Helping to Change Lives and Destinies

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Helping to Change Lives and Destinies

Sometimes it's better to look beyond people's mistakes and help effect changes in their lives which will change their destinies and ultimately make society a lot better for us all. If we simply complain and disassociate from those we consider deviants, then there is less hope for them to make effective changes in their lives, while they would only get up to more mischief and become cancers that ultimately erode. We cannot immunize ourselves completely from the ills of society, so we might as well try to reduce them which ever way we can.

Unlike some western nations, it's not our culture to simply lock up our juvenile, but we still need to step up on rehabilitating our youth that have strayed. It is vital to understanding why and where they took the wrong turns in their lives, before we can even begin to try to initiate positive changes. It is also important to help them build up healthy self-esteem, as some of the youth act defiantly or even aggressively out of fear, putting up a bravado front to keep others from seeing their deep hurts.

We shouldn't simply leave the task of rehabilitating our youth to government rehabilitation facilities, but can work collective in various sections of society to help in their rehabilitation and positive turn around.

Communities, schools, churches, clubs, etc, can all assist, and for those that cannot directly participate, at least lend your support to organizations and institutions that do, either as volunteers, financial donors, or simply with fervent prayers for our youth and our nation.

Our adage is that it takes a village to raise a child, it is time we take time away from our desire for financial gains and instead invest our time in human gain. Don't feel your only responsibility is to your own offspring only, remember every child needs collective adult/parental care to grow into a responsible adult. Also, if you have a deviant or improperly trained child, or simply a child that refuses to heed to home-training, do not take offense when outsiders try to correct or scold your child. It will be better for your peace of mind, and society in the long run.

Finally we need to always show love, as everyone deserves to be loved, most especially the youth who need more assurances and validations that they are indeed loved and accepted, despite their shortcomings. If we can simply love and encourage them, then it will be easier for them to communicate what may be troubling them and thus either not stray to begin with, or draw closer to those dedicated to enacting positive changes in their lives.

Cxsm
10th June '08

© Cxsm 2008 All Rights Reserved

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Another Brand of Magic as Drug Addicts Embrace New Life at Peller’s Church

Sun News
Bimbola Oyesola
14th May '08

For eight former drug addicts, who graduated from Life Rehabilitation Vocation Training Centre and Jesus Soldiers of War Bible College, Ijaiye Ojokoro in Lagos recently, it was a moment of rebirth and a new found joy in Christ. The graduates came from all walks of life, and they had different pathetic stories to tell.

On that eventful Sunday when they filed out at the Finger of God Ministries, AIT Road, Alagbado, right in the presence of families and friends, many of them expressed their gratitude to God as prodigal sons returning home after squandering their father’s wealth.

Speaking at the ceremony, presiding Bishop of the Finger of God Ministries and founder of the Rehabilitation Centre and Bible College, Bishop Kayode Abiola Peller, commended the graduates for choosing the path of life. "I congratulate you on your new status, the Finger of God is changing people’s lives. Those considered as outcasts in their family, the lives that were perishing, God brought them out and gave them a new ray of hope," he said.

Peller, who is the son of the late popular magician, Professor Peller, said he was able to make an impact on the lives of the addicts because he was once a drug addict too. "I was a former drug addict. It takes somebody who has been there to help out someone who is there. It is someone who knows the water that can help people who are drowning," he said. To him, the life of an addict is like experiencing hell right on the face of earth, stressing that it could be terrible.

He noted that more than 500 drug addicts had passed through the rehabilitation centre and the Bible College since its inception in 1993. Bishop Peller said it was a great challenge running the ministry, noting that most ministers of God never liked to identify with drug addicts.

"It’s not a common ministry. It’s a life of area boys, drug addicts and destitutes. And many ministers and bishops get scared of them," he said. Stating that he was a prophet raised among the drug addicts to minister to them, the bishop charged the graduates to go into the world and spread what they have learnt at the centre on others in a similar dilemma.

One of the graduates, Benjamin Ajiboye, who dropped out of university owing to drug abuse, was excited for the life he has found in Christ.
"Before I got here, I was involved in many things, cocaine sniffing, internet fraud, and the like. But I thank God for the new life. I am ready to go back to school and complete my studies." Wife of the Bishop, Reverend Mrs Olanike Abiola Peller, who is also a teacher in the college, said the reformed addicts were ready to take their rightful places in the society.

"I take care of their cooking myself because I can’t trust anybody with their meals. Initially, when they brought them in, they were suspicious of people around them," she recalled. She, however, said that the warmth attention and divine care extended to them had been the magic wand for their stability in the home.

Reverend Peller said that some of the addicts had decided to go into full-time ministry after their rehabilitations. "We have cases of some of our past graduates going into ministry, either working with us here or somewhere else," she stated.