Anchorage Supporting The Poor
Donation protected
Anchorage Ministry founded by Pa (Evangelist) Oladiji Sorungbe to provide Christian evangelism, health and entrepreneurial training in the rural areas of Ifo and Ewekoro Local Govt. Areas of Ogun State in Nigeria. It is a non-denominational ministry. Here is his story.
We noticed that churches in the villages and rural areas are in a State of neglect and decay due to migration of young people to the cities and urban areas for salaried employment and lack of modern amenities in the villages. This situation struck me vividly sometime in the late 90’s when I visited Ojusango and Akinsinde (my ancestral villages). The annual harvest thanksgiving celebrations in the village churches were the joyous occasions when we were young in the 40s and 50s. What I saw broke my heart. The churches were in very bad shape, some have even crumbled and are no longer safe for use. Those still functioning were ghosts of their old selves. The congregation are few and so poor mostly old people, women and children. They cannot afford to maintain the church furniture or cater for small children. No place to turn for help in any situation and their health was very bad. This situation is not limited to these two villages but rampant in the whole of Ogun State and western Nigeria which I know well.
That was when the idea of the Anchorage Ministry came to my mind to do something to support the work of evangelism in the rural areas to give back to poor people. I started slowly by visiting as many churches as possible, assessing their situation and looking into their areas of needs. My resources were and is still limited to what God has provided for me and my family and occasional help from my church in Lagos, Shepherd Hill Baptist Church Obanikoro Lagos, plus occasional donations from friends. I started first by trying to meets their immediate needs, such as church literature, establishing children churches (provision of small plastic chairs, canopies, tracts, Christians CDS etc. to attract the children). Where possible we find local volunteers to lead services. We organize periodic free medical service for the people. The Anchorage also hired a pastor to head the church and donate money for church improvement.
The people of Agodo village are worse off and hope of assistance from any quarters is very dim. However, they have a very energetic and resourceful Pastor. He is one of those really called into the ministry. He was given N5,000 ($15) and was able to produce N25,000 equivalent in projects implemented.
We acquired a hectare of land in the village in which we establish the Anchorage center. The center is now a small farm house, Pastorium and food processing center using local equipment. Your donation will enable Anchorage to do the following.
- Expand farming capability of the people to be self-employed.
- Provide pastors even if temporarily for many village churches who would otherwise not have the luxury of a pastor.
- Establish other small-scale businesses so the church can be self-sufficient
- Continue providing free medical service to poor people.
Thank you and Wishing you God's Blessing and Grace.
We noticed that churches in the villages and rural areas are in a State of neglect and decay due to migration of young people to the cities and urban areas for salaried employment and lack of modern amenities in the villages. This situation struck me vividly sometime in the late 90’s when I visited Ojusango and Akinsinde (my ancestral villages). The annual harvest thanksgiving celebrations in the village churches were the joyous occasions when we were young in the 40s and 50s. What I saw broke my heart. The churches were in very bad shape, some have even crumbled and are no longer safe for use. Those still functioning were ghosts of their old selves. The congregation are few and so poor mostly old people, women and children. They cannot afford to maintain the church furniture or cater for small children. No place to turn for help in any situation and their health was very bad. This situation is not limited to these two villages but rampant in the whole of Ogun State and western Nigeria which I know well.
That was when the idea of the Anchorage Ministry came to my mind to do something to support the work of evangelism in the rural areas to give back to poor people. I started slowly by visiting as many churches as possible, assessing their situation and looking into their areas of needs. My resources were and is still limited to what God has provided for me and my family and occasional help from my church in Lagos, Shepherd Hill Baptist Church Obanikoro Lagos, plus occasional donations from friends. I started first by trying to meets their immediate needs, such as church literature, establishing children churches (provision of small plastic chairs, canopies, tracts, Christians CDS etc. to attract the children). Where possible we find local volunteers to lead services. We organize periodic free medical service for the people. The Anchorage also hired a pastor to head the church and donate money for church improvement.
The people of Agodo village are worse off and hope of assistance from any quarters is very dim. However, they have a very energetic and resourceful Pastor. He is one of those really called into the ministry. He was given N5,000 ($15) and was able to produce N25,000 equivalent in projects implemented.
We acquired a hectare of land in the village in which we establish the Anchorage center. The center is now a small farm house, Pastorium and food processing center using local equipment. Your donation will enable Anchorage to do the following.
- Expand farming capability of the people to be self-employed.
- Provide pastors even if temporarily for many village churches who would otherwise not have the luxury of a pastor.
- Establish other small-scale businesses so the church can be self-sufficient
- Continue providing free medical service to poor people.
Thank you and Wishing you God's Blessing and Grace.
Organizer
Ayo Awofala
Organizer
Lake Pocotopaug, CT