Methodist Church Supports Indigent Members In Onitsha 

By Mokwugwo Solomon, Awka

Over 50 indigent members of the All Saints Methodist Church, Fegge, Onitsha, were on Sunday, October 2, supported by the Young Men Fellowship (YMF) of the church to help them cushion the effects of the present harsh economic realities.

Some were assisted to offset their house rents; some were assisted to pay their school fees; while some were given large quantities of foodstuff.

Speaking during the ceremony, the YMF President in the church, Bro Nwoha Peter, said that the event tagged “Hope for the Hopeless” were part of activities lined up by the group to mark the 10th anniversary of its existence.

He said, “What we’re doing today started ten years ago by the YMF of this church. It was conceived as a project to support indigent members of our church.

“As the name implies, it is meant to give hope to indigent members of the society, who have almost lost hope due to the harsh economic realities in the country.

“In the present time, many families cannot take care of their house rents; some cannot pay school fees of their children; some cannot afford two square meals, not to talk of three.

“The YMF of this church conceived this project, and make it an annual event to give hope to the hopeless. We levy ourselves to do this. Today, we give some money to some children, which can take care of their school fees for three terms. We paid one year house rents for some members; while some families were given foodstuff.

“During the COVID-19 era, we did the same thing; not only within the church community. The country is very hard. People are crying day and night because of hardship. So, all these motivated us to conceive this project.”

Chairman of the Planning Committee of the event (Hope for the Hopeless, 2022), Bro Chukwuemeka Onyerisara, said that the major objective of the project is to serve God through humanity; as well as to draw souls closer to God by a profound show of love.

Secretary of the Planning Committee, Bro Onyebuchi Ohaneje, said that God used the YMF in the church to wipe tears from many eyes.

In his sermon during the church service to mark the event, speaker of the day, Very Rev. Anene Chukwu, who spoke on the theme “Fear not for the Lord is with you” urged the faithful not to allow the worries, cares and concerns of the present time to discourage them from worshipping God. He urged the indigent members not to be deterred by their present conditions, as, according to him, God will visit them in their various conditions in due time.

He encouraged the YMF not to be discouraged in doing good; saying that God rewards and uplifts those that considers the poor.

Earlier, the host priest, Very Rev J.E Mkpukpu, commended the YMF for conceiving the project, and urged them not to allow the light to quench.

One of the beneficiaries, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, commended the church and the YMF of the church for making it an annual ritual to help the needy. He also assured that he would spend the money given to him on the purpose it was meant.