News
5 Churches That Don’t Celebrate Christmas And Why

Despite Christmas being one of the most popular holidays worldwide, not all churches celebrate it.
Although many people celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ during this time, some churches and other religious institutions have chosen not to take part of the Christmas celebration due to its historical roots, or a desire for rigorous biblical observance.
Here is a list of 5 churches that don’t celebrate Christmas:
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1. Jehovah’s Witness
Historically, Jehovah’s Witnesses were among the largest organisations to refrain from celebrating Christmas. Like many other Christian groups, the organization observed the festival until 1928. The 1993 book Jehovah’s Witnesses “Proclaimers of God’s Kingdom”, revealed that Christmas had its origins in “false religious beliefs or activities this discovery caused the Witnesses to eventually stop celebrating. At first, the change wasn’t consistent because many members needed some time to fully adopt the new position, particularly because other holidays, including Christmas, hadn’t been carefully examined yet.
They argued that the Bible would have specifically addressed it if its observance were significant.
2. Seventh Day Adventist Church
This church practices worship on Saturdays, the Jewish Sabbath, rather than Sundays, and, like Jehovah’s Witnesses, does not celebrate Christmas. A brochure from the group explains their position, pointing out that Jesus wasn’t born in December and that Christians aren’t told to commemorate His birth in the Bible. Instead of seeing Christmas as a festival that is approved by the Bible, the organization sees it as a commercialized event with pagan roots.
Some members of the religious group quietly celebrate Christmas and Easter with friends or family. In the end, the church views these festivities as a matter of personal preference, urging followers to concentrate on their faith and connection with Christ without questioning commonly observed customs.
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3. Deeper Life
The esteemed leader of Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor W.F. Kumuyi, openly announced a few years ago that his church does not celebrate Christmas with both his congregation and the general world. Kumuyi gave a detailed explanation of his motivations during the church’s December retreat in 2013, saying, “We don’t celebrate Christmas. In actuality, it had an idolatrous origin. He underlined that since Christmas songs and other holiday customs are not included in the Bible or the early church’s practices, Deeper Life does not participate in them.
They believed that Christmas had its roots in a pagan celebration of the sun god. Deeper Life holds an event called Freedom Day in October to honor Jesus’ birth anniversary rather than Christmas.
4. The God’s Kingdom Society (GKS)
The God’s Kingdom Society (GKS) commemorates the birth anniversary of Jesus Christ in October with an event called Freedom Day, whereas other Christians celebrate Christmas in December. The church avoids the December celebration because of its pagan roots and feels that this date is better consistent with historical and biblical interpretation. According to the GKS, Christmas is a custom that has its roots in Roman pagan customs like the celebration of Saturnalia, which paid homage to the sun deity.
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GKS was founded in 1934 by St. Gideon Meriodere Urhobo, a Nigerian who broke with the Jehovah’s Witnesses, to restore what Urhobo considered to be authentic Christian practices. Urhobo, who lived from 1903 to 1952, aimed to lead his followers toward a more Biblically accurate faith, and the GKS’s teachings reflect this goal.
5. Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM)
At Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM), founded by Dr. Daniel Olukoya, Christmas is not celebrated because it is believed to have pagan origins and lack a biblical basis. In 2019, Dr. Olukoya made it public that the church rejects Christmas since it is not grounded in Christian theology but rather in pagan customs and the Roman celebration of Saturnalia.
The “Power Must Change Hands” ceremony, which MFM organizes every year in place of Christmas, welcomes the New Year with a focus on deliverance, prayer, and spiritual combat. For the church, holiness, biblical purity, and spiritual preparedness are more significant than the observance of cultural celebrations.
This position aligns with the church’s broader focus on spiritual warfare and separating oneself from behaviors that are thought to go against biblical principles.
News
Migration Agency Warns Migrants Against Irregular Travel Routes

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM), in collaboration with Giving is Healing Foundation, has sensitised residents of Ayobo in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State on the dangers of irregular migration and the need to embrace legal travel procedures.
Speaking during a sensitisation programme held at Megida Ifelodu Community Development Association in Ayobo, the founder of Giving is Healing Foundation, Mr. Gbolahan Ayediran, warned intending migrants against using illegal travel routes.
Ayediran said many Nigerians desire to migrate abroad in search of better opportunities but often ignore proper procedures, thereby exposing themselves to several dangers.
“Lots of people want to migrate and most of them do it in the wrong direction. The reason for the programme is for us to advise people on how they can migrate in the right way. As much as migration is their right, they should do it correctly,” he said.
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He advised intending travellers to obtain the necessary travel documents before embarking on any journey, noting that such documents include international passports, visas, flight tickets and yellow cards, depending on the destination country.
According to him, migrants should also gather adequate information about their destination countries to enable them make informed decisions before travelling.
Ayediran further highlighted some of the dangers associated with irregular migration, including abuse, exploitation, discrimination and forced labour.
Also speaking, the Chairman of Megida Ifelodu Community Development Association, Elder Mathews Amusan, commended the organisers for enlightening members of the community on safe migration practices.
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He urged residents planning to travel abroad to always follow legal migration procedures to avoid falling victim to human trafficking and other migration-related challenges.
One of the participants, Mr. Kolawole Adenoko, said the programme enlightened him on the dangers of irregular migration and the importance of travelling through the proper channels.
He added that he would also educate his relatives and friends on the risks associated with illegal migration.
News
Shatta Wale Bailed Burna Boy From Ghana Prison After Arrest For Smoking Weed – Captan

Ghanian singer, Captan, has claimed that his former record label boss, Shatta Wale, once bailed Nigerian singer Burna Boy out of prison in Ghana after he was allegedly arrested for smoking weed.
Speaking in a recent podcast interview, Captan claimed that Shatta Wale sent him and others to free Burna Boy from police custody.
He also claimed that Shatta Wale and his group once accommodated Burna Boy when he was being hunted by some dangerous men.
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Captan said, “I once bailed Burna Boy out of prison in Ghana when he was arrested for smoking weed. Shatta Wale sent me and some guys to go and free him from police custody.
“There was a time we also accommodated him when some people were after his life. We helped him settle the case.”
He added that he and Burna Boy are no longer in good terms after the Nigerian artist’s fallout with his mentor, Shatta Wale.
He, however, said he and Shatta Wale are open to reconciling with Burna Boy if he asks for it.
Watch the video here
News
Children’s Day: Chaos At Ogbe Stadium As Dozens Faint

Chaos erupted on Wednesday during the Children’s Day celebration as dozens of students reportedly collapsed following a stampede triggered by the use of pepper spray.
The event,
organised by the Edo State Ministry of Education at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium was disrupted after some male students of Ihogbe College allegedly made uncompromising advances towards female students at the venue.
A parent who identified himself as Oboh Emmanuel said, “the behaviour of those uncultured students attracted the attention of bouncers stationed at the stadium as they rebuked the male students.”
Oboh said the affected students later regrouped and attacked the bouncers, leading to a confrontation within the crowded arena.
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It was gathered that in the ensuing confusion, the bouncers were reported to have deployed pepper spray in an area occupied by a large number of students.
Several students, particularly female students, reportedly fainted after inhaling the substance, while others sustained injuries after being stepped on during the ensuing melee.
The panic was said to have spread across the stadium as students, teachers and parents scampered for safety.
Many of the affected students were reportedly rushed to the Edo Specialist Hospital for medical attention.
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Reacting to the incident, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo, Dr Patrick Ebojele, said the security personnel that fired the tear gas had been detained.
He said all the students, except two, that were rushed to the hospital have been discharged.
Ebojele stated that doctors wanted to observe the students till tomorrow before allowing them to go home.
“The two students are not seriously injured. Doctors want to observe them overnight. Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education is still at the hospital. The man who used pepper spray has been detained.
“The incident did not happen the way it is being exaggerated. All modalities were put in place to ensure the children enjoyed their day.”
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