Graceland Bible Church gives food to the faithful

Highpoint of the service was distribution of bags of rice to the less privileged by the Senior Pastor of the church, Rev Vincent Mkpu. This is the third time this church is doing this. Pastor Mkpu said the rice that was given to the people is the type they would eat and never be hungry […]

Highpoint of the service was distribution of bags of rice to the less privileged by the Senior Pastor of the church, Rev Vincent Mkpu. This is the third time this church is doing this.

Pastor Mkpu said the rice that was given to the people is the type they would eat and never be hungry again, apparently drawing analogy from the communication between Jesus and the Samaritan woman by the well where Jesus said the water he would give would quench test forever.

Mkpu, a journalist turned preacher explained the philosophy behind the church’s action: “You can see that hunger is one of the most important causes of sickness in this country. It is more dangerous than AIDS. It is more dangerous than tuberculosis but it is less considered. Therefore, we have taken time to galvanise forces, to integrate like minds to make the society hunger free.

“We started this on a small scale and as we enter the new year, we are going to train people and give them micro incentives so they can grow from there.

When I came into ministry, the Lord asked me to extend whatever I have to the needy. It is from the heart of love and care that this project was born.

“I got the consent of the World Health Organisation, the UNDP, the Abuja Enterprise Agency. They wanted us to extend the little things we are doing to other people. They are collaborating with us to see what we can do affect lives.”

Before giving the rice, a visiting pastor to the church, Rev Mike Fred of Prevailing Word Ministries prayed against poverty calling for a new beginning in “Jesus name”.

He prophesied that God will change the lives of the congregation and there was a thunderous Amen!

Basing his sermon on the book of John, he told believers that the door of 2012 will open as many will be blessed.

He urged the people to pray saying, “If you pray, Satan will run; if you pray, doors will open for you!”

Similarly, Pastor Chukwuma Nwokocha of World Prophetic Evangelical Ministry who donated some bags of rice said many are suffering in Nigeria and the only way to help is for the children of God to come together and assist those who are poor.

“We have widows, we have children who have no fathers, no mothers but nobody to assist them,” observed.

He tagged 2012 as year of divine celebration. “A lot of things will change and the Lord says, when the time comes—next year, those who believe in God, things will change in their favour,” he foretold.

A beneficiary who simply gave her name as Confidence said the bag of rice was the only gift she had got since the Christmas bell started ringing.

She prayed God to bless the pastor of the church and all people of goodwill who look at the needy with compassion.

Present at the service was Dr Augustine Mkpu of Pastors Relief Network of Nigeria Foundation (PARNIF) and other men of God.