Methodist Church builds houses for members

By OBIDIKE JERRY

In a move to reduce the housing needs of its congregants, Methodist Church Nigeria recently held the foundation-laying ceremony of its Conference Staff Quarters.
The ceremony, which was part of programmes scheduled to kick off the 65th birthday celebration of the prelate, Samuel Chukwuemeka Kanu Uche, was conducted by the prelate himself inside the Hoare’s Memorial Methodist Cathedral Premises, Sabo, Yaba, Lagos. The cleric will be 65 in January next year.
The Conference Staff Quarters is a three-storey, 12-apartment building to be funded by the prelate from gifts received on his birthday.
Speaking during the exercise, the cleric said he was grateful to God and expressed optimism that the housing project would be a reality.
He solicited God’s support and protection for church members throughout the duration of the project and prayed God to bless the congregants so that the project would be delivered at the appropriate time.
He thanked God for keeping him alive and in good health to witness the occasion. He said: “I feel fulfilled, fascinated and on top of the world.
“This project is to solve the problem of accommodation for the staff of Methodist Church Nigeria. You know, if I want to be selfish I will tell my friends to give me money to build for myself. But no, all the money they will give will go into the building of the house for the Lord. I am seeking first His kingdom and righteousness and I know He will never abandon us.”
The cleric urged Nigerians to be peace-loving and law-abiding, while believing that those who trust in the Lord will overcome their challenges in life.
“I want to tell Nigerians that, if we are lovers of peace, we will have peace in our hearts, we will have peace with one another and, if we trust in God, He will raise us from dunghill, from garbage to glory and prominence. I am an example of somebody who rose from grass to grace. And I advise every young adult not to cut corners. Don’t do evil things like kidnapping, prostitution and so on. The God that helped me to this moment will help everyone that trusts in Him. I want church members to assist in this project through money and materials, but most importantly prayer.”
And a few metres from the venue of the ceremony, Mr. Bonajo Badejo, SAN, chairman of Methodist Property and Investment Company, conducted a tour of an ongoing housing project for the benefit of members of the church and the public. He said that the house, when completed, would serve as an ecumenical centre.
“This project is to serve as an ecumenical centre and guest houses for visiting priests and lay who come to Lagos. It can be a very nice environment for them to relax. We were supposed to finish this project last year but according to the prophetic predictions and prayers, we expect to finish it next year. Outsiders can use it when we don’t have conferences. It is going to be a 36-room facility to include meeting rooms, business centre and bookshop. So people can come and use the facility,” Badejo said.
Badejo stated that the project would mark the beginning of housing investment for the church adding that the church has plans to go to major cities in the country to establish viable guest houses. He urged members to invest in the project, as “it is a viable project and the return on investment is very high.”
” We have assure them that, in two years, every investor will recoup their investment and begin to make profit,” he said.