By Chukwudi Nweje
Between November 6 and 11, 2023, Ikorodu, Lagos State, will be play host to Christ Compassion for the Rural World (CCRW) at Igbogbo Stadium. It is an outreach programme convened by Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo, President and Senior Pastor, Kingsway International Christian Church (KICC). The multi-billion naira compassion crusade is meant “to extend the love and compassion of God to remote villages and communities in an experiential and evidential manner.”
For six days, CCRW will spend over N1 billion to provide free surgeries to over 200 patients and dispense drugs worth over N70 million, as well as give out loads of other relief materials, including food items and clothing, not forgetting preaching the gospel and ministration to the people.
Pastor Ashimolowo said the outreach aims “to extend the love and compassion of God to remote villages and communities in an experiential and evidential manner. CCRW is not about me or any ministry. It is a non-denominational platform, set up as a vehicle to extend the love and compassion of God to remote villages and communities in an experiential and evidential manner. I am calling on everyone to join me as we take our communities for Christ.”
He said he always had the passion for such outreach, adding that the crusade would beheld at least twice a year going forward:
“Forty nine years ago, while I was at Bible School, I had wanted to be an Evangelist but was compelled by my Father in the Lord to become a Pastor.
“However, as I approach the twilight of my pastoral journey, I have been experiencing a growing burden for soul-winning like never before.
So I decided to seek the face of God in prayers.
“Early this year, while ministering at a crusade I was backstage and there was a video of the mission work of the ministry being played on the screen. The funny thing is that this wasn’t the first time I have been invited to speak at this same event in the last few years. The same video has been played on all of those occasions but I never paid attention.
“For the first time, God opened my eyes to watch the video and the works they were doing. It resonated in greater measure with the vision God gave me.
“From that moment, I started working on this new assignment which is to bring the gospel of Christ to rural communities in the only way they can connect. Christ CCRW, the biggest rural crusade for the kingdom of God was born.”
He said the crusade would be five-ponged – the free surgery for 200 to 300 patients; distribution of relief materials, including 15,000 new Ankara for women; 50,000 packs of 1kg of rice; packs of beans to 50,000 persons and packs of garri to 50,000.
Others are 10,000 bottles of oil; 10,000 buckets; 24,000 exercise books for children; 30,000 bars of soap to people and 10,000 packs of salt.
He disclosed that a specialised seminar to empower pastors in Ikorodu to become the best they can be and serve their community better; distribution of prayer Bibles and 5,000 books authored by Ashimolowo.
There would also be a crusade to take care of the spiritual needs of the people just as their physical problems are addressed: “The Holy Bible asks in the book of Mark Chapter 8 Verses 36, ‘For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?’”
Ministers expected at the crusade include, Rev. Steve Mensah, Dr. Mensa Otabil and Pastor Jerry Eze. Artistes lined up to thrill the audience are Laolu Gbenjo, Nathaniel Bassey, Mercy Chinwo and others.