COVID-19: I Can’t Open My Church While People’s Lives Are Still In Danger

The general overseer of Citadel Global Community Church, formerly known as Latter Rain Assembly, Pastor Tunde Bakare said his church will remain closed despite lifting of the ban on religious centers.

Lagos State Government on Thursday had announced that religious activities would resume by June 21st after two months of lockdown due to the coronavirus.

However, Pastor Bakare said he will not be opening his church yet because he does not want to put his members at risk of contracting the deadly virus.

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Speaking during an online Sunday sermon, the pastor advised members to wait till the calamity brought by the coronavirus pandemic is over before the church can be opened.

“I’m so sorry for our country at this juncture. I’m so sorry that we are pressurising the government to open churches and to open Mosques”.

“You want calamity upon calamity. The church has not been closed; nobody can close the church.

“Yes, it is true that buildings are closed but the church is marching on. No one can close the church. Government can shut down the buildings; they cannot force us to go back because I’m not going to endanger the lives of our people.

“Noah did not jump out of the ark. He sent the raven first to test the ground. The raven never returned. He sent the duck twice. On the third occasion, it did not return. He knew it was safe to go out but he still stayed there until God said, Noah, come out.

“He locked him in and He brought him out. Let’s be patient. And they now want to start carrying people to their gravesides and be praying for their families. Let’s stay within until that time when the calamity is over” He added.