Pastor Urges Faith Groups to Pair Evangelism With Practical Community Support
Andrew Umoru says churches should combine spiritual outreach with healthcare, welfare assistance and support for vulnerable residents.
Pastor Andrew Umoru of International Miracle Service and Evangelistic Ministries has called on Christian organisations to make practical assistance a stronger part of their work in the communities where they operate.
Umoru made the appeal on Friday during a visit to the Abowa of Agbowa-Ikosi, Oba Saheed Momson, ahead of a three-day religious programme in the Lagos community. He argued that evangelism should be accompanied by efforts that respond to immediate challenges affecting residents, particularly illness, hunger and economic difficulty.
His ministry is incorporating that approach into the Agbowa Miracle Crusade, which is scheduled from Friday through Sunday at the Agbowa-Ikosi Open Ground. Activities listed for the programme include separate forums for young people and children, as well as a medical outreach that will provide services without charge. Doctors travelling from different parts of Nigeria, including eye specialists, are expected to participate.
Umoru said the ministry also plans to provide food, medicine and other forms of assistance to residents facing hardship. He linked the initiative to the Christian teaching that spiritual ministry should include compassion for people's physical and social needs. The programme is expected to be transmitted through YouTube and Facebook, with Agbowa-Ikosi serving as its main broadcast location.
Oba Momson welcomed the initiative and said he planned to attend the programme with his chiefs. He also used the visit to draw attention to development needs within Agbowa-Ikosi, identifying better roads, schools, electricity and recreational facilities among the priorities requiring greater attention.
The traditional ruler said the community has cultural and natural assets that could support tourism and economic activity if matched with suitable infrastructure. He specifically identified the waterfront and Eko-Osia waterfall as attractions with development potential. In his view, improved public infrastructure and security would create better conditions for private enterprise and local initiatives.
Healthcare affordability was another concern raised by the monarch. While acknowledging the presence of a general hospital and primary health centre in the area, he said some families struggle to meet medical expenses and may face difficulty settling hospital bills after treatment. He therefore described the ministry's planned medical assistance as timely for residents under financial pressure.
Representatives of local Christian organisations also expressed support for the programme. Ayodele Godwin, chairman of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria in Agbowa-Ikosi, spoke about expectations for spiritual impact, while Christian Association of Nigeria treasurer Paul Muritala referred to hopes for healing and religious renewal during the event.
The programme will include ministers from International Miracle Service and Evangelistic Ministries, among them Glory Umoru, Olu Ebayelo, Francis Adedeji, John Akhigbe, Iniobong John and Michael Arizieh. The outreach combines religious activities with healthcare and welfare support, reflecting Umoru's argument that churches can address both spiritual concerns and practical community needs.