SAN FRANCISCO, November 13, (THEWILL) – Concerns for widows took the centre stage at the second edition of a programme tagged “Gospel of Compassion”, an outreach events of The Christian Brethren Church (TCBC), located in Iyana-Ejigbo, Lagos.
Held in the main auditorium of the local assembly, the programme had in attendance about sixty-five widows, from different squads of life who were all, first nourished with the word of God, taken care of in diverse ways, and then, given modest humane supports.
It was also a follow-up to the maiden edition hosted on Saturday, August 8th, 2015, tagged “It starts with you…” and focused on giving supports to ‘organizations that minister to children displaced by Boko Haram’ specifically “Stephen’s Home” and “Voice of Christian Martyrs, Abeokuta” and “Messiah College, Plateau State”.
Starting the day with songs and choruses, TCBC coordinating choir and host, pepped up the humanitarian task with high praises and worship unto God. Invited churches and individual gospel songs and poem ministers added their presentations which collectively enriched the events. Aside that, a handful of widows gave their testimonies to showcase God’s goodness to them.
Sermonising on the topic: “The God of Widows –The God of Compassion”; Pastor Afolabi Oladele, Senior Pastor, TCBC, noted emphatically the passionate concern of the Creator God for widows.
He said it was not for nothing that God warned in Exodus 22 verses 22-24 that no one must hurt or cause any form of emotional anguish for widows.
He said it is this realisation that made the church to host the widows’ shower in order to show love and care to widows around the church environ.
The outing also featured songs, drama, poetry and encouraging words from some of the widows.
Speaking further, Pastor Oladele, warned the church and the nation to avoid causing tears to the widows because God picks up and fights for them.
He urged the widows to keep crying and praying to God saying their prayers won’t go unanswered because God gives special attention to them.
He noted that this is a major reason we must all pay so much attention to the widows and fatherless simply because it’s a commandment from the sovereign Lord.
“Anyone who takes care of the widows and fatherless is living in the image of a merciful God who commanded that “be ye merciful as I am merciful”.
Facing the widows, the Pastor said: “I insist, God is conscious of you. He knows where you are and His compassion can reach you where you are. There is no reason for you to go out of here hopeless. God is conscious of where you are and he knows exactly what you need.
“Your situations are not different from when the Prophet Elijah was sent to Zarephath, it wasn’t because of Elijah that God sent him. No. He was sent because God wanted to keep the widow, a woman that Elijah had never met before.
“So, providence brought Elijah during the famine. Nigeria may be going through her own period of recession, but God is on your side as widows.
“God not only cares for you, but he cares about all you do. You must trust in God because His word works, believe it and it will work for you.”
Pastor Oladele also charged the widows and encouraged them on the importance of knowing that God in personal relationships with Jesus, who not only reckons with their situations; but doing so will earn them free access to gain the full benefit of His love provided if each of them knows how to rely on the word of God and cry unto Him whenever they are oppressed, intimidated or feel helpless by any situation of life.
The widows were eventually showered with free gifts and food items, at no cost to none of them.
One of the widows, Mrs Felicia, who spoke with newsmen at the end of the event was full of appreciation to the church for the gesture.
She said: “Since my husband died, nobody has done something like this. I am happy and encouraged. I thank the church and the pastor for this. I am very grateful and I pray God to give them the grace to continue. They don’t know me but see the gifts they gave to me. I am really very happy”.
