BY NATIONAL PANEL REPORTERS
There was spontaneous jubilation in Ekirigwe Ishieke in Ebonyi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, as the Minister in charge of the Nigeria Reformed Church (NRC) Rev. Ambassador Joseph Nwibo Celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ in a grand style with the indigent women, pastors, widows, downtroddens and the less privilege ones in the area.
The life touching annual event which took place in his country home, Ekerigwe Ishieke attracted a mammoth crowd from the area.
Addressing the people before distributing the items, Rev. Nwibo who was deeply overwhelmed, said that the annual event has to do with his life history, stating that he was born into a poverty striking family when his parents could not train him up to primary six level, but through the grace of God was picked by missionaries and trained until he studied in United State America.
According to the Minister of God, “Before I left for United State of America, the Lord put to my heart that I should help the downtrodden, widows, orphans and my colleague pastors. That is why I made it an annual event, every 27th December we gather vulnerable people to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, let them know that in Christ, there is hope for them, Christ can help and empower them and make their life meaningful. God brings succour, consolation and comfort to the less privileged because I tasted poverty.
“In 2003, God directed me to start an NGO called Family Reformation and Community Development Initiative, through which I have empowered more than 100 widows, offered scholarship to orphans in nursery, primary and secondary schools, because of financial constraints only five people have been trained in the University. We have also trained and graduated more than 350 grown up orphans in the different vocation of their choice and many of them are earning their living through it. We have 824 widows under our support, we give them free interest loan and train them on how to generate income in local trade and be able to secure food for themselve and their children” he said
Rev. Nwibo admonished Christians to always praise and worship God with reading of scriptures, adding that such family doesn’t lack the presence of God, peace and blessings.
He further advised parents never to course their children but speak blessings into them, pointing out that God's Providence in his family was as a result of invocation of God's presence. “My wife and children have the same mindset to assist the downtrodden in the society and there have been no conflict because of God's presence” He stated.
On her part, the wife of the Minister, Mrs. Grace Nwibo described the annual event as a clarion call of God to her husband to care for the less privileged ones.
She observed that following the economic meltdown this year, she wanted to discourage her husband but remembered it is a call from God, pointing out that God created her husband with large heart of caring for the poor and the Lord might asked them if failed to do so.
However, the Pastor in charge of the Nigeria Reformed Church, Onuenyim Ishieke in Ebonyi LGA, Rev. Chukwuma Abel Offor appreciated God for using Rev. Nwibo to touch the lives of many people who are hopeless, stating that the cleric is not partisan nor the richest man in the community but has continued to put smiles in the faces of the needy.
He implored people to persistently touch lives of the less privileged in their midst no matter how small, for they shall have every cause to glorify the Lord noting that givers never lack and called on the beneficiaries not to think that God has forsaken them when they are in difficult situation while stressing that God allowed such people for his own glory.
The Synod President of the Nigeria Reformed Church, Rev. Johnson Abel appreciated Rev. Nwibo, and encouraged other pastors to replicate the gesture and enjoined the beneficiaries to receive the gift with thankful heart.
Some of the beneficiaries including Evangelist Owogu Joseph, Mrs Agnes Nwogbala, among others expressed joy over gesture and congratulated Rev. Nwibo for remembering them in that capacity while praying God to replenish him in hundredfold.
Highlight of the occasion were distribution of the items to the beneficiaries and cultural troop by groups.
