All men and women of good conscience who show compassion for the plight of the needy would reap great benefits without fail. Rev. A.O Aro gave the assurance at the weekend and called on people to imbibe the spirit of sacrificial giving and sharing with the poor, emphasising that there are invaluable benefits in it.
He spoke during the special thanksgiving service of Lt Colonel John Kehinde Olukomogbon, at the 1st Evangelical Church Winning All, ECWA, Takete Ide, MopAmuro Local Government, Kogi State.
The cleric commended the celebrant for his regular handout to widows and other vulnerable groups, noting that it may have been part of what accelerated his freedom from the den of gunmen and others. He urged him to keep up the practice.
An obviously elated Olukogbon narrated how he was abducted along the Obajana to Kabba Road while on a mission to evacuate his sick aged mother on 3 September 2023. He was tortured and released about one week later, after the kidnappers collected a heavy ransom.
“All I am doing today is to return all gratitude to God, who allowed everything to happen and showed us steadfast love despite our imperfection. During those trying moments, people prayed and contributed money for our release.You must have heard that a heavy ransom was paid. God used people to raise the money. More importantly, God secured our release. We know of many victims who were killed after collecting ransom. God did not allow our story to be like that.
“As if that is not enough, some weeks after the incident, God approved my promotion. This is the same promotion that I have been praying for. All I am doing here is thank God and ask my people to join me in thanking him. He is a merciful and miracle working God who answers prayers.”
After the Thanksgiving service, the ceremony shifted base to the palace of the Olude of Takete Ide, His Royal Highness, Oba Philip Ebilakun, Two friends of the community, Dare Maiyegun and Mrs Ibikemi Olorunleke were conferred with honorary chieftaincy titles as Akogun and Iyalaje of Takete Ide respectively to underscore their individual contributions while Olukomogbon and others were in captivity. The awardee pledged their continued support for the community.
The program, which climaxed with a grand reception, was witnessed by religious and traditional leaders, military officers, the political class, friends, and family members of the celebrant.
