by Oyindamola Olofinlua
A phone call from a friend was all it took to get to House on the Rock, Victoria Island, Lagos. The church holds three services, making it easier for people to choose which one they’d like to attend. My friend had mentioned time and again that she attends two services, so I set out to do the same. We started out for the first service which would begin at 7:15am.
After a smooth ride, I arrived at the MUSON Centre, the venue for the service. A fleet of eye-catching cars parked outside, gleaming in spite of the early morning harmattan, were the first to steal my attention. Not long after, as I made my way in, four gun-toting policemen at the entrance also caught my eye. My guess was that they had come as escorts to a dignitary.
Straight into the Shell Hall, I marched. My friend had advised me to go there because according to her, I was supposed be a part of the service as a ‘first-party’, not as a ‘third party’. As I made my way in, radiant faces were all around to bid me welcome as if they all knew it was my first time in the church.
Right on time, the service began with the opening prayer. Chosen Treasure – the choir – led by Timi Dakolo of the West African Idols’ fame took us into a power-packed praise and worship session. The songs were very well sung, such that I was left wondering whether it was this church choir who had composed them. My friend was quick to agree on this note – “they were classy,” he said after the service.
The highest point in the service was the sermon which was preached by Pastor Goke Coker. The message centered on how many believers seem to be so knowledgeable that they take God for granted. Even though the message was about prosperity, the pastor emphasized on how to prosper in God’s own way. The most memorable parts of the sermon were those in which he brought some biblical stories home to Nigeria, such as what Moses would have gone through had he been asked to take Nigerians across the Bar Beach. His lucid descriptions certainly got the attention of members of the congregation.
At the end of the service, first-timers were welcomed by all and sundry. Even I, a first time attendee, did not fail to welcome them. After the service I met up with some friends and stayed behind to attend the second service, which went on in the same orderly manner as the first.
The only difference was that this time around, I was in the Agip Hall, which my friend had said was meant for ‘third-parties’.
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