RISING FROM “NEEDY FUND” TO EMPOWERMENT THROUGH ENTREPRENEURSHIP: APPRAISING A CHURCH'S PARADIGM SHIFT IN A UNIVERSITY ENVIRONMENT DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Abstract

Previous research revealed that the church has been involved in providing succour to the needy either by having a needy purse or raising funds when needs arise. However, the COVID-19 saga indicates that the believers need more than the known “needy fund” to empowerment through entrepreneurship. The “needy fund” model is costlier; it gives temporary relief; partiality is involved at times; it does not, most times, go round; and it goes to extinction quickly. Hence, the church continues to meet members' needs at a decreasing rate. The research examines the shift from the known “needy fund” to empowerment through entrepreneurship and the effect on the lives of believers in the face of the COVID-19 Pandemic. New Glory Baptist Church, Agbowo-UI, Ibadan is used as a case study. The work is situated in the context of Matthew 25:31-46 and traces the mode of helping the needy in the church from January 2019- January 2020. It also investigates the workability of the empowerment through entrepreneurship embarked upon from February 2020 to February 2021. The work attempts a comparison of the two models and gives appropriate recommendations.