Twenty-seven widows from various branches of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Province 1, have each received N100,000 to support their entrepreneurial ventures.
Addressing the press at the church premises, Pastor Samuel Olaniyan, the Priest in charge of Province 1, urged the affluent to heed the divine mandate to support the less fortunate. “When you give to the widows and fatherless, God takes special notice of it. We do this regularly; some of them we pay their children’s school fees, some we help boost their businesses,” he said.
Olaniyan, who is also the Assistant Pastor in charge of Region 1, reminded other clergymen and Christians that aiding the needy is a core tenet of the gospel. “The more you give, the more you receive; that is what the Holy Book tells us. With this cash gift, they can boost their trade, vocation, and start new micro businesses. We must continue to preach it: let the rich help the poor, there is a blessing attached to giving,” he implored.
Similarly, Pastor Olalekan Gbotolorun, Chairman of the church’s Christian Social Responsibilities committee, emphasized that the Widows/Widowers Empowerment Program is part of the church’s biblical mandate to care for the poor and advance the Kingdom of God. He reminded Christians that true religion involves taking care of widows and the fatherless, and without this, their Christianity is incomplete. Gbotolorun also called on the federal and state governments to address the economic challenges facing citizens.
“We must help the poor. There are huge blessings attached to giving, especially to the poor in our midst. The government should implement sound policies to improve the lives of Nigerians,” he added.
One of the beneficiaries, Chinwendu Okoye, a mother of four, expressed her gratitude and optimism. “This one hundred thousand naira will help me in my micro business. I sell articles and I needed help; now the church has come to my aid. I urge other widows to hold their peace, keep the faith alive, and pray to God. One day, God will remember them as He did for me,” she assured.
