On learning that the Edo-born liberal cleric, Bishop Dr Joseph Ighalo Edoro, the Presiding Bishop, ‘A Touch From Heaven International Ministries’, has opened a prayer mountain and retreat centre in Ikorodu area of Lagos, Sunday Independent was moved to be there to see things as they are. On getting to Ikorodu, enquiries directed one on how to locate Eruwen, a sprawling community in Ikorodu, the location of the prayer ground that has become a talk of the town among Church leaders in Lagos State. On getting to Abule, the last bus stop, and a telephone call, Bishop Edoro directed this reporter to the location of the centre. He stood at the gate on white attire, waiting to receive us. After taking this reporter to one of the suites at the centre to put down his bag and to rest a bit, the reporter was later directed to the Prayer Ground, where Bishop Edoro was waiting. Soon, he was to take the reporter round the A Touch From Heaven Prayer Mountain and Retreat Centre. The new centre, an Inter-Denominational Centre, according to Bishop Edoro, is located at PJ/Mike Adenuga Road, Eruwen, Ikorodu, Lagos. The cleric, who now virtually lives at the Praying Ground, took the journalist round, from the gate, to the store area, the intercessory room, the Prayer Ground, filled with sea sand, and the altar with big crosses. One removes one’s shoes to access the prayer ground which is meant to be a miracle ground for diverse testimonies and healing. It also boasts a well-equipped band and other musical instruments meant for spiritual worship which could be used by any group as the centre is non-denominational. The centre, Sunday Independent learnt, has residential suites, dormitories, several beds, canopies and tents for individuals, families and ministers and church leaders and their followers who want to make use of the facilities. Also, it boasts of a 200-seat hall which could be used for Sunday services, events, seminars and conferences. The small tents can be used by those seeking quiet spaces for meditation and book writing. Above all, it was equipped with a solar system and generators, making the place an all-round power supply. Speaking with Sunday Independent, Bishop Edoro, a charismatic preacher with a Liberal touch informed that he had to close down his thriving business and office complex in Iju-Ishaga area of Lagos in obedience to divine directive to build the prayer ground, which recently started to function under his guide. Going memory lane, Edoro, who had been mixing ministry with business and philanthropy, disclosed that he once built a hotel at the site, but the Lord told him He wanted him to build a praying ground for Him. He stated: “After building the hotel, I hated it and shut it down in obedience to the Lord. The Lord told me that He wanted me to build a prayer ground and I rejected it. “After the grand opening of the hotel, two weeks after, everything there was looted. Then I went to the place and planted three crosses, but I never returned to the place. “For 10 years, I could not come down to build the prayer ground and I paid dearly for it. When I at last decided to build the prayer ground, there was no longer money. But, I started in obedience to the Lord, money started to come in. “As I was building the place, the Lord told me it is not about the structure, but a place for prayers, for deliverance, for healing and for miracles. God told me that the crosses I had planted in the past, He had anointed them with mantles, that whoever leans on them will fall on His power. “Gold also told me that He had anointed the sea sand on the paying ground that whoever takes it, there is nothing he or she cannot achieve and will defeat the greatest travails of life. “Immediately, I redesigned the rooms in the defunct hotel to self-contain apartments and dormitories where people can stay and pray. If people want to take the rooms, or dormitories to pray they can do so. People can also come to pray at the prayer ground and leave. Although it is a prager ground, it provides a little comfort in case people want to stay longer to pray and write books. “The beauty of A Touch From Heaven Praying Ground being located here at Eruwen, Ikorodu, is its calmness and its serene nature. We can boast that whoever comes here, with a little comfort, will meet God in a big way.” Bishop Edoro also informed that the centre boasts of an auditorium which churches can rent for services and or seminars, for retreats.” On his challenges while constructing the complex, Edoro informed that his major challenge was finance. To solve his he disclosed: “I had to sell virgin properties to raise funds. We thank God for providing the funds. We do not have Kingdom helpers to support us. But, I thank God. “Another challenge was that I had to encounter existing idolatry and territorial spirits within the area. But, I thank God, that has been tamed and God’s work is going on well now.” Edoro also spoke on his expectations at the prayer ground. He said with confidence, “I have glorious expectations. I expect a divine encounter. Without divine encounter, there is no miracle. We are asking people to just come, even from outside the country, to meet God. The expectation is the fulfillment of God’s template. My hope is to see people praying day and night all through the watches.” On the cost of using the facilities there, Edoro informed that the charges are very minimal. He stressed: “We want to encourage people to come and pray. We have small tents and dormitories which people can occupy with minimal charges.” Bishop Edoro informed that his church, ‘A Touch From Heaven International Ministries’, and ‘A Touch of Love Humanitarian Foundation’, of which he is the Presiding Bishop and President respectively, have been brought to the praying ground. He stressed: “We conduct church services here on Sundays and week days. We also have round the clock prayers daily.” Concluding, he said: “I encourage people to come and pray. The way the world is going down, only God will help us. Churches, youth groups from all the denominations should come. “We facilitate seminars and teachings for Pastors, Bishops, Apostles, Overseers, Missionaries, and those who want to seek knowledge. We hope to metamorphose to a Bible School soon. The harvest is plenty, but the labourers are few.”