It was in 2001 while I was the President of
the Christian Union Enugu campus that the fellowship planned one of the
reunions with graduated brethren. As is often the case we were hoping to raise
money for fellowship needs during the meeting. Specifically we believed God for
a new 32 seater bus to replace Ebenezer which was about 2 decades old. Which
minister would we invite to the fund raising dinner? Who would under God raise
the money for us? At that time the fellowship budget was in hundreds of
thousands of naira; we had not reached the million mark then. I was persuaded
by some active and enthusiastic brethren (who are expected to be spiritual) to
invite a certain popular minister in Enugu who was anointed to squeeze money
out of any padlocked senior friend’s purse, no matter how difficult.
Against an inner witness, out of curiosity I went
to his place near old UNTH. The first impression was that the compound looked
littered like a spare parts shop. I wondered if he was a businessman. When I
was ushered in to see the man of Go(l)d he asked “So you want me to make money for you ehn?” “Emmm, to encourage our
senior friends to give generously, sir” I replied. “We are saying the same thing. It is tough but, it can be done.”
“Oh, thank you sooo much sir.” I responded. I was shocked by his next word,”Now how much will be my commission?”
“Commission?” Could I be hearing right? “Sir we shall give you honorarium” “Hono-gini? The miserable N3000 you give?
Look my commission is 40%. Deal?”
“Sir, please help us. We are a mere students’ fellowship. Moreover in
CU it is against our tradition to discuss such a thing. If our senior friends
also get to hear about this, they will be disappointed...” He dismissed me with
“I see you are not ready for naira rain.
Go back and think and bring an answer tomorrow. I have a tight schedule...”
There are ministers and there are ministers but few are as trustworthy! At least we are not commercializing God's word like
so many others. Instead, we speak with sincerity in the Messiah's name, like
people who are sent from God and are accountable to God. 2Cor
2:17(ISV)
He never got that feedback. Baba God gave the
executive committee of the CU fellowship another dimension of wisdom. We
visited all known senior friends in Enugu, Nsukka and Awka. We wrote our needs
down for our senior friends to read. In addition we wrote to others far away. In
the reunion program they donated cash and pledges with a little urging from
Azike Diribe and Edith Nwosu. Before, during, and after the reunion the CU
received N1.5 million, and that without sugar coated talks. That was
when the fellowship moved from N0.5million annual budgets to seven digit
budgets. The money didn’t come in bulk so we revamped Ebenezer instead of
buying a new one. We also got a brand new computer (the first ever for the
fellowship), a landline, free production of the directory, etc.
"Listen
to me, you who pursue righteousness, you who seek the LORD! Look to the rock
from which you were cut, to the quarry from which you were hewn.” Isa 51:1(ISV) Thomas Adejoh
served as President Christian Union UNEC
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