… Church showers gifts
on them
By BISI OLALEYE
Tuesday,
April 8, 2008
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•Mr James(right), being presented with some copies
of books by Evangelist Tonge on behalf of Prophet Joshua
of Synagogue Church at the Valentine Charity show for
the disabled children
Pix: Sun News Publishing |
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When Onyeka Onwenu, popularly called ‘elegant stallion’
sang ‘One Love, keep us together,’ little did
she know that she was sending out a strong message to all
facets of life.
This ‘one love’ was passed and shared among children
with disabilities recently by Dr Raphael James, director general,
Centre for Research, Information Management and Media Development
(CRIMMD) during their 4th annual valentine’s party.
According to James, it is an emotional sight just looking
at the children, who for no fault of theirs, were either abandoned
by their parents or wards to death.
"Our 4th Valentine charity show is a more emotional exchange
targeted at children with disabilities in the society. Though
it is not the first time, CRIMMD is showing love to the disabled.
In 2005 after the Constituent Assembly, CRIMMD in partnership
with the spinal cord injury association and the Abia State
Liaison office in Lagos hosted and commended Ms Nike Akingbola,
the lady who represented persons with disabilities at the
assembly.
"This year, CRIMMD target is to raise fund to establish
a library for special children. We discovered that the only
way to give hope to these wonderful children is to teach them
how to read or how to fish as Chinese proverbs. This NGO is
being motivated by the recent call to give by two eminent
world leaders, former President of US Bill Clinton and Prophet
Temitope Balogun Joshua, General Overseer, Synagogue Church
of All Nations."
Earlier, in his opening remark, Brigadier General Jones Arogbofa
(rtd), had said that physically challenged children should
not be seen as a burden but their potentialities should be
harnessed.
Meanwhile, Pastor Samson Okoliko, founder of the Centre for
Destitute Empowerment International (CDEI), where these children
reside, explained that God has been his mainstay in sustaining
these children. He was also quick to point out that many philanthropists
have made the home their second home.
He revealed that other cheerful givers also contribute their
widow’s mite to alleviate poverty at the centre.
The peak of the event was when Christopher Tonge, who represented
Prophet T.B. Joshua and the Emmanuel T.V crew physically demonstrated
giving by sharing gifts to the home.
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