Lead pastor of the Glorious Destiny Family Church, Borokiri, Port Harcourt, Pastor Akeem Idoniboye, has called on parents to be good role models to their children.
In a sermon during the church’s children thanksgiving in Port Harcourt, he stated that children value what they see than what they hear.
“The second way to raise children is by modelling; who you want them to be, model that way. Don’t be drinking in your house and be thinking that you will not raise a drunkard. Don’t be smoking in your house and think you will not raise a chimney.
“Because, children when they are small value what they see than what they hear. Model it. Anything you don’t want to see manifest in your children, don’t be it because it is your behaviour they will live out.
“They will multiply it; if it is wayward, it is wayward plus two. If it is anything, it is anything. If it is excellence, it is excellence,” he said.
The cleric urged parents to always pray for their children to succeed in life, pointing out that a parent don’t need to be a prayer warrior to pray for his or her children.
Idoniboye said: “This is important; we raise them by praying for them. You don’t have to be a pastor to pray for them. Praying for them, you don’t have to be a praying mantis or a prayer warrior, no! God hears your heartbeat, put your hand on their head.
“Teach them well; it is not just to send them to a good school. Start spiritual upbringing. With that prayer also show them the way of the Lord. God gave you those children to take care of them. He will remind you to account for them because you are caretaker. God trusted you enough to give you a child.”