A Lagos State-based cleric, Israel Adewale, has said that his humble background was the fuel driving his philanthropic activities.
Adewale, who presides over the Forever in Christ Evangelical and Deliverance Ministry, stated that he was passionate about giving back to society, and creating employment for job-seeking Nigerians.
Reeling out some of his philanthropic works, Adewale said, “We have a water factory, and we employ people to work there. We also carry out free eye checks for people. We also plan to start a Bible school, where the needs of the students will be taken care of, without paying for handouts, school fees, and other things.
“We will also provide them with free transportation. Soon, we will have a hospital where pregnant women can use for free. They will not have to pay anything to give birth in the hospital. We do give because when one does not give out, one won’t have more.”
Recalling how tough things were for him when he moved to Lagos, the cleric said. “When I first came to Lagos, things were hard. I worked as a bus driver and okada rider at different times, until I got a breakthrough. When I became a Christian, I was asked what name I preferred to be called, and I chose Israel. Another cleric then said I should be called ‘Eri’ instead of Israel. Eri, a Yoruba word, means testimony.”
Adeyemi, who was born into a Muslim home, stated that nobody preached to him before he became a cleric. According to him, it was when he fell ill that ‘I found my way to God’.” He said, “No man preached to me when God was about calling me. I was always sick before then, and the illness would exhaust all money I had, yet there won’t be any solution. I was later taken to a church for prayers.
“Meanwhile, before I was sick and taken to the church, the pastor had spoken to me about three times that God wanted to use me for a purpose. But, I did not understand what he meant; so, I ignored him. I spent about three days in the church, because I could not speak. However, on the third day, I woke up and started speaking a strange language. The pastor then reminded me what he had said that God wanted to use me if I was ready to answer His call.”
Baring his mind on the rising insecurity in the country, the cleric urged the government to ensure the creation of community policing. According to him, this would end kidnapping and other forms of criminality.
