TEN YEARS OF HOLY GHOST CONGRESS: JOY UNSPEAKABLE

Many people will be surprised to recall that it is now ten quick years since the famous Lekki ’98, when millions (CNN said to have reported 7 million) gathered together at the Lekki Beach to celebrate the first edition of what then used to be called the Holy Ghost Festival. Organized by the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), it was certainly a landmark event, reminiscent of the congregation of the children of Israel in the days of Moses. Subsequent editions have moved to the Holy Ghost Arena at the Redemption Camp, first as a 3-day event , and now as an all week-long (Monday to Saturday) affair.
Spiritually-speaking, the Holy Ghost Congress has an even older history. The first “Congress “ in the RCCG was actually Pastor Adeboye’s indignant response to the Festival of Arts of Culture (FESTAC) hosted by Nigeria in 1977. Irked about the idea of people congregating in large number to celebrate dead idols, the then totally unknown Pastor E.A. Adeboye persuaded his father-in-the-Lord, the General Superintendent of the then obscured RCCG, to organize a “parallel” celebration of the Holy Ghost at Ilesa, in Osun State. Today, while organizers of FESTAC struggle to have a repeat celebration (see for instance www.pmg.org.za/files/docs/080205draftbrief.pdf), the ORGANIZER of the Holy Ghost Congress seemingly has no difficulty in taking the event to ever-increasing heights of glory, attracting millions of participants from all over the world every year.
Church Arise! believes that apart from an exciting Spirit-charged atmosphere featuring excellent music, seminars and teachings; or the outright miracles and life-imparting prophecies, the Sovereign Almighty God Himself – for some point He is keen on making -is directly behind the gathering of the multitudes who have become faithful features of these meetings. If you are yet to participate in the Holy Ghost Congress, this year is an excellent time to partake of this unique indescribable experience. Themed “Joy Unspeakable”, the 11th Holy Ghost Congress runs from Monday 15th – Saturday 20th December.