Church fetes widows, young singles, others at Nigeria’s Independence celebration

The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Lagos Province 37, has feted widows, widowers and matured singles during its maiden breakfast programme to mark Nigeria’s 62nd Independence.

The programme attracted about 150 participants drawn from different Christian denominations.

The Pastor-in-Charge of the Province, Benjamin Ayanda, who spoke at the event, urged the widows and matured singles not to allow common challenges that confront people of their status overwhelm them, but to put their trust in God always.

Ayanda said that common factors, such as loneliness, lack of basic needs, stigmatisation and neglect by family and friends, were some of the challenges widows and other people caught in the web of singlehood sometimes need to cope with in the society.

He, however, stressed that beyond what the church is expected to do in assisting widows and single parents in particular, there should be a formidable support system in the society capable of rendering necessary help to them so that they could cope favourably with emotional and economical challenges that they might have to face.

Also, a counsellor, Mrs. Josephine Femi-Asiwaju, who delivered the major talk at the event, advised widows, widowers, single parents and marriageable youths not to ever bow to depression as a result of challenges they might be passing through.

The counsellor, who spoke on the topic: “Complete In Him,” encouraged the participants to always see themselves as being complete in God before thinking of where situations and circumstances of life had placed them.

She said that no challenge or situation should make anyone result to commit suicide as God has answer to every problem anyone might be passing through.

Besides, she encouraged widows, in particular, not to allow some negative societal judgments channelled against widows to bring them down, rather they should always seek for means of lifting up their spirits.

One of the area pastors in the Province, Pastor (Mrs.) Kikelomo Ifekoya, admonished the participants to always look at the positive aspect to whatever situation they found themselves and not the negative sides which might be destructive.

Special prayers were later offered for the participants and the nation on the celebration of the Independence.

Highlights of the event was the cutting of Nigeria’s Independence cake, distribution of gifts and food to the participants as well as a time-out to dance in praise and thanksgiving to God.