Lord’s Chosen: Our church was not closed

The Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministries has debunked reports that its premises were sealed off by officials of Lagos State Ministry of Environment last week. Many newspapers had reported that the church was closed by government officials over violation of environmental laws and erection of structures on Odo Asimawu Drainage Channel. But in a statement last Thursday, the church said there was never a time the church was closed. The statement signed by the church’s Director of Public Relations/Press, Pastor Louis Chidi, said: “The church has not been closed by any government. The church and all her activities are running as usual.” It stated: “The fact is that officials of Lagos State government from the Department of Drainage System in the Ministry of Environment gave notice about a particular facility that did not observe the required set back from the canal. “They, therefore, asked that the facility should not be used until necessary amendment is made. We have since complied and the facility reverted to the former status. “Please take note that the church did not stop functioning because of this as there are many other facilities within the church premises.” Chidi also said the church does not encourage street trading in its surrounding. He explained: “The church authority has repeatedly warned those traders to stop desecrating the holy ground and several other efforts made to stop the illegal market were to no avail as most of them claimed to be paying rent and taxes to the authority.’’ He emphasised that “The Lord’s Chosen Church is a law-abiding ministry and will remain so in all her activities by the grace of God. The church was never closed, and above all, the cordial relationship existing between the state government and the church remains intact. “We will continue to support and pray for the government of the state, her citizens and indeed the entire country.”