By Oboh Kenneth
From December 14 to 26, members of God’s Kingdom Society, GKS, the Church of the Living God, gathered in Salem City, Warri, the church’s headquarters for their annual Feast of tabernacles. 94 branches had arrived by Saturday, with edifying lecturers, teaching, meetings and processions spread across the week. However, the atmosphere was free from chocking spirituality— it was a colourful festival.
As Brother Godwin Ifeacho, Chairman, Executive Board of GKS said, the feast is a celebration of God’s guidance and protection of the Israelites in the travail from Egypt to the Promised Land. Quoting from Zechariah 14: 16-19, Brother Ifeacho said the feast comes with blessings, but that to receive the blessings as Israelites by faith, repentance, settling differences with neighbours are important prerequisites.
The GKS choir performing during the Holy Convocation at the Feast of Tabernacles
Talking briefly on politics, Brother Ifeacho said although GKS members are not encouraged to go into politics, given the peculiarities of the Nigerian system, they must perform their civic duties.
In his address, entitled Unbelievers and Wicked Men Shall Soon Know that there is God, on the Holy Convocation, the final day of the festival, Ifeacho warned: “All leaders should be careful of flatterers and sycophants so as to avoid falling into the temptation that will put them in danger of God’s judgement as it happened to Herod.
“Recent history has shown the end of wicked men, including wicked rulers who defied God and worked in opposition to His will.”
But his Holy Convocation address was an icing on a week-long activities of celebrations.
7 days of feasting
On the first day, Christians Procession, members of the four zones in Warri an neigbouring branches went round Warri. Another one, Last and Great Day Procession, held on Sunday morning. In each case, display of cultural songs, dances and attires practically turned Warri into a huge carnival site.
Sandwiched between these occasions where lectures. By Thursday, Brother Benedict Hart, Publicity Secretary, GKS, gave a review of the feast. This was followed by lectures on Making Friends with the Mammon of Unrighteousness and What Does it Mean to Make a Vow to God.
On Friday, the Christian Women Assembly held and after the Christian Women Procession of Saturday morning, Brother Uchechumi Ugoji took the GKS children up on Beware of Bad company.
A downpour disrupted evening activities. But by the time the programme started, members were motivated. With Brother Love Ojakovo, Chairman of the Laity, coordinating, over N63 million donation was realized as members pledged to build an amphitheatre deserving of a church founded 80 years ago by St. Gideon Urhobo.
All these activities are regularly interspersed by soul-lifting hymns and electric musical performances by different, but beautiful, choir groups that always contrive somehow to look like cakes.
Musical journey
Step back a little to Friday evening. What you get are captivating musical performances from Amona Choral, GKS, Asaba; Agbarha-Otor Orchestra, GKS Agbarha-Otor; Ekiti Choral Group; GKS Student Fellowship, Ambrose Alli University, Akpoma; Suile Aghoho Choral Group, Warri.
Others were Ogba Group/Dancers, GKS Omoku; Edo Cultural Group; Omoluwa Dancing Group, GKS Apapa; Chidi Ebere Ochestra, GKS, Warri; Rivers Group, GKS, Port Harcourt; Zumuta Dancing Group, GKS Abuja; Ghana Troupe, GKS Accra; Uzondu Choral Group, GKS, Aba and Isoko Orchestra, GKS Warri.
Brother Godwin Ifeacho, Chairman, Executive Board, God’s Kingdom Society, GKS (middle); Bro. F. E. Adedokun, Vice Chairman (left); and Bro. T. M. Ekiseowei, Secretary, officiating at the Feast of Tabernacles.
A poignant presentation at the St. Urhobo Square venue was the Zumuta Group’s performance.
The members enacted the dilemma of a people besieged by insecurity, but found peace only when they looked up to God. A flip side to GKS’ appreciation of good music is the fact that the Church of the Living God might be one of the last bastions of our rich culture as Africans. Every choral group performed with traditional costumes, musical instruments and sang songs that brings home to mind.
A way of life
Answering a question on smoking on the first day of the feast, Brother Ifeacho said: “While it is not stated in black and white in the bible that smoking is a sin, the fact that smoking is dangerous to health means Christians should not indulge in the habit.” Then he quoted 2 Corinthians 7:1.
That point of view about summarizes GKS’ belief system. Brother Ugoji who taught the children on Saturday is in his 40s. Born into GKS, he has known no other life than the one defined by what the church preaches. “Our faith should not be diluted, so we must catcht them young.”
As Brother Ifeacho said: “Each festival is a celebration of Jehovah and Jesus Christ; an opportunity to renew our faith.”
As the celebrants dispersed, it was obvious they could not wait for the next feast to begin.