“The Experience”, an annual gospel musical concert, would boost the nation’s economy through tourism, said the organiser, Paul Adefarasin on Friday.

Mr Adefarasin, the Senior Metropolitain Pastor of the House on the Rock Church, in a statement to herald the 16th Edition of The Experience, asserted that there was huge tourism potential in gospel music concerts even as the good news to redeem souls was being propagated.

The concert, an all-night gospel music event, is billed to hold by 8:00 p.m. on Friday, December 3, 2021, at the Rock Cathedral in Lekki, Lagos State.

According to the statement, it will be a hybrid event that will be streamed live as well as have people attend physically.

Mr Adefarasin said: “The Experience is a significant contributor to both the National and State economies through tourism and its associated businesses.

“This year, we want everyone to know that wherever they are is the experience, so make it count.”

The statement said that the exciting event, which people looked forward to participating annually, would have the 2021 edition feature artists including Travis Greene, Sinach, Nathaniel Bassey, Don Moen, Dunsin Oyekan and Donnie McClurkin.

Other performers include Kike Mudiaga, Planetshakers, Tim Godfrey, Eben, Sidney Mchede, Ana Paula Valadao Bessa, Sheldon Bangera, Mercy Chinwo, William McDowell, Chevelle Franklyn, Chandler Moore and Nokwe the poet.

According to it, the premier edition of the experience in December 2006 attracted a crowd of 40,000 people.

“Since then, the music festival has grown exponentially with hundreds of thousands of worshippers flocking to Tafawa Balewa square its former venue and millions more congregating online.”

It further said that the concert sets aside class, race, tribe, tradition, colour, religion or even the weather, as people gather to worship and praise God from dusk till dawn.

“That makes it the biggest gospel concert globally.

“In 2020, in compliance with COVID-19 restrictions on mass gatherings in 2020, the event was streamed exclusively online on YouTube, Facebook, and other streaming platforms. It attracted five million views.”

Mr Adefarasin in the statement stressed that the event would continue to be free.

He advised friends who would attend the live event at The Rock Cathedral in Lekki, to be at the venue on time as they would only be allowed in on a“ first-come, first-serve” basis as limited spaces were available.

He assured that the concert “promises to be a night of pure worship and a tremendous experience of the presence of God through praise”.

(NAN)