Nollywood actress Mary Njoku has written to African Christians following the crisis in the country.
In a post on her Instagram, she said that physical problems require physical solutions, while spiritual problems require spiritual solutions. She said that though prayer can provide guidance, issues like poor roads, insecurity, and health care require deliberate action, planning, accountability and hard work.
Njoku pointed out that food doesn’t appear on a plate through prayer alone, explaining that someone still has to plant, harvest, transport and prepare it. She also noted how in the bible, provision came through people, work, and practical action.
While addressing African Christians, she urged them not to confuse prayer with action.
“Physical problems require physical solutions. Spiritual problems require spiritual solutions.
You cannot pray food onto your plate. Someone has to plant it, harvest it, transport it, cook it, or provide the means for you to get it yourself. Even in the bible, provision often came through people, work, and practical action.
Good roads, quality healthcare, education, security, and economic growth will not appear simply because we pray about them. Prayer can guide us, strengthen us, and give us wisdom, but physical problems must also be addressed with physical action, planning, accountability, and hard work.
“Dear African Christians, as we continue to pray, let us not confuse prayer with action. You cannot bind and cast away bad roads. You cannot rebuke a failing healthcare system into working. You cannot pray away the bandits who are terrorising our lives.
Faith and action are not enemies. They work together”.
Cleric Mike Bamiloye had defended Pastor Adeboye from those urging him to stage a protest. He said, expecting an 84-year-old servant of God to lead a protest against a government doesn’t make sense. Explaining why, he stressed that it doesn’t make sense given his age and the mandate of his calling.
In other news, Mrs Njoku had sent a message to the public urging them not to be ungrateful. She said, ‘When God sends one a helper you didn’t expect, take the help with gratitude and wisdom.’ She told them not to be ungrateful by placing the weight of their entire generation on that person.
Similarly, actress Julianna Olayode had knocked those dragging Nigerian pastors over their silence on the country’s insecurities. She explained that, though pastors are human, they aren’t activists, are under divine authority and also bear a spiritual responsibility before God. She said their work is to pray, intercede, offer counsel, and personally engage those in authority as God directs.
Njoku, in an Instagram post, advised the public against praying for people God is trying to punish. She told them to be wary of who they pray for, as sometimes one is trying to bless someone God is trying to punish. She admonished them to be wise and discerning, as not every struggle is a battle they’re meant to fight.
In an Instagram post, Mary had sent a message to Nigerian religious women, noting how there was nothing wrong with IVF. She admonished religious women to feel free to include IVF in their testimonies so that God can use them to inspire and bless other families as well.
