=By Funmi Falobi=

The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), First Born Family has empowered indigent women, widows and students as part of activities to mark its 30^th anniversary.

At the grand finale of the week-long activities to celebrate the anniversary at Tafawa Balewa Square, TBS, Lagos, the church as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to ensure people are economically empowered to meet their social responsibilities in the face of economic downturn in the country, gave out 98 grinding machines worth N35,000 each and N50,000 cheque to widows and indigent women, while 15 students of the Redeemers University for all Nations (RUN) were given scholarship for their tertiary education.

Presenting the cheques and the grinding machines to the beneficiaries, Mother-in-Israel and wife of the General Overseer, Pastor (Mrs.) Folu Adeboye urged the women to handle the grinding machines with care and make judicious use of them profitably, adding “we pray that by this time next year, each of you will also be able to sponsor others,” she said.

Speaking on the theme, “From Glory to Glory”, the General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye explained that there are three aspects of moving from glory to glory – physical, material and spiritual.

According to him, shame is the opposite of glory saying “there’s nothing glorious in sickness, there’s nothing glorious in being poor and there’s nothing glorious in being bound.”

In physical glory, he said that it is good to be healthy but it is far more glorious when people begin to receive healing through your shadow. “Physically It is glorious to get healed but more glorious to be healthy”, he said.

While explaining the various levels of material glory from being poor to comfortable to being rich, wealthy and prosperous, he said the highest which is flourishing is God’s plan for His children.

Similarly, he said leaving a legacy behind is the highest level of spiritual glory any man can attain.

“People who move from glory to glory are very diligent. To move from glory to glory, you must have contact with the King of kings. You must associate with the King of Glory, obey Him, be hardworking, diligent in everything that has to do with God,” he said.

The First Born family, formally known as the Ikeja family, was established 30 years ago by Pastor Adeboye as the mother of all the modern parishes of the RCCG which has its roots in services that was tailored to meet the spiritual demands of the elite and educated members of the church.