The haste to hate robs haters of their ability to try to think before condemnation and judgment of anything done by those they hate. RCCG Church has been giving free food for years but recently added specific times and Parishes to it. The goal – probably – of the feeding model is a part of their sets of vision and to also show love.
But haters are dissatisfied; they are hurling all kinds of criticism at this effort, believing RCCG has a responsibility to do more, OK. Some haters said the timing is short, others said the people going are not hungry; some even said it is not a sincere effort. OK.
It is safe to agree that haters hate the Church because they hate them, not specifically – because – of this effort, or anything they are doing or not doing.
The free food has left them frustrated and disappointed that with their hatred they cannot believe it, or accept it, so they have to discredit it.
The same way foreign aid has not or cannot develop any country, is the same way feeding the poor cannot eradicate poverty in Nigeria.
RCCG is not the first Church across the world to feed the poor. Feeding the homeless and destitute are done by several organizations, in developed countries, and are far more robust than what RCCG does – because many of them often gets budget assistance from their government, or tax deductible donations.
Caritas, an arm of the Catholic Church has a similar breakfast model – nine to eleven am – with snacks and tea for the poor – in many part of Western Europe. They have some ticket kind of dinner programs as well. There are also foundations that provide free accommodation for the homeless for two weeks – and the occupant is expected to vacate the bunk afterwards. They provide dinner in that time as well.
The Red Cross also has a weekly – free – bathing program for the homeless, and they hand them edibles. On some of those free edibles – there are government social services donation stickers that tells where it came from.
These Western Europe countries also have a massive social services program and healthcare is free too. When some people freshly lose their jobs and later at risk of losing their homes, they get help to pay the rent for three months – if a residential lease agreement is provided.
In the United States, there are Goodwill stores, where cheap items – mostly donated to them – are sold. Salvation Army does great too in several aspects of handouts and cheap stuff. There is also the one Dollar store.
Aside these, they have a robust welfare program. They have food stamps – sometimes around ninety five dollars a month – that can be used for tax free shopping at supercenters. There is also payment for accommodation for the really poor – around about four hundred dollars a month.
The government is into helping the poor – often. When there are emergencies, there are also some relief centers as well as immense donations from so many corners.
But none of these are development policy. As prosperous as several developed countries are, there are those who are off major economic brackets – so in compassion, they have all of these programs. Migrants also benefit from many of these, as well as the really destitute.
But they also have major policies, their institutions are working. Their job market is always fighting back. There are student loans; there are inexpert jobs everywhere – to do/manage. There are several opportunities for their middle class citizens.
Government does most of the expected responsibilities. There’s electricity, there are good roads, there is a standard of living, and there is a minimum amount of common knowledge or education – mostly. There are valid star thinkers and skilled professionals, there are also other wild aspects of the economy and they cannot just fall back on their standard.
Back to Nigeria, where there are not a lot of these, those who lack good understanding think the goal of the Church is to alleviate poverty or that the Church is somehow responsible for poverty.
Well, NO, Sorry!
True Churches are neither responsible for the poverty in Nigeria, nor is it their responsibility to lift people out of poverty.
Look at the government! Nigerians were disappointed in every government since 1999. What does it say? Doesn’t it mean – that – it is better to look at how to channel development from another spot, with actual and genuine knowledge, robust passion for sincere change and thoughtfulness that beats failure and corruption?
All of which could come from relentless advanced thinking and work from those who are truly smart, not some sham conference, or programs or fake project or all the noise and nonsense everywhere –masked as development – across Nigeria.
The mission and vision of RCCG are on their website and that is their goal. How’s that supposed to change to alleviate what they do not have the resources for or to forgo their goal in order to eradicate poverty?
Banks, insurance companies, telecommunications companies, bet and lotto companies, pharmaceutical companies, technology companies, transport companies, non-profits, foundations, government offices, etc. all have their primary goals, so does the Church.
The resistance to true Churches has been failing for years and this new one, based on misinformation or disinformation, distortion of the Scriptures, confusion and use of the internet to war against the Church will fail. Amen.