By Princess Ugorji (VANGUARD) It was joyous day for the women of Assemblies of God Church, Isolo, Lagos as they held the annual women’s programme at the Church premises, recently. The women who turned up in large numbers portrayed the fact that if they were to come back to this life, they will come back as women. They were obviously overwhelmed with the joy of the day and hinted on how they have been successful with raising their children and working in the vineyard of God at the same time.
Wife of the senior pastor of the church, Mrs. Caroline Okeremgbo, ascribed the success attained by the women in their various endeavours to God, saying that it had been God from the beginning of the ministry. She said that the major challenges she has faced so far was taking care of her children because as she had more children, she seemed to have less time for herself.
Speaking further, Okeremgbo noted: “In the church, women have different characters but you have to ensure that they are happy.” She added that it’s not been easy but it has been God all through.
The Women President, Mrs. Ekpa Eteta explained that as the woman president for a long time, her major challenge was the fact that they attend meetings late or don’t even attend organised meetings at all.
“Combining the task of a leader in the church, mother and grandmother has not been easy but first of all, my home must be in order”, she noted. She added that determination has been one of the things that had helped all through.
Eteta who admitted that at the beginning it was tedious, advised younger women to be committed to God and take everything to God. She revealed further that, the success she has attained today did not come when she became a leader but had started when she was not a leader but today God is being glorified.
For the Assistant Women’s President, Mrs. Victoria Efeturi: “As a it is not enough to have children but training them properly is the major challenge because as a mother and leader, I want the children I see around me to be God-fearing and obedient.” She noted further that if she were to come back to planet earth, she would come back as a woman because “a woman is in control everywhere.”
The Secretary of the group, Mrs. Joy Enyi, on her part, noted that the beauty of a woman lies in being a leader, mother and a role model, adding that it has been God helping her combine all.
Various women’s group leaders in the church also spoke of their challenges and how they have been able to scale through successfully. For Glorious Group Leader, Mrs. Ngozi Azude Anyanso, her major challenge not being able to pray enough due to time factor. “It has not been easy for me combining all activities together but the fact that I have a husband that is Christian and has helped me a lot has been the secret of my success as a women’s leader.”
For Mrs. Ngozi Nwagbaranta, the Precious Group Leader, her challenge is that the younger women are really not co-operating, but with prayer and patience, she hopes they would do better. “Combing the tasks has not been easy, but everyday I wake up I call on God to help me. Younger women should trust in the Lord and He will see them through”, she noted.
