OLORUNDARE ENIMOLA, Lagos
Lagos Province 108 Headquarter Parish [Greater Grace Assembly] of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG in Meiran, Lagos, on Sunday 22, December organised what is called 'Jesus Market' to sell essential home items at rock bottom prices to over 800 members of the Province Headquarters.
DAILY INDEPENDENT gathered this is the second of such market organised by the Church this year to alleviate and help members procure essential commodities at cheaper prices against the prohibitive costs of buying them in the open markets.
In response to a question by DAILY INDEPENDENT on why the Church is going beyond its tradition of preaching and praying to alleviating poverty, Pastor Seye Adeniyi, Pastor in Charge of the Province, PICP, said, "Though commissioned to preach the gospel and admonished to pray without ceasing, the Church has the very important mandate of loving our neighbours as we love ourselves.
"Hence, we are doing 'Jesus Market' as a way of fulfilling the God-given mandate of reaching out and touching lives with the love of Christ." He added.
Pastor Adeniyi averred that the market is a practical demonstration of the Christian Social Responsibility which The Redeemed Christian Church of God holds very dearly as one of its cardinal approaches to impact the lives of needy members of the Church and the immediate community, saying, "the ultimate goal is to win souls for God's kingdom."
Pastor Mrs Olufunke Adeniyi, the Wife of the Pastor in Charge of Province and the key facilitator of the Market programme asserted that a minimum of 800 Families and Individuals were targeted to benefit from the crashed prices market.
According to Pastor Mrs Adeniyi, "We re-bagged all the items to reach our targeted number and to avoid overcrowding, we issued tickets to prospective buyers for items not more than necessary per individual."
Adding that the programme is powered by the Good Women of the Province Headquarter Parish, Church members and some friends of the Church, led by herself, donating cash, foodstuffs and other items for buyers to buy at very low costs.
Deacon Sholanke Oladapo, a member of the Planning Committee, enumerated some of the items sold and the costs; 1 kilo of Frozen chicken was sold at N1,000 as against the open market price of N4,500 per Kg. A derica of rice sold at N500 as against the open market price of N1,200.
Revealing further, he said, "Four pieces of Indomie Noodles with 1 sachet of spaghetti is sold for N500 as against the open market price of N2,200. A derica of Beans goes for N500 as against the open market price of N2,000.
"Other items sold are; garri, bread, palm oil, groundnut oil, ewedu, okro, pepper, tomatoes, clothing materials and others at rock-bottom prices." He said.
Elder Mrs Deborah Tanimola, in an exclusive interview with DAILY INDEPENDENT, said, I was able to buy a kilogramme of Turkey lap, Spaghetti, Groundnut Oil, pepper and tomatoes that is worth N12,000 for N2000 only, praying that God will richly bless the donors and givers of the items.
Mr. Samuel Adegoke who also patronized the 'Jesus Market', said, "This is absolutely a wonder market, I find it hard to believe that I could use a meager N2,000 buy consumables worth over N10,000 in this present economy, you can see, here I have, Rice, Semovita, Spaghetti, Indomie and a kilogramme of Turkey Chicken, my wife also bought items too, as a family we had Items worth over 20,000 Naira."
Mr. Sunday Nwosu said he was at the 'Jesus market after the Church Service to buy items offered at cheap prices, describing it as a one time opportunity that should not be allowed to slip by, saying he bought a bottle of Groundnut Oil, Fresh Fish, pepper and tomatoes worth over 11,000 Naira.
Mrs Victoria Agbekorode who was on ground coordinating the sales, explained that members who are interested in making a purchase were given a card for items worth N2,000 and were expected to make cash payments at the point of entry into market.
Talking about the various transactions by the beneficiaries, Agbekorode said, "many are quite excited to find their desired consumables and wearables here at very cheap prices and you could see the excitements on their faces having to buy at unbelievable low prices. However we have a higher number of people asking for beef and fish, due possibly to the festive period, it is also worth noting that everything is going on smoothly without any form of hitches or challenges of any sort."
DAILY INDEPENDENT could see excited members of the Church making entries and exits from the market zone, praising God for the initiative, praying for the Pastorate and wishing such markets would be organised as often as possible.
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