Doxa

(Leftto Right) Sandra, Bade, Nanna, Nana, Esther

Have you ever found yourself in situations where you tried handling things with your own knowledge and by your own might?

Well that is exactly the kind of situation I found myself in when I started medical school in Dominica.  I went there with my own ideas of what “I” would do to ensure my success spiritually and academically. But I thank God for his grace that helped me, through prayer, to realize that there can be no true “success” until I completely let go and let God!

Let me share a few testimonies of how, through prayer God moved so that His will would be done in my life.

Friends From God

Prior to traveling to Dominica, I had purposed in my heart that what I needed to do to ensure excellence in my school work was to live by myself, keep friend making and social entertainment to a bare minimum.  In retrospect I don’t believe this was a terrible plan, but the key is that it was not God’s plan!

A day after arriving in Dominica a young lady approached me while I was eating in a Chinese restaurant.  She introduced herself as a sister of another new student, OJ, and we carried on a short conversation thereafter.  Before long OJ became a good friend, my roommate, my prayer partner, my study partner and confidant.   OJ’s exceptional knack for organization and planning really helped us create an effective study schedule for ourselves throughout the semester. I thank God for that God-ordained meeting, in the Chinese restaurant, that allowed our paths to cross and our lives to be forever changed!

As my first semester commenced, God began to place other wonderful women of God, Nanna, Sandra, Nana (different from Nanna) and Esther into my life.  Each person had their unique testimonies of where God brought them from and an unwavering faith of where God is taking them.  Not only did we form a study group among ourselves, but we became one another’s source of encouragement when school became too overwhelming.  I remember countless occasions where as soon as one of us started to panic or breakdown a night or two before our upcoming exam, the rest of us would immediately stop studying and meet in someone’s apartment.  During that visit, we would worship, pray and cry if need be and encourage one another in the Lord for hours until everyone’s faith was restored.  Little did we know that this act of love to one another was only incubating us for the spiritual birthing that was to come in the form of a prayer group.

Prayers That Avail Much!

James 5:16, “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.  The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”

This verse is one that I have “known” for the most part of my life. However, it became clear to me, while in Dominica, that my “knowledge” of this verse lacked the understanding and wisdom needed to put it into practice in my life. 

A song says: “prayer is the key, prayer is the master key. Jesus started with prayer and ended with prayer…”

Indeed prayer is the key to opening doors in heaven and on earth, and once we (as a group of young ladies) realized that, through this verse, we began to meet several times a week to pray.  Through prayer, exams were passed even if it was only by a single point! God gave just enough to make it through and sometimes, He surpassed our wildest imaginations.  Through prayer, sicknesses were healed among us, co-signers were provided for those of us who needed one, loans were granted, families were reunited, relationships restored and strengthened, past hurts were forgiven and souls were won into God’s kingdom. 

This prayer meeting continued throughout my 5 semesters (20months) in Dominica and is still continuing even as all 6 of us have finished successfully. 

I thank God for the people He placed in my life and the  experiences I had, in Dominica and US, they have taught me to pray at all times: when in doubt, when fearfull, in times of sadness or weakness and even in times of confidence and strength.  It is my prayer that every student that reads this article will be encouraged to put God first, even in their academics.  Because our God is a God of excellence, if we seek Him first, I believe we that we can do great exploits!

Dr. Maureen Muoneke, doctor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, was a speaker at the Daughters of Zion annual conference – “Oil in My Lamp”. During her brief talk she focused on issues related to women’s health.

She began by telling women (and everyone in general) the importance of identifying stressors in their daily life, “Good sleep, good nutrition, and exercise are important for women to incorporate into their daily lives.”

Understanding Family History

It is important to know your family history.  Many people from third world countries typically tend not to have a full picture of their family medical history. In women’s cases this could be family history of breast cancer and other cancers and diseases that plague women.

“If you don’t know your family history of diseases, then it is imperative to take advantage of the preventative procedures available for women”. These include regular doctor and gynecologist check-ups, breast self-exam, Pap smear, etc. It is important to become knowledgeable about health conditions so that we don’t become victims of myths that especially plague the African cultures.

Prevention Is Better Than Cure

DOZ members consulting Dr. Muoneke

Prevention is better than cure, and second opinions are always encouraged, especially when in doubt.

Uterine, ovarian and cervical cancers are key diseases that can be prevented by a 5-minute visit to the doctor. Cervical cancer is one of the more dangerous because it is asymptomatic (meaning a patient carries a disease or infection but experiences no symptoms).

Fibroids in the uterus are very common in women between the ages of 25 and 45. If untreated, fibroids can cause so much bleeding leading to organ damage. It can also impinge (or invade) upon the bladder or bowel.

A number of the women present had a lot of questions to ask. One of them was related to the Gardasil vaccine for teenage daughters. Dr. Muoneke stated that giving this vaccine to teenage daughters can greatly reduce the likelihood of contracting cervical cancer at a later age.

She also talked briefly about menopause, and the impacts it has on older women. It generally causes a lifestyle change, and she discussed how women can prepare for it, and get through it.

Dr. Muoneke and Pastor Funmi Akhigbe

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Original notes compiled by Bade Adedayo

Maureen N. Muoneke, MBA, M.D., FACOG is a doctor of Obstetrics & Gynecology who practices in Ellicott City Maryland. Her practice, Women’s Care, LLC is located at 9055 Chevrolet Drive, Suite 102 Ellicott City, MD 21042.

Disclaimer: Everything discussed on here is for informational purposes. It is recommended that each person consults with their doctor or primary care physician to learn more about issues discussed here or before taking medical decisions.

HOG “Daughters of Zion” had another successful annual “Oil in My Lamp” conference Saturday and Sunday, September 19-20, 2009. The event wrapped up on Sunday with a thanksgiving service, and the women of the church running the show.
The conference on Saturday took place at a community center in Columbia, Maryland a couple of miles of the beltway. Attended by both women and men alike, this conference highlighted a variety of events geared towards women, their role in their families and in the church.

There were icebreakers and other fun activities such as how to tie a fashionable “gele” (a striking head-tie worn by Nigerian females as an accent to traditional attire worn particularly during notable events and festive occasions) and how women (and men) can make themselves presentable with health, supplements and beauty products – A consultant from Ardyss International, Brenda, walked through the Ardyss product suite.

Following this, Pastor Roselyn Phillips gave a short motivational anecdote encouraging the women accordingly:

• Daughters of Zion should endeavor to be like the proverb 31 woman. 
• Daughters of Zion have the power to set the tone of their homes…
• Each woman should make her home a haven for our husbands. 
• She cautioned that whatever a wife (mom) does, her children tend to follow after
• When a woman respects and loves her husband as the bible commands, her husband will be more than willing to go to the ends of the earth for her.
• Each Daughter of Zion should make her home the kind where her husband looks forward to come home from work to.  She should take care of the home, and take care of her husband so his eyes do not wander.

The keynote speaker, Pastor Stella Babalola spoke on “Things to remember and things to forget”, urging that we should learAn to let-go of things so they don’t hinder our progress and future. Dr. Maureen N. Muoneke, Obstetrics & Gynecology, give a brief talk on women’s health, urging the women to be aware of their bodies and live a preventive lifestyle so as to protect from diseases common to women.

The conference was well represented by guest from churches in the Baltimore area.

“Oil in My Lamp” is inspired by the biblical story of the Ten Virgins, one of the parables narrated by Jesus illustrating the Kingdom of Heaven. Oil in My Lamp Conference seeks to refresh and recharge the Christian woman, as she goes about her daily walk as a covenant child of God.

On Sunday, August 30, Brother Kola Olaleye was ordained as a minister in House of Glory. This ordination was widely accepted and applauded by the congregation, as over time brother Kola has exhibited qualities that are evident in a minister. Brother Kola has been the very dedicated in the audiovisual ministry, where he has carved a niche for himself, and continues to flourish. It is a collective House of Glory prayer that brother Kola will not rest on his laurels, but through this ordination, take all the good work he has been doing to the next level.
Right now, he is the latest classic example of the parable that states, one who is faithful in little will be given more. He who is not faithful, even that which he has will be taken from him.

Matthew 25:29
“For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.”

Qualifications of a Minister

Above and beyond the general biblical requirements of a minister, in House of Glory the candidate:

• must have been a worker for at least two years to  qualify for ordination (“worker” experience can be carried over from a 
    previous Redeemed parish)
• is expected to actively participate in mid-week activities since this helps with spiritual and personal development.