By Danjuma Auta
It was celebration time for the people of Magama 11, Baga, Gadan Toro and Kafanchu communities as they came out to welcome the ECWA General Secretary, Rev. Yunusa Sabo Nmadu, the People Oriented Development (POD) management and the Toro DCC executives and their entourage to the commissioning of wells dug by POD.
The commissioning took the delegation round the four communities and was also witnessed by community leaders and youth organizations.
On arrival at the DCC headquarters in Toro, the General Secretary, Rev. Yunusa Nmadu, stated that because incarnational ministry was holistic and involved not only speaking the Word but following it with action, ECWA set up POD to fill in the gap.
He stated that when you preach to people, you are also expected to teach them the practical ways of life to demonstrate to the world the true essence of the Gospel.
He appealed to Christians to be active at all times by allowing their faith to be seen through social, cultural, marital and all other facets of their existence in order to positively impact the world for Christ.
He congratulated POD of ECWA for providing clean and hygienic drinking water and empowering women to be self-employed in remote villages and urged the beneficiaries to use the projects and skills for the advancement of the gospel in their communities.
Also speaking, the Director, POD of ECWA, Rev. Dr. Ephraim Yoms, disclosed that POD had undertaken similar projects in other parts of the country, adding that they had carried out needs assessments to prioritize the needs of the communities so as to provide them with the projects that would meet their most urgent needs.
According to him, it was discovered that the most critical needs of the communities were water and sanitation, hence the decision to embark on the construction of water wells and VIP latrines at Magama 2, Baga, Gadan Toro and Kafanchu – all in Toro LGA of Bauchi State.
In a brief presentation, the POD coordinator in the zone, Mr. Shehu Musa, said that the mandate given to him was for three wells but was able to present eight for dedication while one was at the finishing stage.
He disclosed that with more funds, POD would continue to meet the needs of rural communities to serve as a stepping stone for the advancement of the Gospel in the mostly Muslim dominated communities and called on ECWA and other well-meaning Christians to key into the vision of POD of ECWA to advance the Great Commission in this end time.
Our correspondent reports that members of the Magama 2 community had gathered very early in the morning to welcome POD and the ECWA General Secretary and expressed gratitude and watched in high spirits as the tape was cut to commission the well.
Mrs. Liatu Musa, spokesperson of the women, said that the well came as a great relief to the community, especially the women who had been trekking long distances in search of water for domestic use.
On her part, Hajiya Hafsat Mohammed thanked ECWA for digging the well, adding that it would benefit all residents, irrespective of their religious beliefs which would go a long way in uniting the community and enhance peaceful coexistence.