On Monday, August 12, 2024, I left the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) with some colleagues after a captivating presentation by Dr. Adaora Umeoji, Group Managing Director, of Zenith Bank Plc. Where she shed light on the bank’s public offer and right issues for the capital market community.
Little did I know, that i will, stumbled upon an unexpected act of kindness that left an impression about our society approach to religion .
Harvester International Christian Centre’s free bus ride initiative for commuters was a pleasant surprise.
My curiosity was piqued while waiting for the Ikorodu bus at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) BRT terminal. A woman called out to her colleague, and soon, another passenger behind me was signaled to join them. I thought it was the typical ‘Nigerian man knows man’ syndrome, where individuals exploit personal connections to jump queues.
Intrigued, I quietly informed the man in front of me that I was joining the group, asking him to vouch for me in case of any protests concerning my postion on the long queue.
Like they say in our local parable, birds don’t tell fellow birds that a stone is coming before they take to their heel.
Upon arriving at their destination, I was surprised to learn the bus was headed to Ikorodu. I attempted to tap my Cowry card, but no one attended to me.
Instead, a gentleman offered a flyer resembling real estate marketing materials. The flyer had a detachable slip for personal details. Unaware of the initiative, I filled it out. To my surprise, no one requested our Cowry cards.
I approached the woman, addressed as Alhaja, who initiated the covert move. What’s happening? Aren’t we supposed to tap in?’ I asked. Her response would change my perspective, she just smiled.
I asked, again, “Aren’t we supposed to tap in?” She replied, “No, the bus is free. This is my third time boarding for free, its Monday and Friday only, they just started Ikorodu last week.”
To my surprise, the bus ride was free, courtesy of Harvester International Christian Centre. The bus was fully air-conditioned, and the atmosphere was welcoming.
As we journeyed to Ikorodu, a representative shared information about their services, emphasizing that attendance was not compulsory.
I appreciated their approach and suggested that they can leveraging the moment passengers are going to spend on traffic, especially the construction going on at Ojota to spread the gospel.
I commend Harvester International Christian Centre for their selfless act, supporting vulnerable commuters amidst Nigeria’s economic challenges. Their initiative demonstrates that kindness transcends religion and ethnicity.
When a passenger raised concerns about data collection, I reassured him that data protection laws are in place to prevent abuse. “No weapon fashion against our data shall prosper”
Although i acknowledged the passenger concern because this africa and nigeria, where we have a lot of conspiracy theory as a result of happening around us.
This experience reminded me that true spirituality goes beyond religious affiliations. It’s about demonstrating love and kindness to those in need.
As someone who doesn’t attend church or mosque, I’ve always believed that a personal relationship with one’s creator doesn’t require a physical place of worship.
This perspective stems from my childhood exposure to Christianity and my understanding of Hebrew 10:25, which emphasizes the importance of community.
Founded on December 13, 2003, by Pastor Bolaji Idowu, Harvester International Christian Centre,i was told has grown into a global ministry, attracting over 70,000 worshippers across Nigeria, the UK, and the US. Their vision is to change lives, bring hope, and connect people with God.
Am not going to attend your church as i politely told the young man from Harvester International Christian Centre, Thank you, Harvester lnternational Christian Centre, for your inspiring act of kindness.
My philosophy about religion is that may we have wisdom and understanding to appreciate the real meaning of having personal relationship with almighty God.
