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first timer's review

Although I’ve been following Pastor Emmanuel Iren online for a few years, today was my first time walking into a physical CCI “campus.”

CCI Ajah.

First Impression

I had already expected the dressing. CCI is known for being a “youth church,” and it was evident in how everyone dressed. I’m not a fashion expert, but I’d say the major theme was street fashion. I’m talking leather jackets, sneakers, T-shirts tucked into palazzo pants. Everyone genuinely looked good.

I did spot a few traditional outfits, some gowns and dresses, but you see those leather jackets. I don’t know if it was today’s uniform or genuinely the style of this branch.

First Shock

One thing I understood quickly is that the church is a singing church. We spent timeee singing. Praise, worship, temple music—you name it. I’m not talking about 5-minute timed praise and worship; I’m talking about enough worship to make you feel God’s presence. The sound system was excellent, the microphones were working, and the voices were talented.

But what truly shocked me was the app.

It was right before testimonies. A beautiful girl walked onto the stage and said, “Before we begin, let’s mark attendance. Today’s code is 8830, and you can scan the QR code on the screen also.”

Everyone pulled out their phones. Another beautiful girl beside me explained how to download the app and “mark my attendance.” And then I got a streak: a tiny little flame showing that I had been to CCI Ajah for one week. What a retention strategy.

I went through the app and found that it’s not only for devotion and attendance. You can view all the sermons and filter them based on topic, request prayer/counselling, see announcements, share a testimony, give, and even suggest a feature. Kudos to the developers, for real.

Everyone Is Beautiful.

I don’t know if it’s just my branch, but everyone is genuinely beautiful in this church. So put together. Clear skin. Bright smiles. When different people walked up to greet me during the first-timers’ announcement, I asked my sister if being beautiful or handsome was a criterion for attending the church.

Beyond the physical, I think the people at that church genuinely like being there.

During the service, we were told to welcome our neighbours, and it wasn’t the awkward greeting I have come to dread in new churches. The girl beside me literally smiled, asked my name, if today was my first time, how long I had been in Lagos, etc. There was enough time for interaction, and I can safely say I made my first church friend: Ife.

That’s another thing about CCI.

They are big on family.

Not the kind your company claims so they can overwork you, but a genuine family like the way Christ intended the church to be.

For starters, there’s a visible structure of accountability. The app was the first indicator. The first-timers’ welcome speech was another.

At the end of the service, the pastor called for a married members’ meeting, and I overheard him saying, “I want us to be so close that you can comfortably leave your children at each other’s houses and go for date night.”

If that’s not a family church, I don’t know what is.

They Preach Jesus.

Have you ever entered a church with a giant cross at the entrance, but you can count on one hand how many times the name of Jesus was mentioned outside prayer?

Yet in this church, you could immediately tell they gathered for Jesus. The songs were about Jesus. The sermon related to Jesus. The emphasis was on following Jesus.

The programme was literally 30% singing, 50% sermon, 10% community building, 5% thanksgiving (child dedication), and 5% announcements.

The pastor was charismatic. I laughed a few times, but not once did he ever miss the plot. Today’s topic was on the fervency of service, and my favourite quote was:

“Christ is not merely a sacrifice to believe in but an example to emulate.”

I could write a whole new sermon about what I learnt today, but that is a story for another article.

Today is about CCI Ajah and how they made me feel.

Maybe the church has some flaws. Maybe I’m still in my honeymoon phase. Maybe I don’t yet know enough about the members.

But today was great.

It gave me hope for the Christian community.

And I pray you feel just as good about your church as I do about mine.