By Damiete Braide
On the evening of Friday, April 18, 2025, the serene atmosphere of Trinity House, Zion Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, was transformed into a moving tapestry of reverence, remembrance, and worship. The annual Good Friday service, titled, “An Evening of Storytelling and Songs,” drew a diverse crowd of members, friends, and first-time visitors, all united by one message: The Greatest Love Story ever told: the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
This year’s service departed from conventional sermons and took on a more immersive, artistic expression of the Passion of Christ through the powerful combination of narration, music, spoken word, and visual storytelling.
Leading this deeply spiritual encounter was Mrs. Opeyemi Oke, the music minister in charge of Music at Trinity House. For over two hours, she skillfully narrated the harrowing journey of Jesus to the cross, keeping the congregation spellbound with her emotive storytelling and scriptural insights.
As she spoke, the church’s three large digital screens displayed vivid depictions of the crucifixion, offering a visual accompaniment to the sacred words.
These images didn’t just illustrate, they brought to life the agony, betrayal, and triumph of Jesus Christ in a way that deeply touched everyone present.
The church choir, dressed in black to symbolize mourning and reverence, rendered a stirring collection of soul-lifting songs and hymns that underscored each part of the story. Their voices, harmonized with purpose and passion, drew gasps, tears, and worshipful praise from the congregation.
The choir was not simply performing, they were ministering, delivering each song like a prayer. Songs such like as “Nothing but the blood of Jesus,” “On a hill far away,” “Crucify,” and “Above all powers” filled the room with an overwhelming sense of sacred awe.
Before the storytelling began in full, the night opened with a spoken word performance by Chinwe Oluchi. Her poetic reflection set the emotional tone for the evening, highlighting themes of divine love, sacrifice, and grace.
It was a fitting precursor to what would unfold: a rich narrative of Christ’s suffering, compassion, and ultimate victory over death. As Mrs. Oke narrated, she didn’t just recount the events of Good Friday, she invited everyone to experience them personally.
She challenged listeners to reflect on the meaning of love from a Christian perspective. “Love, for me, as a Christian, is giving,” she said. “The Bible tells us, ‘For God so love the world that He gave His only begotten son.’ That’s the kind of love we’re talking about tonight, sacrificial, unending, and transformative.”
Through each scene, Mrs. Oke highlighted how Jesus demonstrated love even in the face of betrayal, pain, and death. She revisited the moment when Peter denied Him, Mary Magdalene’s near-stoning, the arrest in Gethsemane, the brutal flogging, and the mocking crown of thorns.
At every juncture, Jesus chose love over vengeance, mercy over wrath. “He didn’t retaliate or prove His divinity with thunder and might,” she explained. “Instead, He said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’”
One of the most poignant messages of the evening centered around Peter’s story. Mrs. Oke recounted how Peter, despite his fierce loyalty, denied Jesus three times before the rooster crowed.
“Sometimes we’re no different,” she reflected. “Every time we fail to live by our faith or to speak up for what we believe, we deny Him too.”
This thought transitioned into the next song, “Peter’s life,” which drew a heartfelt response from the congregation.
The narrative then moved to the Last Supper. Oke reminded everyone that Jesus dined with a diverse group of people, doctors, fishermen, tax collectors, and even His betrayer, Judas Iscariot.
“There’s room for everyone at His table,” she said. “Jesus says, ‘Come as you are,’ but He doesn’t want you to stay as you are.”
As the service progressed, more hymns and songs were performed, including “The Table,” “With Change,” “Scandal of Grace,” “What a Beautiful Name,” and “Oh, To See the Dawn of the Darkest Day.” Church members were invited to sing alongside the choir, and the sanctuary resounded with voices in worship, united by the message of redemption and hope.
“The power of the cross is unimaginable,” Oke declared. “It was the site of the greatest exchange in history, Jesus giving up His glory, His authority, His very life, so we could live. That’s the scandal of grace.”
As the event drew to a close, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, Senior Pastor of Trinity House, took the stage with a message of gratitude and anticipation. He thanked the team for putting together such a powerful presentation and encouraged everyone to bring more people next year.
“Next year’s programme,” he promised, “will be even greater. Don’t come alone.”
Every year, Trinity House commemorates Good Friday in different creative formats, sometimes through drama, other times through music and multimedia. But the heart remains unchanged: honoring the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and proclaiming the power of His resurrection. This year’s choice of storytelling and songs struck a powerful chord, creating an unforgettable spiritual experience.
“This isn’t just a religious event,” Mrs. Oke concluded. “It’s a reminder that Jesus is alive, and because of His love, we have hope, forgiveness, and a new life.”
Indeed, it was a night where the ancient story of Calvary felt as real and relevant as ever, The Greatest Love Story told again, and told beautifully.