James is an ex-convict from Sierra Leone who has lived in Nigeria for over ten years. He gave his life to Christ while in Kirikiri Maximum Prison and became a member of Sure Word Assembly in 2005. With a family to feed, James moved from one odd job to another but still unable to make ends meet. His dream was to start a small business and begin to build his future. It seemed like a pipe-dream until El-shaddai Foundation bought him a new grinding machine recently. Now, James is happy and secure in the love of God and the benevolence of the brethren.

Meg is a student of Lagos State University but was at the verge of withdrawing from school when she met her pastor. She was not doing well at school and her results were poor. Why? Meg has chronic myopia. The optometrist diagnosed her to require lenses of minus twenty. Without it, she could not see anything written on the blackboard even if she sat on the front row. If she sat anywhere but in front, she would barely see the lecturer. Nobody knew because Meg was too shy to tell anybody. Her efforts to get help brought her cheap glasses that did her no good. But the last time I saw Meg, she was happy in her new pair of lenses provided by El-shaddai Foundation.

When Mark announced to the pastor that he was dropping out of school, he was not soliciting for help. Frustrated that his relatives who were funding his education had left him in the lurch, Mark could think of nothing more than to commit academic suicide. He promised to quit, take up a job and move on with his life. But his pastor would not allow it. A quick referral to El-shaddai Foundation and Mark had enough money to pay his fees and some left-over.

Above and many, many more are the imprint of El-shaddai Foundation, a faith-based organization committed to demonstrating the all-sufficiency of God to the needy. Founded by Pastor Dennis Inyang, the foundation has members and partners drawn from within and outside Sure Word Assembly. It was presented to the public on June 10, 2007.

MISSION OF EL-SHADDAI FOUNDATION

•  To impact our community with the gospel of Jesus Christ through the demonstration of God's love and sufficiency.

•  To address the problem of poverty and unemployment in the church and society.

•  To empower people to win in life.

VISION OF THE FOUNDATION: To help at least one hundred youths annually.

El-shaddai will achieve her mission and vision through the following programmes:

•  SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMME: Though the foundation has supported many in their academic pursuits, she intends to award scholarships to brilliant but indigent students who have admission into public schools in Nigeria to study for their first degree. El-shaddai Foundation believes that education holds the key to a meaningful future.

•  SKILL ACQUISITION PROGRAMME: Those who do not have the acumen to pursue formal education will be encouraged to acquire some skill in any vocation of their choice. The foundation has a vision of setting up a skill acquisition centre in future to draw youths from off the streets into a trade and a meaningful life.

•  BUSINESS SUPPORT PROGRAMME: El-shaddai offers micro-financing to those who want to start small businesses, especially beneficiaries of the skill acquisition programme. She supervises the business for about three months to enable it get established before turning it over to the owner.

With the rate of unemployment so high and poverty ravaging the land, the least we can do is give a little help to those we can. One person you help is one criminal off the streets and, believe it or not, the life you save could be yours. You may not get a thank you from the one you help, you may never know who it is, but Jesus said “inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me” (Matt. 25: 40). Moreover, every time you give to the poor, the bible says you lend to the Lord and God will repay more than you can imagine.

If, like Cain, you are asking “am I my brother's keeper?”, the answer is, “yes, you are!” Partner with El-shaddai today and demonstrate the love and sufficiency of our God to those in need.

To be a partner, please click here.