• Showers beneficiaries with cash, foodstuff, clothes

By Kehinde Aderemi

Lagos-based non-governmental organisation, Goldcrest Family Centre (GCFC) recently put smiles on the faces of widows. 

The event was at the end-of-the-year party held at Yard 158, Kudirat Abiola way,  Oregun, Lagos.

Each of the 5000 widows that were present at the programme got a 25kg bag of rice, garri, beans, four litre of vegetable oil, six yards of Ankara fabrics, and N100,000 as gifts for the Yuletide.

The cash gifts, the reporter was told, was part of the empowerment scheme for the widows in the new year.

The event started with prayer session and thanksgiving, and shortly thereafter, some of the widows, vulnerable children and orphans took to the floor to share testimonies of how Goldcrest Family Centre had impacted their lives in the  last  two decades.

In her remarks, President of the organisation, Reverend Agatha Chukwura, expressed gratitude to God for the gift of life.

The cleric explained that the Yuletide was a season of gifts and love. She noted that God has helped the organisation to fulfil this purpose.

Mummy Chukwura, as she’s fondly called by her admirers, was excited as she pointed out that all the gifts would go a long way in putting smiles on the faces of the widows.

The cleric described the widows as wives of Jesus Christ. She stated also that she was happy that some of the widows are now doing well.

She praised the efforts of the chairman of GCFC, Dr Seyinde Fadeni, his predecessor, Pastor Femi Paul, Chief Mrs Chika Balogun, Pastor Mrs Success Oyewole and all other members of the board of directors that had been contributing in one way or the other to the progress of the organisation.

“It is only God that makes things possible. I fasted, prayed and I believed God for His mercy endures forever. God really surprised me. We have everything in abundance to give to the widows.

“Each of them would go home with a bag of 25kg rice, a bag of garri, a bag of beans, 

 4 litres of vegetable oil, with six yards of Ankara and N100, 000 each for their empowerment in the new year.

“All of these gifts came courtesy of our dear chairman, Dr Seyinde Fadeni, Pastor Femi Paul and other prominent personalities that have been sowing the seeds and giving the widows in abundance,” she said.

Rev Chukwura also urged the widows to always look up to God, show gratitude and pray for all the donors. She also advised the widows to use the money given to them for the empowerment wisely, assuring them that more was still coming in the new year.

Chairman of GCFC, Dr. Seyinde Fadeni said giving to the widows was a privilege and he was grateful to God for giving him the grace to impact widows’ lives.

Fadeni stated further that he was impressed with the feedbacks from the management of Goldcrest Family Centre and he would be willing to do more for the widows and the less privileged people in the society.

Anytime I visit the widows, I feel fulfilled that my covenant with God is coming to reality. I am happy to see how the organisation has been taking care of the widows and the less privileged people.

“My message for them is that they should trust God, who is the Alpha and Omega and King of all kings,” he said.

Senior pastor of the Grace Assembly Church, Reverend Femi Paul explained that the idea of  giving to the widows was the right thing to do according to the Holy Bible.

He said: “Christmas is the season of giving, not necessarily to people that can give you back,  but for people that have nothing to give you back. I am always happy that Goldcrest Family Centre is fulfilling that purpose of giving to the needy.

“Every Christian should be a part of what Goldcrest Family Centre is doing. The life of a widow with the children is a difficult one and I think we can all do the little we can do to make them happy, especially, during his period,” he stated.

In her remarks, Chief Mrs Chika Balogun, said the vision to take care of the widows was from God who has been making the provision for them since inception more than two decades ago. Balogun, who’s the daughter of the GCFC president, stated that even during the COVID 19 pandemic, God made ways for the sustenance of the vision.

“It is good when you are part of a vision that truly impacts the lives of widows. About 5000 of them are here today from more than 100 branches of the Goldcrest Family Centre in Lagos State. What that means is that God has used the NGO to fulfil his purpose for the widows.

“It is one person at a time and God has really blessed Goldcrest Family Centre with every aspect of the vision. I advised the widows not to be lazy. They should engage in different kinds of jobs available through the GCFC empowerment programme.

“As we go into the new year, none of the widows should be dependent. They should use the money given to them to do exactly what it was meant for,” she said.

Pastor Mrs Mercy Oyewole urged the widows to remain committed to God. The cleric who also has a Widows’ Ministry, said there was a time to sow and there was a time to reap.

“It may be difficult for you now as widows, but in those difficult moments there comes a time of peace when God answers all prayers and rewards all efforts.

“Therefore, wait for that time with patience and never fail in your daily prayers to God for being the husband of widows and father of the fatherless”, she noted.

One of the windows, Mrs.Fadiya Majekodunmi  expressed appreciation to Reverend Chukwura and members of the board of directors for taking it upon themselves to make the widows happy.

She shared her personal testimonies, even as she prayed God to continue to bless the donors and the leadership of the organisation. 

“Since I joined Goldcrest Family Centre in 2015, God has been faithful to me. Goldcrest Family Centre has been a blessing to us and I pray God to bless Mummy Chukwura,” she prayed.