By Gilbert Ekezie
Bishop Blessing Samuel recently had a thanksgiving Service for the successful burial of his late mother, Mrs Alice Keineti Akatakpo who died at the age of 78.
During the service which took be place in Lagos, he empowered eight widows in his ministry with N150, 000.00 each.
One Apostle Theophilus got a sum of N1.5million with an Infinity Jeep for his stewardship service to God.
A fashion designer was also supported with N500.000.00 to help her do better in business.
Bishop Samuel said the gesture became necessary in order to touch lives of the less privileged and those who have devoted their time to the service of God and mankind.
He also explained that the thanksgiving to God was in honour of his late mother who meant almost every thing for him.
According to him, his late mother worked harder to bring him up, even after his father died early. “I have every reason to celebrate my mother because she did much for me. Her death was a very big loss because I planned to more for her, though I built a mansion for her.”
He decribed his late mother as one in a million who was incomparable. “My late mother was good to all. She took everyone as hers. We really missed her.”
Mrs Esther Innocent, first daughter of the family describe her late mother as God fearing woman who was fully committed to the things of God. “I called her mother of all Nations because she carried everyone along. She was hard-working, humane and content with what he has. Mama was a good tither and we her children learned all those her qualities which is helping us today.”
General Overseer of Liberation Word Ministries International, Bishop Matthew Omodiagbe expressed gratitude that the late woman lived a fulfilled life on earth. ” We thank God that mama was old and died in the Lord. That is why we should celebrate.”
He advised the living to plan for the day of their departure. ” Let Jesus Christ be the Lord of our lives. If that happens, we will be at peace because everything we need in life is in Christ.”
Omodiagbe prayed for the Departed soul of Mrs Akatakpo to rest in peace.
In the same vein, Senior Pastor of Christ Praise Ministry, New York, USA, Bishop Frank Udoh described death as transition into glory of having eternal life with Christ. “For us in Christ, death is a move over of the physical realm where people spend eternity with God.”