COVID-19:Churches Reopen In Ogun State In Excitement And Respect Of Protocols
Christians in Ogun state, Sunday came together in their various churches for services after over four months closure of worship centres resulting from the outbreak of COVID-19.
Churches in Abeokuta, the state capital, largely adhered to safety guidelines for reopening congregational services.
Governor Dapo Abiodun had on Friday ordered the reopening of worship centres under the condition that the guidelines for safety measures should be fully observed.
The governor also directed that, the number of worshippers for a service should not be above 200, while services must not last more than one and a half hour.
Some of the churches visited in Abeokuta were: Victory Life Bible Church (VLBC), Ajebo Road; St John, Igbehin, St. Anne Catholic Church, Ibara, Celestial Church of Christ (CCC), Ibara.
According to Blueprint correspondent
some churches with larger congregation split between three and four services in order to accommodate congregants in respect of the required number of worshippers.
The correspondent also 8ndicated that there was adherence to social distancing, compulsory use of face masks while temperature checks were carried out at the church entrance.
“No face mask, no entry” warning was clairly displayed at the entrance of some of the churches visited.
At St John, it was gathered that not more than 200 worshippers were allowed for each of the three services held on Sunday. Similar scenario played out at Ibara Baptist Church where congregants were split into three group for three services.
The Reverend Father of the St Anne Catholic Church, Lawrence Avro who spoke to journalists, sated that his message was that everyone should calm down and obey Every instruction of the government and at the end tere would be peace and joy for all.
Also speaking, the Senior Pastor at the Victory Life Bible Church (VLBC), Apostle Lawrence Achudume lauded the state government for yielding the call for church reopening.
The cleric, however, indicated the fact that churches reopening does not mean COVID-19 has been tamed, urging Nigerians to obey the Lord and the law in order to defeat Coronavirus.
He indicated that all measures have been put in place to meet the guidelines of the COVID-19 safety protocols at the VLBC.
A congregant, Mr Adigun Kayode said congregants were very excited to be back in church after about five months stay.away. He expressed joy to be among brethren to worship together.
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