Of women and the homefront

A review of Chichi Okungbowa’s book, The Woman As An Effective Tool In Transforming The Home.

THE Woman as an Effective Tool in Transforming the Home is written by Evangelist Chichi Okungbowa, who is the President of Excellent Women Christian Fellowship Worldwide. A trained librarian, and married with children, she is the chief executive officer of Favic for Real Ventures, she recently ventured into Christian ministry work, with the mandate to raise excellent homes for God, as her ministration is tailored towards the women (married and single).

The book is her first romance with the publishing world, a world she intends to remain a part of for a long time, as publication would form an integral part of her medium of outreach to her targeted audience, bearing in mind that she started her ministry from the social media platforms.

Made of 84 pages beside the dedication, acknowledgement and forward pages, the book is written in lucid and simple prose, with an attractive and rhythmic flow, which makes it easy to read by any literate person and regardless of the person’s faith or religious background.

This is because the subject matter is an exciting one, which deals with the family or home, but approached from the prism of a woman, who, according to her, is entrusted with the onerous task of building the home and making it a perfect model for others. Home where the wife, husband and children live in love, peace and harmony with themselves and their maker, God Almighty.

Divided into 12 chapters, the book is a departure from other Christian books or literature on marriage and the home, as her basic focus is on the woman. She makes the subject matter to come alive and distinct in that she approaches it from a personal angle.

The narrative is rather a testimonial, as she, through her life encounters and experiences, brings to the fore how a woman, no matter how base she may have descended, can become an effective tool for the transformation of her home.

Sharing her practical experience, the woman is wired by God to play a critical role in the building and stability of the home but over times, many married women have abandoned this God given task and honour through carelessness and lack of sensitivity hence many homes are in disarray and tumour today.

Evangelist Okungbowa’s real encounters had transformed her to become an effective tool and now evangelist, devoted to raising beautiful homes for God, aptly shows that any woman, who understands the power of the woman and the position God has placed the woman in the home, can as well rise to the occasion.

That is, indeed, the central message and preachment of this book, which is, that a woman does not need any other tool, be it material or immaterial, to transform her home into a blessed haven, but rather working on herself, as she is the tool that God is counting on.

Besides, she has also widened the scope of her presentation by drawing copiously from the holy book (Bible) to draw home her point and also relate the practical examples of some women who have gone through the crucible and were able, by the grace of God, to save their lives and homes.

Also, she offers a number of useful nuggets and poems, beautifully-written, that can help women build their homes while she ends her presentation in chapter 12 with series of prayer points that she recommends for women to engage in daily so as to enhance their prayer lives and enjoy a closer relationship with God.