By Solomon OKPO | The Evangelist News Desk
Evangelist Isaac Omolehin has called on Christians, religious organisations and well-meaning Nigerians to complement their prayers with practical acts of compassion, care and material support for vulnerable members of society, particularly people living with mental health challenges and abandoned children.
Speaking on his humanitarian work, Omolehin disclosed that his orphanage currently cares for 85 motherless babies, including six children born to women experiencing mental health challenges who delivered on the streets. He also revealed that eight women living with mental health conditions are currently being accommodated alongside their babies, a decision he said has helped reduce resistance and created opportunities for care and recovery.
According to him, attempts to separate some of the mothers from their babies often resulted in violent resistance, forcing him and his team to adopt a more compassionate approach by accommodating both mother and child. He explained that several of the women had shown remarkable improvement under their care, with some reportedly recovering sufficiently to resume independent lives.
One of the most inspiring cases, he recounted, was that of Rashida, a mother of three who reportedly wandered between Ibadan and Ilorin for more than four years while experiencing mental health challenges. Omolehin said she was found naked on the street and taken in by his team, who provided her with clothing, personal care and support.
After receiving care, Rashida reportedly regained her sense of identity and recalled that she was from Ibadan. With encouragement and assistance from Omolehin’s wife, she was eventually taken back to her family home, where her parents and children reportedly received her with tears of joy after years of uncertainty over her whereabouts.
Omolehin further disclosed that Rashida has since rebuilt her life and now owns a supermarket, from which she earns an income and pays the school fees of her children in Ibadan. He added that she has also become a member of his ministry’s choir, describing her transformation as one among several testimonies of lives restored through sustained care and compassion.
Reflecting on the relationship between faith and humanitarian service, the evangelist noted that early Christian missionaries in Africa did more than preach the Gospel; they established schools and hospitals to meet the practical needs of the people. He argued that such interventions demonstrated how good works could complement the message of faith and make it more meaningful to society.
Drawing inspiration from the biblical account of the Good Samaritan, Omolehin emphasised that not every human crisis could be addressed through prayer alone. He maintained that while prayer remains important, some situations require immediate assistance, medical attention, material support and genuine human kindness.
“There are those who don’t need prayer. Prayer is not what they need. What they need is compassion and the administration of substance,” he said, stressing the need for Christians to distinguish between situations requiring spiritual intervention and those demanding practical assistance.
His message is a reminder that compassion must go beyond religious declarations to become a visible expression of love through action. For vulnerable people, including those living with mental health conditions, abandoned children and families struggling to survive, timely support can be the difference between despair and a renewed opportunity for life.
Omolehin’s account underscores the importance of community-based care, family reunification and sustained support for people facing mental health challenges. It also highlights the need for professional mental health services, dignity and long-term rehabilitation to complement humanitarian efforts.
As the Church continues to preach hope and salvation, the challenge remains to demonstrate that message through practical service to humanity.
Indeed, faith becomes more meaningful when it moves beyond the pulpit to touch lives, restore dignity and give the vulnerable a reason to hope again.
