine the backlash if Yar'Adua should ban the churches on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway? There wil be talks of 'religious repression', 'Islamic genocide' and you can be sure all the Western nations will rise up to 'protest not minding that the decision was taken to protect millions of Nigerians from the repression of these religious organizations. Posted by Olamide| 23.07.2008 02:54

pappilo  Villager

# 4 No one said ban the churches! I said they should be removed from the express road. Where in the world have you seen such a place that attracts that many people with slip roads that lead right into the motorway, tell me where? The churches should be relocated deep into the forest, say like 10 miles. Which western nations will rise up because some illegaly sited money making church buildings are demolished? Posted by pappilo| 23.07.2008 03:30

FoxCatcher  Villager

# 5 =Olamide;4295073977>The Redemption city is not a 'success' as you would like us to believe. If the city was 'planned' as you claimed, why were car parks with enough spaces in them to accomodate the horde of people that thronged the camp/city not provided? If parking spaces were provided, why are they not being used and the members continue double-parking their vehicles on the road? Is it the same general indiscipline and total disregard for rules, processes and regulations that afflicts all Nigerians regardless of religion, tribe, political belief and gender that is worrying the church members? I am not holding brief for RCCG or Redemption City. When I write, I sometimes adopt what I call the 'mosquito approach': i.e, fanning its victim to reduce pain of the bite:D. However, the 'success' you resent here is relative not absolute. Relative to what applies in Nigeria's public planning and development, Redemption City is a 'success' The churches and Islamic organizations on the road will do well to establish car parks for their members and instruct them to use the parks and stop making life difficult for other innocent Nigerians. They have the billions which they could utilize for this instead improving the wardrobes of their leaders and buying up the blue-chip companies. What is happening on the express is also happening in other cities of Nigeria at a lesser extent every Friday and Sundays when worsippers block roads as a 'right' and deprive other road users of the right to use the road because they are worshipping 'God'. I am sure God does not condone indiscipline and people committing acts of indiscipline cannot be worshipping him. Precisely my point. Its called 'Social Responsibilty'. The Bible tells us that 'law was made for the 'lawless' not the 'godly'. Even where there are no planning laws, good sense and consideration for one's neighbour; which are the bulwarks of Christianity (in particular) demand our churches consider the effect of their activities on the society. The behaviour of church members is a topic for another discussion entirely. It is however symtomatic of the general disconnect between what a lot say and do outside the church's walls. =pappilo;4295073968>The truth here is that the churches should not have been given the permission to build so close to the motorway in the first place. Even a new starter in the ministry of planning with little knowledge of urban planning knows that you cannot build churches or any other oufit that attracts that many people that close to a major motorway without taking into account what impact such will have on the local area and other road users in the area I give an example. In the UK, the thames gateway agency refused to give the KICC church the approval to site its new church building in the Dagenham after due consideration and consultation with the public. I know many people and members of the church without a clue will say it was racism and what not. It wasnt, it was simply a case of cause and effects. KICC informed the agency that it was expecting 10,000 worshipers every sunday and submitted its proposal. The agency did its own research and concluded that the local transport links in the area couldnt handle the extra capacity on a sunday and most important of all the site chosen was situated too close to the A13, a major road from Essex into London, thus the application was rejected If the Agencies in Nigeria did thier jobs propertly or even at all, the permission for the siting of those churches would never have been granted in the first place! You're spots on up to this point. Much of what we witness is because our laws are not adequately enforced and monitored. This is not limited to church developments alone. Recently however, LASG demolished some churches that contravened building regulations in Lagos. However, a point you miss is that RCCG acquired their parcel in the mid 80's when the corridor was a jungle. Development and possibly 'planning' followed only because of the commercial activities its presence brought to the corridor. However, 'planning' or not, these churches owe society a duty to leverage their influence and resources in finding a lasting solution to the nightmare their activities have created along that axis. I will personally like to see the end of those churches on the Lagos-Ibadan Road and I ferverntly await the coming of a man or woman with the guts to order such without fear of spiritual backlash. I have hated those churches with a passion since they messed up the wedding of a family member whose musician never arrived at the party in Lagos despite leaving Ibadan at 8am in the morning. Several guests from outside Lagos also never made it! Your opinion. Perhaps you're now in danger of throwing out the baby with the bath water???:D Posted by FoxCatcher| 23.07.2008 04:09

pappilo  Villager

# 6 However, a point you miss is that RCCG acquired their parcel in the mid 80's when the corridor was a jungle. Development and possibly 'planning' followed only because of the commercial activities its presence brought to the corridor. Not at all, I havent missed the point. planning should come before commercial activities. When they aquired the land in the 80's werent cars and trucks travelling on the road? This brings me back to Agencies not doing their jobs. Just because it was jungle then doesnt mean it would be a jungle in the future. Many major roads and motorways in the UK were built from the 40's but because the agencies responsible planned ahead and looked into the future (thats what their jobs are created for) they did not grant the permission for houses, factories or churches to be built next to such roads. This has allowed for present day expansion projects on roads like the M1 and the A13 with little or no negative effect on people living in the local area When these departments have got it wrong (they seldom do) they havent been afraid to take the necessary actions to remedy such situations like the acquisition and demolition of houses in beckton for the expansion of the A13. That is what needs to be done on the Lagos-Ibadan road. Ask anyone that knows about town planning, short of flying people into the Redemption camp and copycat camps along that road, nothing will solve the problems as long as the churches are situated in such close proximity to the road. Regards Posted by pappilo| 23.07.2008 05:01

Mikky jaga  Villager

# 7 The problem of Lagos Ibadan Expressway was not caused by the churches. The government in its wisdom decided to dedicate that area to religious activities, it is therefore the duty of government to ensure the basic infrastructure is in place to accommodate them. Churches have been agents of revolution, true. That is exactly what these churches are doing in that area. A former wilderness is now burstling with life. It is now time for government, whose duty it is to take care of the needs of its people to move in, assess the impacts of these churches on the area and act accordingly. The Expressway can even be diverted from these areas. Even if the churches are relocated to other places, they will still bring the same development to the area with the attendant problems that must also be solved. Some feel these churches have surplus funds they stacked up somewhere that could be diverted to constructing 8 lane highway. That is not true. Some of these churches are still struggling to build their headquarters. Their campgrounds are nothing near that of RCCG (courtesy OBJ largesse). Let government do its duty of providing infrastructure and let the churches concentrate on their duty of ministering to the spiritual needs of the people. Posted by Mikky jaga| 23.07.2008 06:13

employlawone  Villager

# 8 =Mikky jaga;4295074054> Churches have been agents of revolution, true. That is exactly what these churches are doing in that area. A former wilderness is now burstling with life. It is now time for government, whose duty it is to take care of the needs of its people to move in, assess the impacts of these churches on the area and act accordingly. The Expressway can even be diverted from these areas. Even if the churches are relocated to other places, they will still bring the same development to the area with the attendant problems that must also be solved. ??? Please forgive my ignorance, kindly advise me of the revolution attributable to these churches in the areas concerned, in doing so it would be helpful to focus on issues like social regeneration and social transformation. 1) How many young unchurched people are touched through church programmes in those areas? 2) How many people, again unchurched are impacted through social housing? 3) How many unchurched sick people are impacted through healthcare there? (My sister a member of one of the churches, while on camp had to visit the hospital there because someone fell, the place was a disgust and a discredit to the vision we should all have as Christians). it is possible that our friend may educate me and relieve my ignorance. Foxcatcher, thank you for your constructive piece, the suggestions you bring and the challenges you highlight. I think people like you should govern us, should you so decide, I shall take time off to support you. Posted by employlawone| 23.07.2008 06:34

Profegee  Villager

# 9 The author has hit the nail on the head. I absolutely agree with the observation and conclusion. In fact, while it is indisputable that the church has made positive change on the progress and development of nations, Nigeria inclusive; it is worth emphasizing that religious organisations are multiplying astronomically but without any positive contribution to social value. If the nation will achieve the MDG and the much publicized Vision 2020, the government must be very sincere to step on toes. Hundreds of people most especially job applicants, business individuals, the sick and accident victims have horrible stories of misfortune these religious activities along these corridors have cost them. Appointments and opportunities have been missed, lives of hundreds of breadwinners have been lost before geting to hospitals; and yet these organisation feels unperturbed. Apart from all these, pentecostal churches hardly contribute to the betterment of the society but rather aggravate it. Take most of our industrial and commercial centres as typical examples, virtually all factories, warehouses and business enterprises have become churches. The Nigeria's pentecostal church rarely solves unemployment problems but rather adds to it. Educational institutions ranging from kindergatens to universities are established by these religious organisation, but how many average Nigerians including the majority of the church members can afford the cost? It is now apparent that these religious enterprises are organised for the politicians and oppressors in the society. The church should rise up to the challenges and face the primary commands/assignments given by the Lord Jesus Christ rather than patronising the corridor of powers for political appointments and economic waivers. How would religious leaders who have benefitted in one form or the other criticize the government who offerred such favour. The tempo of the sermons has changed tremendously. The earlier the society takes the bull by the born the better for our Nation. Posted by Profegee| 23.07.2008 07:36

employlawone  Villager

# 10 =Profegee;4295074075>The author has hit the nail on the head. I absolutely agree with the observation and conclusion. In fact, while it is indisputable that the church has made positive change on the progress and development of nations, Nigeria inclusive; it is worth emphasizing that religious organisations are multiplying astronomically but without any positive contribution to social value. If the nation will achieve the MDG and the much publicized Vision 2020, the government must be very sincere to step on toes. Hundreds of people most especially job applicants, business individuals, the sick and accident victims have horrible stories of misfortune these religious activities along these corridors have cost them. Appointments and opportunities have been missed, lives of hundreds of breadwinners have been lost before geting to hospitals; and yet these organisation feels unperturbed. Apart from all these, pentecostal churches hardly contribute to the betterment of the society but rather aggravate it. Take most of our industrial and commercial centres as typical examples, virtually all factories, warehouses and business enterprises have become churches. The Nigeria's pentecostal church rarely solves unemployment problems but rather adds to it. Educational institutions ranging from kindergatens to universities are established by these religious organisation, but how many average Nigerians including the majority of the church members can afford the cost? It is now apparent that these religious enterprises are organised for the politicians and oppressors in the society. The church should rise up to the challenges and face the primary commands/assignments given by the Lord Jesus Christ rather than patronising the corridor of powers for political appointments and economic waivers. How would religious leaders who have benefitted in one form or the other criticize the government who offerred such favour. The tempo of the sermons has changed tremendously. The earlier the society takes the bull by the born the better for our Nation. Very well articulated, well done and thank you. Posted by employlawone| 23.07.2008 09:35

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