8th December, 2023
By Victoria Oluwayemi
Aderemi Dabiri, a senior prophet at the Celestial Church of Christ in Lagos, has revealed reasons for inviting secular artistes for praise night.
Dabiri stirred discussions on social media by bringing in talented musicians Portable and Pasuma to perform at the church’s upcoming Ankara/Praise Night on December 15.
The purpose behind this move, according to the cleric, was to attract new converts to the church through a strategy he’s employed before.
Dabiri explained that he’s consistently invited musicians to the church as part of their evangelism efforts, emphasizing its effectiveness in drawing in individuals.
He clarified that the intention wasn’t merely about entertainment but a strategic approach to reach out to diverse groups.
He stated,“It is not our first time inviting guest artistes. We have been doing it without a problem and I can give you a series of instances. We cannot go where they sell palm wine or alcoholic drinks and ask them to accept Jesus Christ. If I don’t apply wisdom, they will hit a bottle on my head. That was why I thought of a way to bring them into the church. ”
Dabiri further highlighted a significant reason for this unconventional approach: targeting troubled individuals within the community.
He expressed concerns about those involved in disruptive activities like cultism and disruptive behavior, aiming to redirect their focus and encourage positive change.
Reflecting on past experiences, he added“We have gone to places where they are and they ended up beating us. Most of the members of my church are new converts and it was through that pattern that I converted them”.
To ensure a conducive atmosphere aligned with the church’s principles, Dabiri outlined specific guidelines for the artists and their entourage, emphasizing a shift toward gospel-oriented performances.
Additionally, he detailed plans to enforce strict rules, including the presence of security personnel to maintain order during the event.
“It is not our first time inviting guest artistes. We have been doing it without a problem and I can give you a series of instances. We cannot go where they sell palm wine or alcoholic drinks and ask them to accept Jesus Christ. If I don’t apply wisdom, they will hit a bottle on my head. That was why I thought of a way to bring them into the church. “I also noticed that there are some notorious boys who cause trouble in the community, disturbing the authorities and engaging in cultism. I wondered how we can draw their attention so that they would have a change of heart. “We have gone to places where they are and they ended up beating us. Most of the members of my church are new converts and it was through that pattern that I converted them. “We will tell Portable not to dye his hair and he should not sing vulgar songs but to sing gospel music. We will also caution him not to dress inappropriately or climb the speakers. We will also warn him not to allow his boys to smoke here. We have invited close to 30 military personnel to man the event.”