The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day has launched an empowerment program where at least 21 Church members entrepreneurs were supported with over N18million Business Purchase Starter Packs.
The program which is tagged, ‘Members Self Reliance Support’ was respectively flagged off in Cross River State, and Akwa Ibom state in south south Nigeria.
Speaking with Truth Live News shortly after the presentation of items to the beneficiaries in Calabar, the Welfare Self Reliance Manager, Uyo Coordinating council Bishop Christian Onovughe, said the program was for those who have learned skills but cannot buy equipments for themselves, including those who have business ideas but do not have capital to start.
He said the Church have provided them with those starter kits to help them to start and see if they can start something small and be able to grow them big.
When he was asked how the beneficiaries were selected Onovughe, said it was based on the recommendation by their priesthood leaders who are Bishops and Branch Presidents, whom through the spirit of discernment were able to choose those who actually needed to be part of the program and were eventually recommended to their stake presidents.
Bishop Onovughe, went on to explain the series of trainings they went through before they were qualified, he said “they started by what they called ‘Saturday’s activity’ where the beneficiaries were given paper clips to go out and sell.”
“This was that, if they are able to sale the paper clips and come back with money they would understand what it means to start business small and grow it big,” he added.
According to him, at least twenty beneficiaries were selected from Calabar Nigeria Stake while another 21 beneficiaries were selected from Uyo Nigeria Stake.
He affirmed that the Church had spent over N18million for those beneficiaries from the two Stakes.
The manager expressed confident that they have been given the tools to start their business, and that they would all go out and do the needful and be able to multiply and take care of their families.
He said “that’s what the Church want and that’s what Zion is all about that none was poor among them.”
“So we are looking forward to seeing them bringing to practice all the principles they have been taught and implement them in their businesses so that they will be successful.”
“What we did yesterday was fantastic and it was what we call the members self reliance support,” Onovughe said.
He used the occasion to advise the beneficiaries to go and start their business believing that the Lord is upon them and that they should develop faith and always be prayerful and act on the principles they have learned.
“We are looking forward to seeing them being mentors and helping other members that may need to start like they started, guide and help them succeed,” he Concluded.
On his part, the Calabar Nigeria Stake president, Alex Nkoro, admonished the beneficiaries to do everything possible to ensure they follow the principles that they had been taught and that by so doing they will be successful.
“I blessed you that you be successful, I blessed you that you become example to others and become mentors as well,” he prayed.
On behalf of the beneficiaries president Samuel Okpok, thanked the Church for the gesture saying they will do their best not to disappoint the donor, as they would do all they can within their power to ensure what were given to them is multiplied.
Highpoint was group photographs where the Church leaders were flanked by the beneficiaries among others.