The role of women as nation-builders was again brought to the fore, as RCCG women gathered to celebrate this year’s women convention. TEMITOPE DAVID-ADEGBOYE, who attended the event, writes…
Women dancing during the event
For women to be wise and sensitive builders of homes and nation, they must adhere to directives from Jesus Christ, manage their husbands and children, be submissive and be good communicators.
This was the general consensus of speakers during the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Lagos Province 25, Area 14, Iju in Lagos women convention, which the participants describe as an ‘overflowing’ experience.
With the theme, ‘The overflowing builder’, Funmi Agbesusi, wife of Area 14 pastor, observed that happenings all over the world indicate that the rate of broken homes and family crises is on the increase and products of such homes end up being deficient in some ways. As a result, they cannot be a total child.
To be an overflowing builder, she stated that a woman needs God and must “manage her husband, children, be submissive, forgiving, hardworkin, and prayerful, satisfy their husbands sexually, communicate and commend their husbands and children accordingly”.
“Our marriage must be a role model and be the true light of the world. This way, our lifestyles will draw men unto God,” she added.
Also speaking on parenting, Mrs. Franca Okpiaifor, an educationist, maintained that “the overflowing parent is a coach who has been given a multi-talented child to train and, within a few years, she presents an international champion to God and the world”.
She added that the mother, as a builder, must first seek and discover the way the child should go, to properly guide him or her to fulfil God’s purpose.
Citing Samuel in the Bible, she said the young man was to be a prophet, so Hannah, his mother, left him in the temple.
She urged parents to teach their children the word of God and lead them to Christ.
Her words: “It is the duty of the mother and not the church to lead a child in the sinner’s prayer of repentance for the first time.
“Mentor your child and create in him/her social values. Discipline your child and protect him from the enemies. Train your child in all things, both spiritual and physical virtues. Celebrate your children, (especially on) their birthdays and don’t live through them.
“When you made a mistake at a certain age and your child is getting to that age, don’t be too overbearing because you don’t want that child to make same mistake. Provide for them within your means. Pray for them and labour for them in prayer. Give your children a treat away from home. Don’t provoke your children. Discipline your children, but before you discipline, correct them.”
On her part, Pastor (Mrs.) Olutomi Jaiyeoba said that a wise and sensitive builder would adhere to directives from Christ, adding that the overflowing builder distributes abroad – affect lives.
Explaining the overflowing pattern of building, she opined that building materials must be sacrificial. “What sacrifice have you made, if you are doing what others have done? You are ordinary. But if you go extra mile, you are overflowing builder.”
She maintained that for a woman to build an enduring home, she must be broken by God. When you are submissive, you make everybody satisfied; but those that are over-blotted, you need to be cut into shape, she added.
According to her, when God is interested in what you want to produce, He gives you wisdom and grace. “Be prudent, silent, and watch your mouth. Every woman must be wise because she’s called to build her home. When things are not going on well, wise woman will pray through. Wisdom gives life.”
Jaiyeoba also charged the women to mentor their children and people around them, stressing that they must be able to spread their tentacles to other generations.
Her words: “God says he knows Abraham would teach his children His way. You must mentor your children from the womb; pray over them and shape their destiny. Our children must resemble us. We must be able to mentor people around us and teach them values.
“Overflowing builder must build their future. You need to overflow to others. Let people know your standard; what you will take and will not take. You must impact other people’s lives.
“Overflowing builder must not use substandard material, and you must subject yourself to quality test. How are you building your husband and children; are you bringing the best or the worst from them?”
Speaking during the thanksgiving service, Assistant Pastor Oby Shorinmade, using Ruth in the Bible as the focus, said the foundation, walls and roof are very important in building.
Observing that Ruth’s first foundation was without Christ, she said any foundation without Christ will crumble, adding that our service, which is like walls and pillar, must be unto the Lord while the roof is our reward in heaven.
While explaining that pillars of a building must be very strong and firm, she listed the ingredients of pillars to include genuine soul salvation, career/business/finance, marriage and home, and children.
She declared that salvation must be genuine, for the husband and children to lean on and it would not crumble. While urging the women to acquire skill, she warned: “Do not abandon your career/finance. Whatever little you can do, God will multiply it. Learn from those before you and humble yourself.
“We must build our marriages. Wives, submit to your husbands; husbands love your wives. Submission is stooping to conquer; submission is not something to put you in bondage or frustrate you, but to bring out the best in your husband. Children must be trained in the knowledge of the Lord; they are our crown, our future. Pray for them and pray with them.”
The convention also presented the women with the opportunity to get health screening, as they were screened for blood pressure and sugar level. Drugs were also given freely with support from Fidson Healthcare Plc., a pharmaceutical company in the country.
To empower the women, some of them were also trained in art of hat making, head gear tying and liquid soap making.