‘The Experience’, opportunity to praise God freely — Adefarasin

The popular gospel music concert, ‘The Experience’ has come and gone, but both the organisers and attendees are still reeling from the intensity and excitement of the event.

Recall that after two years of holding virtual and hybrid versions of the event due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 17th edition of the programme, organised by The House on the Rock church, Lagos, was held on Friday, December 2, 2022.

Speaking on the underlying motivation for the show, the lead pastor of House on the Rock, Wale Adefarasin, said, “As with the previous years, this free concert was hosted with utmost security, professionalism, hospitality and most importantly, with a focus to continue providing a platform where attendees can pray for our great nation and worship God freely.”

The concert, which was headlined by an American singer, Donnie McClurkin, also witnessed pulsating performances by top gospel artistes such as Travis Greene, Sinach, Nathaniel Bassey, Chandler Moore, Dunsin Oyekan, Phil Thompson, Muyiwa Olarewaju, Tim Hughes, Mercy Chinwo, Onos Ariyo, Preye Odede, Eno Michaels, Eben, the Lagos Metropolitan Gospel Choir of the House on The Rock, Samsong, Segun Obe and Tope Alabi.

Advertisement

Recall that the first edition of the concert held on December 1, 2006, with an attendance of about 40,000 people. Over the years, it has continued to grow exponentially to hundreds of thousands of worshippers.

Adefarason also noted that the concert was birthed by a God-inspired vision to provide a platform where people can raise their hearts, hands and voices together as one in unfettered praise to the Almighty, irrespective of tribe, denomination, creed or language.

Highly anticipated by Christians and non-Christians alike, the average attendance is usually around 500,000 people at the Tafawa Balewa Square in Lagos, even as it watched from all over the world, across different continents. It has undoubtedly has become a favourite destination event for gospel music enthusiasts.