THE ACT OF WORSHIP - THE FIRST EDITION.

13 min readFeb 4, 2022

In 2020, during the pandemic, I bought my first camera, during that period. I started photographing in church. The truth was, I never saw myself being a documentary photographer. I had the passion to create good works and also tell a story but I didn’t know how to come about it. I joined the media department in my church in 2016 but I wasn’t an active member. When I got my first camera and made the decision to be an active media member in church - I started photographing, just regular shots for the upload in all social media page. With time, I started getting inspiration to create and tell a story, particularly on worship and activities during service. It wasn’t easy because I actually didn’t know what to do or how to carry my plans out. Luckily, I came across @tolanialli (Photographer to the Vice president of Nigeria) and @bayo (photographer to the president of Nigeria) page on Instagram. Going through their page, I got inspired and the idea on what to do and carry it out.

2021 came and I started making plans on publishing a book that will contain my best photographs from church (Dunamis International Gospel Centre, Makurdi Central, Benue state, Nigeria) service and outside and also bring it out as a story to tell the world. Along the line, I understood certain things to be able to make my images stand out which are;
1. I had to spend time around learning my subjects (congregation).
2. Planning ahead, more like thinking ahead - most times before I would come to church, I would write down the kind of images I want to achieve for that day and also visualize it in my head before I take the shots.
Effort and putting in work is the only thing that will make one year better that the last, that’s reality. Just as Tolani Alli said and I quote Being in the same space everyday could be very frustrating for a creative especially when things are happening just the same way. Nevertheless, it is what it is and we still have the responsibility of getting amazing images even in the unconventional realities. The truth I’ve come to learn is that; in life you would not always have the perfect scenario to achieve your dreams or attain your goals. You just have to learn to try, try again, keep trying till trying and retrying becomes a natural part of you.

ENJOY MY BRIEF INTERPRETATION OF STORY;

Psalm 127:1–5.

December 5th, 2021.

Photo by;Charles Gideon.

Psalm 32:7.

December 5th, 2021.

Photo by; Charles Gideon.

An Instagram live recording Image of the senior Pastor’s wife Dr. PST Becky Eneche during the Dunamis North bank Makurdi church dedication.

December 18th, 2021.

Photo by; Charles Gideon.

Resident Pastor Dunamis International Gospel Centre Gboko, PST. Wisdom Antenyi sing songs of worship during a Sunday service.

January 9th, 2022.

Photo by; Charles Gideon.

Resident Pastor, Dunamis International Gospel Centre Karu-Jikwoyi Abuja, PST. Peter Enenche, in an immense worship session on a Sunday service.

January 16TH, 2022.

This lady placed her hands on her head as the senior Pastor instructed everyone to place their hands on their head as they scream the word “I RECEIVE".

January 16th, 2022.

Photo by; Charles Gideon.

Resident Pastor Dunamis International Gospel Centre Karu-Jikwoyi, giving words of prophecies after the testimony session.

January 16TH, 2022.

Photo by; Charles Gideon.

Assistant Pastor, PST. Angel Alkali during the Dunamis 25th anniversary Preservation and Communion service 2021.

November 24th, 2021.

Photo by; Charles Gideon.

Impartation service - as usual, everyone comes with a point of contact for Impartation.

November 14th, 2021.

Photo by; Charles Gideon.

Impartation service - as usual, everyone comes with a point of contact for Impartation.
November 14th, 2021.

Photo by; Charles Gideon.

A call to surrender call — which is always done immediately after the service for those that wants to rededicate their life to God or make their ways right with God. My main focus was to put in frame, the man who came out for the call and the call to surrender call text displayed on the screen as seen. The man standing behind with the Bible is a counsellor — they take you in and teach you the word.

July 28th, 2021.

Photo by; Charles Gideon.

A call to surrender call.

November 5th, 2021.

Photo by; Charles Gideon.

This kid giving his life to Christ showed me how beautiful it is to serve God. It’s so great because if most of us did this, we’d be better as a church and as a nation. The look on his face just screams peace and serenity. "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it" - Proverbs. 22:6. Hopefully, we all find it, just like this child. He probably didn’t understand the gravity of what he did, but the desire to do it.

October 8th, 2021.

Photo by; Charles Gideon.

Jesus dwells in the young and old.

October 17th, 2021.

Photo by; Charles Gideon.

The Communion.

October 31st, 2021.

Photo by; Charles Gideon.

The communion.

November 25th, 2021.

Photo by; Charles Gideon.

Standing on the altar behind my pastor to capture the congregation — Pastor had asked everyone to lift up their phones with their light on for some prophetic word.

November 14th, 2021.

Photo by; Charles Gideon.

The coolest thing I personally look forward to is challenging myself to see differently in the same place everyday. I’ve observed that when worship is on, there are different ways people gesticulates. So after getting my safe shots, I focused on creative ways to photograph hand gestures. Here they are!

November 24th, 2021.

Photo by; Charles Gideon.

Selected from an ongoing project — The Hand series.

October 8th, 2021.

Photo by; Charles Gideon.

Selected from an ongoing project — The Hand series.

November 14th, 2021.

Photo by; Charles Gideon.

“Stretch forth your hands" as my Pastor always say before praying for the offering.

November 14th, 2021.

Photo by; Charles Gideon.

During an immense worship session.

October 8th, 2021.

Photo by; Charles Gideon.

Synchronization — before the final blessing to close the service was released. I quickly jerked up running to the altar to have an image where I can capture a synchronized moment.

November 21st, 2021.

Photo by; Charles Gideon.

Resident Pastor lift up his bottle of oil to declare blessings during the November weekly anointing and preservation service.

November 24th, 2021.

Photo by; Charles Gideon.

Our able Pianist.

August 29th, 2021.

Photo by; Charles Gideon.

Izzy strings — one of the person’s that plays guitar and I feel it in my soul.

August 29th, 2021.

Photo by; Charles Gideon.

I always wonder that this instrumentalist, when they play, don’t they go into the spirit realm? Because how do you play and it touches everyone with people crying and all, but y’all just keep on playing — not long after I thought about this I saw one of our instrumentalist in deep worship and k just quietly said in my mind, Thank you Lord for answering my question.

September 16th, 2021.

Photo by; Charles Gideon.

Izzy strings.

August 29th, 2021.

Photo by; Charles Gideon.

This image says alot to me really.

September 16th, 2021.

Photo by; Charles Gideon.

Resident Pastor in the mood of deep worship.

November 14th, 2021.

Photo by; Charles Gideon.

Ladies:
If a man isn’t being led by God, he isn’t fit to lead you.
I have always wanted to have this image of my pastor and his wife having this loving and all smiling conversation together, to show that when God is first in your marriage/relationship, everything falls in place for you.

November 5th, 2021.

Photo by; Charles Gideon.

October 8th, 2021.

Photo by; Charles Gideon.

In frame, Senior Pastor (on the screen) et. Resident Pastor.

November 22nd, 2021.

Photo by; Charles Gideon.

During the Independence Service. I had visualize this image days before this day to get a picture of pastor waving the Nigeria flag and by God’s grace, it worked.

October 1st, 2021.

Photo by; Charles Gideon.

SYNC with the scream of TOUCH.

November 22nd, 2021.

Photo by; Charles Gideon.

Senior pastor and his wife releases the blessing for the month of September as resident Pastor places his hand on his head.

September 5th, 2021.

Photo by; Charles Gideon.

Who else sees the ray of light above her? I do. This was during the choir ministration and pastor’s wife was caught in worship.

November 22nd, 2021.

Photo by; Charles Gideon.

In frame — Senior Pastor playing his instruments as resident pastor’s wife is caught in the act of worship.

November 22nd, 2021.

Photo by; Charles Gideon.

Resident pastor’s wife listening to a Miraculous testimony been shared from the headquarters church in Abuja.

October 31st, 2021.

Photo by; Charles Gideon.

The act of worship.

October 24th, 2021.

Photo by; Charles Gideon.

There is Joy in the presence of God.

November 5th, 2021.

Photo by; Charles Gideon.

In the presence of God, there’s fullness of Joy.

November 5th, 2021.

Photo by; Charles Gideon.

In His presence is fullness of joy. This ushers dances to the altar during the testimony and Thanksgiving service.

November 25th, 2021.

Photo by; Charles Gideon.

Oya, dance like a winner.

August 29th, 2021.

Photo by; Charles Gideon.

If there’s a man to pray, there’s a God to answer. Intense prayer session.

November 25th, 2021.

Photo by; Charles Gideon.

Matthew 18:20.

November 24th, 2021.

Photo by; Charles Gideon.

A praying mother.

November 24th, 2021.

Photo by; Charles Gideon.

An image of a mother as she places her hand on her stomach and the other on her son, uttering prophetic words.

November 3rd, 2021.

Photo by; Charles Gideon.

A silhouette image of resident pastor’s wife and she ask that we all lift up our right hands and pray after her.

November 24th, 2021.

Photo by; Charles Gideon.

My first image in 2022 — during the cross over service, I have asked my friend to stretched his hands towards me once it clocks 00:00am.

January 1st, 2022.

Photo by; Charles Gideon.

Senior pastor et. Resident Pastor.

November 14th, 2021.

Photo by; Charles Gideon.

The seeds of Destiny is a daily devotional guide written by the senior pastor and his wife. It is read immediately after the testimony sessions. Mostly read by the Pastor’s wife and if she’s not available, the assistant pastor takes the reading. A silhouette image of our resident pastor’s wife and she reads out the SOD!

November 24th, 2021.

Photo by; Charles Gideon.

The choir ministration.

November 3rd, 2021.

Photo by; Charles Gideon.

The choir ministration.

October 17th, 2021.

Photo by; Charles Gideon.

Psalm 89:1–4.

October 17th, 2021.

Photo by; Charles Gideon.

This man shares a powerful testimony on how he had challenges with his business and having issues posting it online for people to see because he wasn’t getting engagements online, but after he came across the resident pastor’s quote online, “Don’t look back, things will get better", he changed his mindset and business favour started flowing into his life like never before. God is great.

August 29th, 2021.

Photo by; Charles Gideon.

The act of listening is like presenting your mind as a black canvas to the waiting brush of the one you choose to lend your ears to. To listen is to be human, for while one constantly aims to be heard by the world, one must also be inspired by it. The world runs on this system. A system of exchange. Of speech and feedback. Of buying and selling. And of giving and receiving. Even our Physciohological traits lean in this direction, for he who takes the fruit of the ground for his own nourishment must provide nourishment to the earth from its fetid remains. So listen, my dear friends. But most importantly learn who to listen to and when.

October 31st, 2021.

Photo by; Charles Gideon.

Leaders are writers.

November 3rd, 2021.

Photo by; Charles Gideon.

"Ready, Frame, Action". Those were the words on my mind as I kneeled to frame this shot. For me this is my favourite image from the 436 images I shot during the service. From the screaming of the word "TOUCH", with the appearance of the word "TOUCH", and also the gesture from the senior pastor.

November 21st, 2021.

Photo by; Charles Gideon.