By Ola ‘Kiya, Reporting
The Intercontinental Overseer on Christian Social Responsibility (CRS) of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Idowu Iluyomade, has said that the controversial RCCG ConnectNow is not a dating site, but a faith-driven interactive community of mature believers who are looking for life partners.
Stonix News reports that the initiative has rocked the social media with avalanche of condemnations from Christians and non-Christians alike, accusing the church of fraternising with worldly precepts and standards in the area of marriage.
According to him, as the light of the world, the church is expected to set a godly standard in every area of life and not the other way round.
He added that since the church is lacking in providing faith-based guidance and support in the course of Christians “finding” their life partners, ConnectNow is designed to fill the gap.
Speaking in an interview with Sunday Tribune, Pastor Iluyomade said the initiative was not a worldly dating site but an internet avenue for Christians of marriageable age to coalesce under a well-structured and guided platform to source out their life partners.
“It is a Christian relationship and interactive platform for mature adults that are ready and hoping to get married.
“It is not a dating site as the world knows it, but a faith-driven interactive community of mature believers, who are connecting with one another with a view to building enduring and fruitful Christian relationships.
“The platform encompasses an interactive platform and engaging training sessions and modules taught by seasoned and well-experienced professional and spiritual leaders.
“This is a pre-finding-marriage counseling session to prepare mature adults, who are ready for marriage for that journey of a lifetime and with a view that they make their choices in line with the fear of God and along with the dictates of our faith,” he enthused.
While noting that the platform is not restricted to only RCCG members but the entire christiandom across the globe, the pastor who’s been doing greatly through His Love Foundation (HLF) of the mission said over 2,000 persons have registered on the platform.
“Any interested person that wants to be on the site must be grounded in the faith; right family values and is fit and proper for marriage.
“The platform is for mature adults, widows, widowers who are looking forward to God to get married, and the age range is from 18 and above.
“Participants are to send in their personal details, including phone numbers, email addresses, names of pastors and church’s name. All information provided shall be treated with strict confidentiality.
“No, the dating site is not restricted to our church alone, we have had over 2,000 people registered and many more are still registering from various denominations and over four continents of the world.
“But we have strict guidelines for partners to abide with such as; they must not go alone to anyone’s connection’s house or secluded venues.
“If you are not sure about invitations or venues, you have been invited to or err on the side of caution and let the secretariat know.
“Report any untoward advances, or suggestions to the secretariat; Christian ethics based on God’s word must be observed all through connection/courtship process.
“And partners must have a responsibility to check connection,” he noted.
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