Posted by By Laolu Akande on
General Overseer of RCCG, Africa's fastest growing church, to preach in June at the historic venue
General Overseer of RCCG, Africa's fastest growing church, to preach in June at the historic venue
Pastors James Fadele, Ghandi Olaoye, Ajayi-Adeniran leading preparations
astor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God would be leading the church's parishes in the US and Canada to a history making appearance in New York this June as he would be presiding over the 9th convention of the church in North America at the epoch-making Madison Square Garden.
The Madison Square Garden is the leading auditorium in the heart of midtown Manhattan in New York, where only last August, President George W. Bush was renominated for a second term by the Republican party at their convention held in New York.
13 years ago, the same Madison Square Garden was also where former President Bill Clinton was initially nominated for president of the US in 1992 by the Democratic party.The famous Mohammed Ali- Joe Frazier fight of March 8 1971 was also held at the Garden, which also hosted Pope John Paul 2 in his 1979 visit to the US.
In a clearly significant move, the RCCG, which has over 200 parishes across the US alone is bringing its annual convention to New York and coming to a venue regarded here as the "world's most famous arena." The theme of the convention holding from June 15-17 has been tagged "Pillars of Greatness."
RCCG conventions in the US is arguably the single largest gathering of any Nigerian community anywhere in the US with no fewer than 5000 mostly Nigerians in attendance at the peak of the convention, which has held in the past in New Jersey, Chicago, Washington DC, Atlanta, Dallas among others. The G.O. is always a regular feature at all the conventions, and he has been known to be challenging RCCG pastors and ministers in the US to expand the church in the US following the sporadic and glorious rise of the church in Nigeria. RCCG now has over 6000 parishes across the globe including a new parish in Kuwait.
According to the General Overseer's representative in the US, Pastor James Fadele, it is expected that the convention coming up later in New York would be the best so far organized by the church in America. Pastor Fadele, a professional auto design engineer with America's number one company Ford, quit the job to pastor and lead the RCCG here and was named by Pastor Adeboye as Chairman of the Board of Coordinators of the church in North America.
Fadele who visited New York over the weekend said he was excited about what God is going to do at the New York convention adding that 'the whole world is coming to New York." He praised Pastors and ministers in New York and the entire Zone 1 of the RCCG which consists of New York and adjoining states for being so united. He noted that according to the scripture, God commands the blessings where there is unity. Like many of RCCG pastors in the US, Fa dele is an accomplished businessman, who has decided to focus mainly on working for God.
The senior pastor in New York and Zone 1, Pastor Sunday Ajayi-Adeniran also disclosed that being the "capital of the world" the convention in New York is going to be unique. Adeniran, who is also the Zonal coordinator and chairman of the convention planning committee disclosed that plans for the convention where in top gear, adding that in New York and Zone 1, there are now 23 parishes, with more expected to open.
Other leading pastors in New York who are also actively involved in the planning of the convention is Pastor Mike Oluwafemi, a senior RCCG pastor who is an information technology consultant with J.P. Morgan, one of America's leading financial firms. There is also Pastor Nimi Wariboko, a former journalist, scholar and author, who also teaches at the prestigious New York University. Wariboko who is also an economic historian is also a World Bank consultant.
Pastors from outside New York have also been involved in planning the New York convention including the RCCG events coordinator, Pastor Ghandi Olaoye, said to be pastoring one of the biggest RCCG parishes in North America. Olaoye, a well known administrator and planner who is based in Maryland/Washington DC is also the president of an international Christian ministry, Peculiar Peoples Ministry, PPM. There is also Pastor M. Sorinmade, the assistant Zonal Coordinator for Zone 1. Sorinmade is a senior RCCG pastor from Boston, and is in charge of the New York convention planning task force.
According to Pastor Fadele, the RCCG is planning a Redemption Camp in Dallas, just like the one in Nigeria and work on the first auditorium has already been completed. He said the church is set to take over the USA, and plans to build the biggest arena in the country soon in Dallas, which is now the headquarters of the church in North America. He said the foundation of the arena, which can seat 50,000 people at once when completed would be laid later this year in July. Already the church has acquired 415 acres of land in Dallas, where the arena, a fish pond, and other facilities would be constructed. Fadele said it is likely that the facilities at the US Redemption Camp when completed would be free to RCCG members and open to commercial rent by outsiders.
As a means of further improving on the church's work, he said all pastors in the RCCG in North America have also been asked to undertake 25 credits of management and leadership classes this year, quoting Paul the apostle that attention should be paid to reading.
Last December, the RCCG annual Holy Ghost Congress, which atrracts an estimated millions in attendance had leading US ministers like Pastor T.D. Jakes and John Hagee participating. The annual congress is said to be the single largest gathering of Christians under a roof anywhere.