The energy was absolutely electric at International Christian Center Los Angeles (ICCLA) on August 23, 2025, as the Torch Ministry hosted their annual Encounter event themed “Resurgence.” What started as a worship gathering quickly became a powerful demonstration of how God moves when young hearts are open to transformation.
A Night of Authentic Testimonies
The evening kicked off with Sister Ngozi Charles sharing her heart about college life and faith. Her testimony struck a chord with many young adults in the room as she spoke vulnerably about how staying open to the Holy Spirit has been her secret weapon through the ups and downs of university life. You could see heads nodding and hearts connecting as she reminded everyone that God’s presence doesn’t take breaks during exam season or relationship struggles.
Deep Truths from Familiar Waters
David Eze, the passionate coordinator of Torch Ministry, brought the Word with power and precision. Drawing from John 21:1-13, he painted a beautiful picture of how much God values each individual person. The detail that caught everyone’s attention? When Jesus helped the disciples catch fish, the Bible specifically mentions there were 153 fish in the net.
“God could have just said ‘many fish’ or ‘a lot of fish,'” David explained, “but He was specific about the number because each person matters to Him individually.” The room was captivated as he continued, pointing out how Peter—who had struggled alongside three other disciples to move the net earlier—was suddenly able to drag it full of fish all by himself after his encounter with Jesus.
Talk about supernatural strength that comes from divine encounters!
When the Senior Pastor Takes the Mic
The atmosphere reached new heights when Senior Pastor Dipo Kalejaiye stepped forward to minister on the importance of speaking in tongues. His teaching wasn’t just theoretical—he created space for practical ministry, praying for those who desired to manifest this spiritual gift. The presence of God was so tangible that many received their prayer language right there on the spot.
A Night That Didn’t Want to End
Here’s what you know was a truly successful church event: even after the official program ended, nobody wanted to leave! The praise and worship continued as young people kept singing and dancing, creating their own extended worship session. The joy was infectious, the testimonies were flowing, and the sense of God’s presence lingered long after the microphones were turned off.
The Power of Being Open to Transformation
This year’s Resurgence theme perfectly captured what happened that night. When we’re Transformed and Open, Real Change Happens—and that’s exactly what the Torch Ministry acronym represents. From college testimonies to supernatural strength, from receiving spiritual gifts to extended worship, the evening proved that God still shows up powerfully when young hearts gather with expectancy.
The Torch Ministry’s annual Encounter continues to be a highlight for the Nigerian diaspora community in Los Angeles, offering a space where authentic faith meets contemporary worship, and where every individual truly matters to God.
International Christian Center Los Angeles is located in Hawthorne and continues to serve the Nigerian diaspora community with powerful ministries like Torch that transform young lives.