Unusual Praise 2024: A Night of Spirit-Filled Worship and Empowerment

The highly anticipated Unusual Praise 2024, hosted by the Catholic Church of Divine Mercy, Lekki, is set to bring an extraordinary night of worship, praise, and spiritual upliftment to gospel music lovers.

The event will take place on Friday, 13th, December, 2024, at Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos is open for free. The event will begin at 5:00 PM and continue all night, concluding with the celebration of Holy Mass in the morning.

Over the years, the event has grown into the largest praise night within the Catholic community in Africa, drawing both local and international gospel music icons and thousands of worshippers.

Known for its electrifying atmosphere and deep spiritual connection, Unusual Praise 2024 is poised to deliver an uplifting encounter in the presence of God.

Speaking at a press conference in Lagos, yesterday to announce the event, the Chairperson, Unusual Praise 2024, Theresa Onwuka, said the whole idea was about winning souls for Christ for the past 13 years running.

She explained that a group of about 20 to 30 people got the lead to praise God in an unusual way, which was how Unusual Praise was birthed.

“But basically, it’s all about evangelization, trying to gain more souls for Christ. Last year, we had 800 people give their lives to Christ. In fact, Unusual Onitsha, which took place in November, we had 250 people give their lives to Christ. And they are currently being counseled and being mentored. Unusual Praise this year, the theme is taken from Psalm 67 verse 3, and it says, Let all peoples praise you, O God. Let all the people praise you,” she said.

She further explained that they have made provision for transportation to the venue to pick people up across Lagos Catholic parishes.

According to her, “It promises to be an amazing event. We have security in place. It’s a free event, so we have security parking for early birds. And our security personnel are all in place. So it promises to be an amazing event. So, we have BRT buses and buses provided for free transportation to and through the venue. So, the buses will take them from the different parishes, the different locations, bring them to TBS, wait, and take them back.

“This year’s lineup promises an unforgettable experience, featuring renowned gospel ministers like Chioma Jesus, Jude Nnam, Beejay Sax, Mr. M & Revelation, Dare Justified, Joe Praize, Alaseyori, and more. The event will take place on Friday, December 13, at Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos. The event will begin at 5:00 PM and continue all night, concluding with the celebration of Holy Mass in the morning. This year’s theme, “Let the Peoples Praise You, Oh Lord” (Psalm 67:5), underscores the unifying power of worship and the importance of gratitude to God.”

For the Parish Priest , Catholic Church of Divine Mercy, Lekki, Monsignor, Paschal Nwaezeapu, said people must learn how to give praise to God despite the economic challenges in the country.

According to him, “It’s not just those of us that have already accepted Him. We want more and more people to come and praise Him. And when you kind of consider the kind of feedback we get, you see that actually there are many who give their lives to Christ. There are even people who have been Christians who don’t read the Bible and they started reading. So, I think it’s about getting more and more people to praise God. Right now we are in Nigeria, it’s quite the time for people to praise God because of the challenges that they are facing.

“That is when you separate men from boys. You see, we can easily praise when the going is good. But when it is rough, that is when you now know the real Christians. And the reason people think they cannot praise at this particular point in time is because people have not learned to count their blessings. In truth, there is nothing God can do for you now that can surpass what He has already done. Christ can’t die twice. And apart from the gift of this new life in Christ Jesus, the greatest gift we have is life. And again, I want you to ask yourself, COVID showed us something.

“People were paying millions to be able to breathe. But even those who can’t pay now are still able to breathe. Air is free of charge, sunlight, water and even the ground on which you walk, how much do you pay for that?”

Beyond the praise and worship, Unusual Praise also serves as a platform for empowering Nigerian entrepreneurs through its Unusual Entrepreneurship program. Now in its 7th edition, the initiative provides funding, business training, and mentorship to entrepreneurs across the country.

This year, up to 100 entrepreneurs will receive funding as part of the program. Since its inception, the initiative has empowered over 1,000 entrepreneurs, fostering innovation and creating sustainable businesses in Nigeria.

In previous years, Unusual Praise has hosted legendary gospel artists like Don Moen, Ron Kenoly, Sinach, Nathaniel Bassey, Mercy Chinwo, Nicole C. Mullen, and Dunsin Oyekan, among others. Each event has left a lasting impact on attendees, uniting communities in heartfelt worship and celebrating the power of God through music.

This year’s edition promises to be even more impactful, offering an unforgettable night of spiritual renewal while fostering economic empowerment. For those seeking a deeper connection with God and a chance to be part of a transformative experience, Unusual Praise 2024 is an event not to be missed.