It took just one visit to the social media handles and website of Lighthouse Christian Centre for me to be convinced to attend the service there. Contrary to what you might think, it didn’t speak of purposeless extravagance but minimalism, attention to detail and excellence.

Lighthouse Christian Centre, Oregun is a 10-year-old new age Pentecostal church led by a Pastor Ayo Daniels. A quick look around showed a broad demographics of members, ranging from adults who looked over 50 to youths who looked 18.

I cant tell you how great the praise and worship session was because Church Crawler crawled into the church a bit late. Don’t judge me, please! I walked in right on the message; one that proved to be one of the best I’ve heard in a while. The message was a continuation of a series the church began earlier this month on The Church and her operations. The pastor spoke of giving, the needs of the church and how believers give to the expansion of the gospel. After a while, he delved into giving an account of the church income and expenses over a 10 years span.

Especially now that there’s so much fuss about what the church does with finance, that was incredible and rare. He made an attempt to break down how the church is financed and how it runs. The church was quiet. You could almost hear a pin drop. Whatever was going through the minds of the congregation, I hope it was a resolve to give and be given to God.

Soon, it was the time we all look forward to, one way or the other. The time to welcome first-timers. I stood up gracefully to join the several first-timers who were scattered all over the auditorium. I was welcome and handed over a first timers pack. Scratch that, I was given a first timers box. Church Crawler has been to a couple of churches in and outside Lagos but no first timer’s pack beat this. It was a beautifully designed box that contained all you need to know about the church, your guest information card, a believers journey book and a CD from the church. A pack I couldn’t wait to get home to unbox.

Lighthouse Church might not be a necessarily big church but the atmosphere spoke of love, of accountability, of minimalism yet, of excellence.

Till I attend that church and Church Crawler crawls into your church,

Better be prepared, “for the hour cometh…”

Bolu Akindele

Bolu Akindele is a freelance writer and journalist whose work covers religion, human interest stories and development across Nigeria and increasingly, West Africa.