By John Oghojafor
At this critical moment of recession in the Nigerian economy, any establishment that maintains well over 800 staff and still manage to pay their salaries regularly must be commended. That exactly is the major contribution of the Christ Mercyland Deliverance Ministry Inc., Effurun/Warri to the economy of Delta State that is worthy of emulation by others.
The Ministry which is one of the largest single congregation in Delta State has also made its mark in community development, spiritual development of hundreds of thousands of persons, peace and the creation of a flourishing local economy in Effurun, Warri and environs.
It is these unique corporate social responsibilities, no doubt, that endeared the Ministry to the executive of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Correspondents Chapel of Warri, who on Tuesday, (24/07/2017), paid a courtesy visit to the General Overseer of the Ministry, Prophet Jeremiah Omoto Fufeyin at the headquarters of the church along the Effurun/Sapele road, Effurun, Delta State during which the body of journalists also made a presentation to him.
Speaking during the visit, the Chairman of the NUJ Warri Correspondent Chapel, Comrade Akpokona Omafuaire, noted that the Union has taken notice of the contributions of the Ministry to the development of its host community, creation of jobs, restoration of peace, the growth of commercial activities in the area and above all, the philanthropic disposition of the General Overseer, adding that “We journalists in Warri are impressed and have decided to come to say thank you.”
The Chairman also thanked the General Overseer for encouraging single girls and boys who are due and ready for marriage in the church to seek the face of God for their life partners and his offer to sponsor their marriages, pointing out that with this singular gesture, immorality will be reduced to the barest minimum among youths in the area.
Responding, the General Overseer of the Ministry, Prophet Fufeyin recalled that when he started the development of the permanent site of the church three years ago, many thought he may not succeed due to the marshy nature of the land. He however stated that because of the presence of the finger of God in the project, he has transformed the swamp to its current magnificent state where hundreds of thousands of people from across the country converged weekly to worship God and receive their miracles.
Said he: “All what you are seeing here today took us just three years. When we came in here many people thought we might not be able to develop the place because of its swampy nature. But I told them that when the finger of God is in anything, it can transform a man who is a nobody to somebody under one year.
“Most people doubted how we can sand fill and transform this place, but today, those who knew the state of this area before we started, when they are passing by, now are convinced that the finger of God is in this place. It is not by my effort, it is God’s.”
He thanked the body of journalists for, not just recognizing what God is using him to do in the Ministry, but visiting to physically express their appreciation. According to him, he has a staff of over 800 persons whom he pays salaries every month, adding that he was grateful for the recognition accorded him by the Union.
“I thank God for your coming to show appreciation for what God is doing here. God has been doing many things in this ministry. The people who are on my payroll as workers in this ministry are more than 850. I thank God for the development taking place here”, Prophet Fufeyin said, adding that his doors were opened and that the members of the union were free to come whenever they want to see him.
Earlier, the chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists who was in the entourage, Comrade Mike Ikougu, had commended the General Overseer for impacting positively on the society, stressing that he should remain focused and resolute on the assignment which God has given to him.
He reminded the cleric that the higher he goes in doing the work of God, the more criticisms he should expect from distractors, adding that he should remain on track and listen to God rather than the voice of distractors.
High point of the occasion was the presentation of beautiful portrait of the Prophet and a copy of the Holy Bible from the chairman of the Warri NUJ Correspondents chapel, Comrade Akpokona Omafuaire to the Prophet.
Present at the event were the State chairman of NUJ, Comrade Mike Ikougu, the executives and members of the Warri NUJ Correspondents chapel, the General Overseer of the Ministry, Prophet Jeremiah Fufeyin and some of his pastors and staff.
