St Columba helps Bilila OVCs

Dressed in white golf shirts, members of Saint Columba CCAP Church social welfare committee last Sunday donated various items to Bilila Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) Centre in Ntcheu

The items included fish, blankets, rice, second hand clothes, sugar, bags of maize, soap, skin oil, plastic pails, plates and spoons. The materials will benefit 103 orphans.

Leader of delegation who is also deputy session clerk Robert Chirwa said part of the ministry of the church is to reach out to vulnerable groups in society hence, the donations.

“As a church we contribute five percent of fundraising proceeds for the committee to effectively fulfilling its charitable activities and we are also assisted by well-wishers that include members themselves.

“We believe in reaching out to the needy as this was the core ministry of Jesus Christ as recorded in Mathews 25:35 because we have to meet a person’s both spiritual and physical needs. We want to encourage churches to support their social welfare committees so that they work effectively,” said Chirwa.

The donations cost the committee about K560 000.

Harrison Ndoya, Blantyre Synod Health and Development Commission project officer for Bilira OVC, said they support 53 children who are heading families and 50 others being looked after by elderly people.

“In total, we have 325 children that need assistance, but some of these receive soft loans to start income generating activities such as tailoring. However, those that have benefitted from this donation have no means of survival,” said Ndoya.

Reverend Michael Ngaiyaye, who is moderator of Mwalaoyera congregation, thanked Saint Columba church members for the kind gesture.

“We are very excited that Saint Columba has come to assist our orphans here. We have four orphan centres under Mwalaoyera and the donation will encourage the recipients to come to church for prayers,” said Ngaiyaye.

Chairperson of the committee, Edith Sokosa, warned the beneficiaries against selling the donations.

“The items you have received are from God through church members, if you sell them God will be angry with you.

“We also want to warn guardians or relatives of these children against grabbing the donations from them. The blankets are for them to use and that is why there is one for each of the orphans, so do not take them away from them,” warned Sokosa.