Nigeria

COVID-19: Kaduna CAN instructs members to suspend church activities

Thursday, March 19, 2020 at 3:37 PM by Oluwatobi Bolashodun

- As coronavirus continues to spread across nations and continents, churches are taking measures to curb more new cases

- The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has instructed churches to suspend worship activities

- The chairman of the Kaduna state chapter advised churches to reduce service time if services must hold

Amid the fear of coronavirus spreading, the Kaduna state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has directed its members in the meantime to suspend all church activities involving large gatherings.

According to Channels TV, the religious body made the announcement in order to curb the spread of the coronavirus in the country.

Reverend Joseph Hayab, the state chairman, who disclosed this in a statement, advised churches to reduce service time by holding very short worship in the case of necessity. Hayab noted that some preventive measures should be adopted by members in order not to get infected.

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The reverend noted that in order to help fight the spread of the virus, members should minimize handshakes and hugs. He went on to add that though CAN believes in prayers, it would bot be proper for any clergy to tell members to come for worship without doing the needful such as keeping required distance to avoid contacts and washing of hands regularly.

Kaduna CAN directs members to suspend church activities — Kaduna state chapter of CAN instructs members to suspend church activities
Source: Twitter

He said: “The challenge of coronavirus is now a global epidemic and many countries in diverse continents have recorded cases of the virus.

“The church in Nigeria, therefore, should not be ignorant of this global pandemic. The church, as a school of faith, which is known for having large gatherings for church services, wedding, burial, prayer meetings, crusades and revival services must endeavour to join forces with government and health workers to stop the spread of this virus.

“Our role must not just be to pray but we must be seen taking concrete steps for the well being of our flocks and the country at large."

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The statement further assured that CAN will work with the government and their health agencies to educate and mobilize Nigerians in fighting the virus, believing that with the right information and proper guidance from all leaders and stakeholders, they can reduce the spread of this virus.

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Legit.ng previously reported that in a bid to curb the spread of the deadly coronavirus, the Lagos state government on Wednesday, March 18, it appealed to religious leaders to stop Juma’at on Fridays and church services on Sundays across the state.

According to The Nation, Gbenga Omotoso, the commissioner for information, disclosing this information at a briefing said in the interest of the people, religious leaders will be urged to stop services.

In a related development, Joel Osteen, a world-acclaimed preacher of the Christian gospel, is one of those who are poised to stop the spread of the virus. Osteen shut down his megachurch to Sunday services, according to fresh reports.