The need for women to take their natural roles more seriously, to end problems being experienced in marriages today, was reiterated at God’s Leading Ladies conference of Headstone Church, Ilupeju recently. CHIDINMA ANIAGUDO was there.
Women have neglected their responsibilities as wives due to many years of marriage and child-raising. They lay down their guard when it comes to improving upon themselves and looks. This is the reason many marriages fail and many girls have remained single, even when they have attained marriageable age.
This was the submission of Rev. Funke Felix-Adejumo, wife of the president of Agape Christian Ministries, Incorporated, Akure, while addressing women at God’s Leading Ladies Conference 2014, at the Headstone Church, Ilupeju, Lagos.
According to her, until women return to their God-given role as the backbone of the family, the world will remain unstable.
At the conference which had the theme ‘The Empowered Woman’, the cleric listed the attributes of an empowered woman to include a builder, helper, servant, intercessor, lover, covering and a keeper on assignment. “For example, he gives you sperm; you keep it, deliver a child and nurture that child! He tells you his vision, you keep it in mind and help nurture and bring it to pass.”
Reading from Proverbs 14:1, she said “every wise woman builds her house: but the foolish plucks it down with her hands”.
Felix-Adejumo warned that if all the ills in the world today are not promptly tackled, more families would go through tough times.
In the two-day event which began on Saturday, October 25, with resource persons like the CEO of No Left Overs Nig. Ltd, Mrs. Ayodeji Megbope; popular newspaper columnist of ‘Sex and Sexuality’, Mrs. Funmi Akingbade; and Mrs. Tosin Praise-Fowowe who spoke on diverse areas of interest, which the devil has capitalised on to destroy several homes.
While Megbope spoke on the need for the women to be economically empowered, Praise-Fowowe spoke on financial planning and family budgeting, and Akingbade spoke on revamping sex in marriage.
Felix-Adejumo urged women to endeavour to remain relevant to their husbands, from the way they dress, speak and even carry themselves in the public.
“Men are visually moved – they are moved by what they see. If the woman loses her spark, she may find her man in the hands of another woman,” she affirmed.
Using personal experiences, she explained that the empowered woman is that woman who believes in herself and her husband; who knows how to hold the home front. “The woman must also be a woman of virtue, with her husband and children cherishing her all the days of their lives. She must love herself, regardless of her physical flaws, and honour her husband, regardless of his flaws and short comings. It is only when you love and cherish yourself that you can love and cherish your husband and children.”
As helpmeets, which God created women to be, according to Genesis 2:18, she admonished wives to surround their husbands. “You were created to surround your husband, as a woman. The man was created because God wanted to; the woman was created because she was needed! You were created because you’re needed.
“Tell yourself always ‘I am needed’. So, don’t go around with a low self-esteem. Your husband needs you, and if you’re not married, tell yourself ‘There’s a man out there that needs me’. Yes!
“If you are a wife and you’re not meeting the needs of your husband, you are a colossal waste to him. Surround your husband and help him. Be around him and be of help. Some people are present, but they can’t help; others can help, but aren’t present! Thank God that He is our ever-present help.”
She urged the women to pray for wisdom to build, know when to speak, when to keep quiet, when to comfort and how to build.
The conference climaxed with Rev. Felix-Adejumo admonishing the women to step up and take their place in their various homes. She prayed for restoration in every troubled marriage.
The host of the conference, Pastor Funmi Williams, handled other areas that affect the family such as sex, family budgeting and finance.
The programme was organised by women of The Headstone Church. Since its establishment, the conference has been bringing together women of virtue and astounding abilities in various fields of endeavour, who have to their names various achievements and experiences, and are willing to impart them into the lives of other women.
