Thousands gathered overnight in Abuja for The Encounter 2026, the 10th edition of The Transforming Church’s annual praise night. It ran from the evening of Friday, Nov. 6 until dawn on Saturday at the church’s Gwarinpa venue. The theme was El-Ezer, “God, My Helper.”
What happened
Rev. Dr. Sam Oye and Pastor Mary Oye host it. The church’s event page lists gospel ministers including Adeyinka Alaseyori and Bidemi Olaoba, and it was free and open to anyone. At a press briefing before the event, Oye said about 6,000 people came last year. Organizers expected around 10,000 this time and set up free buses from more than 15 pickup points around Abuja.
His heart for the night was unity, hope and prayer for the nation: people from every party, tribe and background setting politics aside to worship together, with songs in Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa. “If there’s any time in the history of our country when we need to turn the attention of people to God as the source of help, it is now,” he said.
My take
I love this. An all-night cry of “God, my Helper” is straight out of the Psalms: “I lift up my eyes to the mountains, where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord” (Psalm 121:1-2). When people stop looking to the next government program and lift their eyes to Him together, the Holy Spirit moves. Join me in praying for Nigeria today.
God Bless, and Happy hacking!
