Virtual watch night services: A post-pandemic era adaptation in Nigeria

Abstract

Watch night services are integral parts of worship in African Christianity either to praise the Almighty God or for intercession of various kinds. Some Christian denominations believe that worship would be incomplete without watch night services. However, in recent times, Christian denominations in Nigeria are divided on grounds of the continuity of the watch night services in respect to prevailing insecurity situations in the Nigerian society. Some church members have suffered robbery attacks, young girls have been raped and some members have been kidnapped on their way to, and back from the watch night services. The situation is so bad that some churches employ local hunters or vigilante groups, to ensure adequate security during watch night services. Other Christians continue the services believing that the God they are serving would keep them safe from all forms of physical insecurity during night watch services. Yet, some groups of Christians opine that the virtual watch night services adopted during the COVID-19 era would be the best. The Nigerian Christian is indeed confused about the best approach to watch night services. This ethnographic study did a random survey of 15 churches in Agbowo, University of Ibadan area in Oyo State in the last Fridays of January and February, 2023. Findings reveal that majority of churches have not availed themselves of the opportunities the virtual night services do offer. Watch night services are biblical. The church needs to avail herself of the opportunity the virtual watch night services offers to avert the attendant insecurity of the physical watch night services.