We’re driven by Matthew 25:35-36

By Sam Eyoboka

IN her native Urhobo language there is a saying which suggests that when joy is extraordinary every thought of death will fly through the windows; and that was the story of Miss Mercy Ovedje Emuoghene last Monday.

She left up three feet on that very sunny Monday afternoon and landed on the glazy solid concrete floor of Ajamimogha Road in urban Warri and for a moment the large crowd which included eminent religious leaders, traditional rulers and government officials was transfixed, nothing knowing if Mercy had passed on.

Mr. Audu Abraham receiving the keys of his new car from the Pere Egron I of Oporomo Kingdom while others look with admiration.

Immediately, some people who were close enough came to her rescue, lifted her up but her legs could not hold her. Tried as they did, she was unable to stand and somebody immediately brought out a bottle of water, all in an attempt to bring back to life. She gulped it and continued hungrily, until an informed person with medical knowledge said it was enough; and gradually she came to, but was still oblivious of why she was bleeding from the upper region of her left leg.

Miss Emuoghene easily became the star attraction at the just concluded 2010 edition of the annual Poverty Alleviation Programme of the Word of Life Bible Church, Warri even when she was not among the three star prize winners who were equally overjoyed as they would enter the year, 2011 as proud owners of three brand new Hyundai Accent cars.

The young lady, a late student of was one of the 10 persons who went to her Agbarho in Ughelli North Local Government Area home with a brand new tricycle courtesy of the duo of Papa and Mama Ayo Oritsejafor.

The story of Audu Ohekina Abraham was no different. He also ran into crowded arena waltzing his way through a see of human beings in a dramatic manner. For a moment he laid flat on the shiny dark asphalt road in ecstasy with big dark classes shielding his hungry eyes. Wearing a yellow shirt atop a trouser that pulling off his waste because the belt he had on could not hold the weather beaten cloth. What he had as a belt was a belt only in name.

It lacked every feature of a belt. Audu came to Warri a few months earlier to look for job as a driver. He had no relations in the town and after several unfulfilled promises he hustles for a daily living. For a home, he had begged one of the pastors to allow him pass the night at one of the church’s teaching centres, from where he goes out daily to job hunt and retires at night to lay his head.

To feed on a daily basis was a miracle, not to talk of changing clothes.
But last Monday, faith smiled on Audu who told reporters that he became born again a couple of months earlier. Hours earlier, he was an applicant combing the streets of Warri for a driving job, but at about 12.34 p.m. on Monday, the obviously underfed young lad became a proud owner of a ‘tear robber’ Hyundai Accent car. He would no longer beg to eat, neither will he depend on people to get to church on Sundays.

The only conditions attached to the car gift, is that he and all the others who went away with similar largesse must use same as taxis in Warri and its environs as part of the restoration of the glorious oil city days.

From far away Edo State, Isiokolo in Ethiope East Local government, Ughelli in Ughelli North and several Ijaw homelands, they came to be part of the 2010 Poverty Alleviation Programme cum the 5th anniversary of Eagle Flight Micro Finance Bank in Warri, Delta State. Men, women, young and old took part; even the physically challenged persons were not left out of the programme.

They were all united with one mission to benefit from the now yearly fiesta where indigent persons in any part of the Niger Delta irrespective of creed and ethnic background has an opportunity to uplift their living standards through the public spirited hearts of Pastor and Pastor (Mrs.) Ayo Oritsejafor, the founder of Word of Life Bible Church in Warri.

At this year’s event which also marked the fifth anniversary of the church-sponsored Eagle Flight Micro-Finance Bank, 113 people of no particular tribe or religion, went home with three brand new cars, 10 tri-cycles often called Keke Eagle Flight and 100 grinding machines.

The lucky beneficiaries of this year’s exercise which was done through ballot in-cluded Djegbada Akpo-siri Matthew, Manukwor Ojike Paul and Audu Ohikhina Abraham who drove home three already registered brand new cars to be used as taxis in Warri and its environs. One thousand forms were given out for cars but a few of the number did not return their forms.

Out of the 2,000 forms that were given out for tricycles only 546 scaled the credibility test and 10 eventually emerged as winners of the 10 tricycles available this year. The lucky winners include Mr. Emenike Dennis Ogude, Erebre Miracle, Annah Annah Banaune, Promise Effiong Affiah and Orororo Prosper Uvo. Others included Otoro Peter Banj-amin, who ran into the arena clutching a motor-cycle helmet, Popo Wilson Jolomi, Omerejemi E. Samuel, Enegbonoma Wilfred and Ovedje Emu-oghene Mercy who went hysterical when her name was mentioned.

One hundred other persons including Ms Favour Itoje, a polio victim went home with grinding machines. Ms Itoje also won a grinding machine last year and like all the other beneficiaries, was very grateful to Papa and Mama Oritsejafor. Some of the winners who spoke to our reporter prayed profusely for long life for the couple.

Manuakwor, 46 who drove home Hyundai Access car with registrat-ion number Delta AL 268 KLK was until that day an Okada riding member of the Word of Life Bible Church for over 10 years. “My joy is full today in that over the years I have been applying and I was unable to win anything but God has chosen this year as my year. I pray that God will continue to give Papa and Mama more strength to reach out to other less privileged people like me in Nigeria to the glory of God,” he said.

Audu Abraham could not also contain his joy. He had been combing the streets of Warri looking for a driving job without any success but today he is a proud owner of a car of his own. He came to Warri without any hope; had no where to put his head. He was sleeping in one of the teaching centres of the church.

Miss Ovedje Mercy, 21, who almost killed herself celebrating her Keke Eagle Flight is still a student at the Ogbavweni Secondary School, Usie-furun. She is a member of God Christian Mission Incorporated in Warri. She prayed for Papa and Mama, saying repeatedly “I am now out of bondage and the spirit of poverty. Now I am among the rich people. My God will not rest in blessing Mama and Papa.”

On how she got to hear about the programme, she said: “I have not been here before. I was informed by people that the Word of Life Bible Church always gives out gifts to the less privileged every year. And I decided to participate, this year and I was among the winners. I came from a family of six children. My father is late but my mother is still alive. Now I will give this tricycle to someone who will be using it and delivering to me on a daily basis.”

Victor Amuche, 31, was one of those who won a tricycle during the 2008 edition of the poverty alleviation programme. Still full of praises for the benefactors, he thanked God for the life of Papa for touching lives and em-powering those at the grassroots level. “I was doing nothing tangible before I won a tricycle in 2008 and I have bought another one and since then things are a lot better for me. I thank Papa Ayo for what he has been doing for us in Delta State and I pray that the Lord will continue to bless him.”

Another beneficiary from last year was Happiness Lawrence, 34, a member of God’s Grace Ministries and a single mother of a 12-year old girl. “I am a tailor but I couldn’t afford to buy a sewing machine. I won a grinding machine last year which I used to grind pepper in my neighborhood. With it I get about N1,000 or more per day and this has helped me.

I want to appreciate the effort of Papa and Mama Ayo for this great privilege they are giving to the less privileged,” she said.

Richard Wilson who won one of the cars last year, says he makes up to N5,000 some times and he is very grateful for “what Papa and Mama Ayo are doing for us, the poor and I also thank God that I can now feed myself, my family and also help others through the income that I realise from the car. I promise that by next year I will be dedicating another car.”

Mr. Alani Doku, 32, originally hails Badagry, married with children. He won a tricycle last year and since then things have been working out fine for him. He was working before he won the tricycle but could not feed his family with the income. In fact, he was in debt. “I lost my wife during this period, but since I have the tricycle my story has changed. I was able to settle all the debts and my family is living fine.”

Doku attends The Pillar of Salt Fire Ministry. “I am also thinking of buying another tricycle come next year and anytime I carry any member of Pastor Ayo’s church I don’t collect fare from them.”

Speaking on the essence of the programme, Chief Barry Atolor, chairman of Izon Elders Council, Delta State who spoke on behalf of His Royal Highness, the Pere Egran I of Opromo Kingdom, Rtd. Captain Evah, described the event as one that has continually brought comfort to the down-trodden people and if any church or non-governmental organisation is carrying it out, it worth commendation “and we are very happy that this is happening here.

“The programme goes beyond an attempt to unite a people because it is unifying as the winners are from Isoko, Itsekiri, Urhobo, Kwale and all others,” he said “I am appealing to the govern-ment, not to handle this poverty alle-viation issue with kid gloves. They should look out for reputable individuals and organizations like this to help them in handling the government’s poverty alle-viation programme so that they can touch the lives of all and sundry in the state.”

Also speaking, the representative of the Olu of Warri, Atuwase II, Chief Elder Walter Odeli said the annual programme is God-sent. “I am quite sure that it is God-sent from heaven to cater for the less privileged. And Papa and Mama Ayo Oritsejafor whom God has committed it to their hands, are doing it very well.”

Continuing, he said the programme should not end with them. “There are other good pastors that can, as well, do the same thing because we have lots of people who need help out there and it is not only in Warri; but in every nook and cranny of Nigeria. There are lots of people who need help. Government should part-ner with these churches so that things can be done peacefully, honestly and straight forward,” Chief Odeli said.

Bishop Michael Okah was also full of praises for the initiators of the pro-gramme, saying Papa and Mama Ayo Orisejafor have the heart of blessing the people. “What happened today (Monday) is what they have been able to give for the benefit of mankind and I enjoin other pastors to equally reach out and not just preach the gospel. They must also demonstrate what the gospel says and I think this is what we call the demonstration,” he pointed out.

And in an interview, the initiator, Pastor Ayo Oritse-jafor outlined reasons why he and his wife had em-barked on the progra-mme, saying that they are inspired by what he read in the Bible; the life of Jesus Christ who after preaching to over 3,000 people at a 3-day crusade, asked his disciples to give them food. “Apparently, what that tells us is that the gospel of Jesus Christ is a total gospel—it is both spiritual and physical. God is not only interested in our going to heaven, He is also interested in our lives here on earth.

The gospel is therefore direct-ed at the spirit and also to the body of the individual. My greatest challenge today, is that I couldn’t do more. You can see the crowd of people out there today. The need is high but it gives me joy that I can help one at a time. If we help one, in the African tradition, you have helped so many other people because one person is connected to so many other people.”

On what drives him, he identified his privileged but troubled upbringing. I am a fulfilled man. The second reason that drives me is my background. “When I remember the life I lived and becoming what I am today, I want to give people joy. Every time I see somebody happy, it gives me joy. You don’t need so much to change people’s lives. Some times I wonder why some of these politicians are so wicked. They want to keep the people poor always so that nobody can challenge them.

They will always want to give them N500 any time there is election and keep them perpetually poor. You can see the extent of depriva-tion. My prayer is that governments at all level can come and let us part-ner together, we can lift the living standards of the people. It does not take so much. I am excited becau-se you saw for yourselves the joy that were express-ed by some of the winners. A lot of those who could have become criminals have been taken out of the labour market.”

He refused to talk about the amount spent on the programme, saying that the focus was not to advertise themselves but in attempting to change lives, because I have come to understand the great-ness is not the number of house you build but the number of lives you are able to touch. You don’t own anything. Whatever you have is borrowed to you. I am praying for men and women who will fear God enough to understand the purpose of God in our lives.”