I don’t really know what is getting hold of my mind lately. The thought of the renewal and how badly we have fared in lifestyle, expecially in the act of giving makes me sober and pained.
“We no dey try at all”,myself inclusive. This “aka gum” mentality is holding us down and it is not by any stretch of imagination to our advantage.
We read scriptures and quote them for ministration. We quote give and it shall be given to you,full measure, pressed down shaking together….. you can reel out remaining lines like poem, I guess the meaning of such wonderful passage is lost on us as our attitude to giving shows everything but those who understand the dynamics of giving expecially for God’s work.
I tried to make a mental calculation of the numerical strength between Dunamis Church and that of the Catholic Charismatic renewal in Nigeria. I don’t see the Dunamis members being more, both in number and in financial blessings than the renewal. They pray in tongues we pray. They see vision we see. They read the Bible, fast and listen spirit filled teachings, we do likewise. Why was he able to achieve the construction of such a massive Church auditorium in a short time while the renewal in Nigeria still struggles to develop its centre, with no sight in view when this would be accomplished?
Is this about leadership? Strategy or the stingy spirit that have held members hostage?
For years the renewal in the Abuja Archdiocese has been battling with the development of its land in Kuje. Considering the numerical strength, such shouldn’t be a challenge but for the stingy nature of our members. The Spirit of giving freely and cheerfully without being cajoled, and manipulated isn’t with many of us. We prefer to be motivationally spoken to, with prophetic declaration released for possible blessings attached to such giving before we give.
Gone are those years when renewal members were seen as the wretched of the earth, struggling to eke out a living. In our midst are people of deep pockets who can form groups of like deep pockets to fund projects efficiently.
The brother that single handedly built a hostel at the Charismatic center Ubulu -uku isn’t the richest, many of his likes are across other Dioceses and prayer groups. Why are they not maximally using their wealth for God’s work?
Recently we had a fundraising in my community, out of 205 members on our WhatsApp platform, less than 50 persons responded. What about the remaining 150 persons? Too poor to at least part with N500 or 1k? stingy enough to give? Or too entitled, feeling that there are those that will always do it and they will do it afterall?
This has been more of a recurrent decimal and by my assessment not a good story to tell. We can do much more better, taking ownership of whatever contribution that is required to advance the kingdom. The Catholic Charismatic renewal has the numbers, the depth in resources and every other things that would make whatever project before it weigh like a leaf. Why we have not surmounted the financial burden of our projects could be seen from these factors of 1) stinginess 2) Poverty mentality 3) Unconscious thinking that there are those more blessed to give.
Until we are able to carry out deliverance sessions on these strongholds, things may not change in the positive soon. By deliverance I mean mental, through teachings that would change the mindset. Not everything is casting and binding. Our members among other things should be told the simple truth of God being a loving God, who blesses, not because we give but more of his nature to bless his children. We should stop cajoling them into giving. If the mindset of giving to receive becomes our spirituality, the danger is ,if the giving fails to attract the desired and expected blessing as it would most times, the tendency of getting discouraged is not remote. We should be taught to give willingly for the work of God unconditionally, whatever blessings it attracts should be appreciated.
When our mind is liberated from trade and barter business deal with God to a mindset that encourages giving wilfully, the temptation of watering down high powered and spirit filled ministration with fund raising wouldn’t be there. On their own they will give for kingdom work,without waiting to be coarsed, lured, cajoled and manipulated, which oftentimes does not bring forth the pre result advertised.
That our members wait to be cajoled before they give speaks volume about the brokenness and intimacy developed with God. Only a broken heart , with a mindset of vanity for material things can give passionately without holding back. Until we help ourselves through teachings, training and ministration to that realm of selfless giving, raising funds for programmes and projects would continue to be hectic and stressful.
I look forward to that day in our prayer group crusades, Deanery, Archdiocese, Provincial and National Conferences would be sponsored by group of members without fundraising.
I look forward to that time when financial burdens of prayer group to the national will see all members contribute out of their volition according to each person’s strength. Until we get to this breakthrough point of mental poverty liberation, struggling to raise 2million in a 205 member prayer group would be a rocket science.
Be part of any contribution in your prayer groups no matter how small. Urgent 1k can do, always be counted, don’t leave it always to the 20% that cover for the remaining 80%
Pardon me if I hurt you in anyway by this piece. I am not afterall an exception. I am guilty too. Try and give either with your time,talent or treasure. At best, give the three.
Jarlath Uche Opara Jarlathuche@gmail.com
