Fr Bekomson and his 5k Challenge!!

By Dr Jarlath Uche Opara

He wouldn’t trend! No! he wouldn’t. Unlike gwo gwo ngwo dance that almost became the lyrics and challenge of many including priests, the 5k challenge wouldn’t trend.

I watched the clip a while ago, holding back my emotion became more difficult to hold than holding back the surge of Alau Dam that flooded Maiduguri.

What did he do? He asked if anyone in the congregation could give him 5k, that such persons should stand and move to the altar.

Quite number of them stood and moved to the altar.

He prayed and blessed them, politely asked them to move to his right hand.

Is there anybody here who is sincerely in need of 5k? He asked.

Quite a number of them stood. He asked them to move to the left hand of the altar. He turned to those at his right hand said to them, “take one of those by my left and give him/her the 5k”

Who remembers Acts of the Apostles chapter 4 and the early Christain communal living? Let me refresh our memories a little bit “All the believerswere one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.

36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), 37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet” (Act 4: 33-37)

That is practical Christainity and exactly what Fr. Bekomson tried to fan into flame in the lives of his parishioners. The truth is, if those who opted to give 5k to Fr. were approached by those who needed the 5k, chances were many of them would have said they didn’t have. Such is our reality as Christains. More disposed to give to God and men of God than to those who genuinely in need of such help. Think about it and see if you are guilty of this.

I challenge other men of God and priests to replicate the 5k challenge. It is not only gwo gwo ngwo dance challenge that should appeal to them. Even the lay persons should replicate the challenge. Look for somebody in dire need and bless them unasked.

Dr. Jarlath Uche Opara Jarlathuche@gmail.com