Inside Pastor Bakare’s N13bn New Mega Worship Centre

FUNSHO AROGUNDADE

As one drives along the well-paved Kudirat Abiola Way in Oregun area of Lagos, the picturesque of the on-going construction of the new humongous worship centre is mesmeric. For many years, the one-acre property acquired by the firebrand preacher and founder of Latter Rain Assembly, Pastor Tunde Bakare, years back was just there lying fallow with only a signpost on which is boldly written on it ‘The Citadel, A Place of Worship’ and temporary fence.

But Spotlight gathered that Bakare has been working assiduously to ensure that the new complex already at almost 70 percent completion is finished latest next year.

The project, handles by the Italian civil engineering giant, Cappa & D’Alberto Plc, is an architectural masterpiece. The new eye popping mega complex, already gulped over N12 billion according to the famous televangelist, would serve as the Latter Rain Assembly’s international headquarters. The Citadel, bordering one of the NNPC Mega stations along that road, is indeeda state-of-the-art structure consists of a 5000+ auditorium, annexes, atrium, bookshops, library, food court amongst other things.

It sits on a 3-level basement parking, retaining walls with ground floor and additional four suspended floors and galleries with a helipad.

The complex will also have classrooms, counseling hall for first timers, diesel tanks and dumps, transformer, exit driveways, sewage treatment site and a senate chamber with an expansive office for Bakare as the church’s overseer.

There will also be a picturesque diner/posh restaurant, baptismal pool and a well-kitted beauty parlor, spa and functional gym that will be full of believers in jeans and flip-flops rock out, sing along or jam to contemporary songs like “Did You Feel the Mountains Tremble?.

The Citadel has also been designed to give worshipers an ambiance for their vehicles to ramp down to the basement car parks. Then, worshippers walking from those parking lots with Bibles in their hands to the Dome-shaped main auditorium with mind blowing designers’ seat for their convenience.

64-year old Bakare’s sermon style ranges from conversational preaching of practical applications of the Bible to serving as a watchman for the nation in the prophetic dimension.

He started the congregation about 30 years ago with less than 100 people. But the sheer size and growth of his congregations all these years has been described as phenomenon with his niche evangelism.

An observer who has been to the project site told Spotlight that he believes that on completion, people would not find anything in The Citadel that is ostentatious rather will find beauty since God’s house ought to be beautiful. To the source, Bakare wants those who are non-believers to be comfortable, and the believers to be uncomfortable so they could get out of their comfort zones to connect with others and bring them into the church.

It is also gathered that the church’s present expansive assembly at Akilo Road in Ogba, Lagos, which is their only branch in Lagos, would remain there, though, Bakare’s Latter Rain Assembly does not believe in replication of church branches. He once shut down all the church branches across country espousing a vision of just one church at a time with a shepherd calling the shots.

In 2016, Bakare hosted in Lagos a fundraising event for the completion of the ultra-modern worship complex with the likes of his friend and Governor of Kaduna state, Nasir El-Rufai and other dignitaries in attendance.

However, sources described Bakare as a man of immense means who aside from huge revenue he earns from his bestselling books, also has interest in auto merchandising, cargo/logistics business and law consultancy. He is said to have committed much of his privately-earned income into the completion of The Citadel.

Culled from The Sun