The Experience Global: Leveraging Technology For The Gospel

2020 has been an interesting year for many aspects of the world, particularly technology. Technology has gone from being something we relied on from time to time, to become a daily essential. It has become the core for many lives and a key part of the ‘new normal’ and it is being leveraged in different ways, particularly in the ways events are organised now.

Fifteen years ago, The Experience was birthed by a God-inspired vision. Every year since then, Pastor Paul Adefarasin, Senior Pastor of House On The Rock, Lagos, Nigeria has hosted tis all-night gospel concert, providing a platform where all can raise their hearts, hands and voices together as one in unfettered praise to the Almighty irrespective of tribe, denomination, creed or language. Over the years, it has grown exponentially, to hundreds of thousands of worshippers, making it arguably the largest gospel concert in the world.

Given the year that 2020 has been, so much has changed. With the Coronavirus pandemic, events have had to become virtual, and physical gatherings are now met with limitations and restrictions. These changes to life as we know it makes it impossible for an event with the magnitude of The Experience to hold in its usual manner. 

So it's remarkable to see that despite these restrictions, The Experience has leveraged technology to create its first exclusively virtual and global concert - The Experience 15 which held virtually on Friday, 11th December 2020, at 9 PM (West African Time) and was live-streamed around the world. The Experience 15 provided a virtual platform to unify the global Church and establish God’s Kingdom here on earth.

The limits of technology in this day and age are almost non-existent, and it is noteworthy to see how in the middle of a pandemic, by leveraging technology and the possibilities it provides, The Experience 15 Global created an avenue for the gospel to be spread across cities, nations, continents and timezones. This edition of the Experience was truly worshipping like we had never seen before as people from across the world were able to worship God at the same time from the comfort of their homes. 

TE15G featured a powerful line-up of artistes, uniting under Christ’s banner to amplify the gospel and share His universal message of peace and goodwill to all. It gave us new entrants such as the internationally acclaimed Hillsong United, all the way from Australia, the remarkable Maverick City and Tasha Cobbs from the United States. TE15G defied the restrictions of borders as we virtually saw artistes such as Ana Paula Valadoa from Brazil, Sheldon Bangera from India, Matt Redman from the United Kingdom, Sidney Mohede from Indonesia, and The Capetown Philharmonic Choir, from Capetown, South Africa. 

Making comebacks, some for the 14th time was internationally acclaimed artistes, as well as fantastic Nigerian artistes which we all love to see. TE15G had the likes of Travis Greene, Nathaniel Bassey, Sinach, Don Moen, Donnie McClurkin, Onos Ariyo, Sonnie Badu, Eben, Tope Alabi, Mercy Chinwo, William McDowell, Ada, Nokwe the Poet and the host choir - The Lagos Metropolitan Gospel Choir, amongst others grace the virtual stage with powerful renditions. In between all the excitement and worship, Pastor Paul Adefarasin did not fail to give a thoughtful and powerful message, reminding viewers of the power and love of God, and the gospel of Christ.

TE15G certainly took advantage of the multiple opportunities technology provides, from providing free data to streaming on multiple digital platforms such as Youtube and Facebook, to broadcasts on traditional media. It is evident that when it comes to the furtherance of the gospel, The Experience is dedicated to leveraging all tools available to make a huge impact.