The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Rose of Sharon Parish, Ikeja, has said over 4,000 persons will be given food items at its forthcoming flagship crusade.

The Presiding Pastor, Emeka Obiagwu, said this at a news conference on Tuesday in Lagos to unveil activities lined up for the crusade slated for November 23, 2024.

The crusade with the theme: “Looking Back and Leaping Forward” will be held at the Police College Ikeja, Lagos.

Speaking about the event, Mr Obiagwu said the church had invited churches and individuals within Ikeja and its environs to attend the crusade.

Mr Obiagwu said that people would be blessed with the word of God and food items such as rice packs, noodles, beverages and toiletries to cushion the effect of the economic challenges.

He said the crusade, formally known as “Ikeja for Christ Crusade,” was first held in December 2021, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the parish.

He said, “The parish in 2021 renovated the Ikeja High School Science laboratory, offered financial support to 20 small scale business owners within the church community, and the procurement of equipment worth two million naira for artisans. In line with the objectives of the RCCG General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, this parish is inclined to improve the lives of people within the community to make a better society and reduce crime. Our vocational school aims at empowering people with marketable skills is a subsidiary set up to train people free to make them financially independent. This year is not different from the good works but will focus on impacting the general public spiritually and materially.’’

Mr Obiagwu described the initiative as part of the church’s corporate social responsibility to its host community.

He said the annual interdenominational crusade and humanitarian service would feature renowned ministers such as the Pastor of the Living Faith Foundation, Kaduna, Joe Olaiya, Femi Okunuga and Abimbola Praiseway.

Also speaking, an Associate Pastor of the church, Tunde Fowler, said the crusade would provide the church an opportunity to spread the message of hope embodied in Jesus Christ.

Mr Fowler, who observed that the present economic challenge was taking a toll on families, urged other churches to embrace the kind gesture of the parish.

He said through the provision of welfare packages for a minimum of 4,000 attendees, especially women, the church would help to ease the uncertainties people were contending with.

The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, in October, tasked churches to materially impact their host communities, as part of evangelism.

(NAN)