Nollywood actress and producer, Mary Remmy Njoku, has advised Christians to pair prayers with practical efforts when tackling societal problems, insisting that challenges such as insecurity, poor infrastructure and weak healthcare systems cannot be resolved through prayer alone.
Njoku made the statement in a post on her Instagram page on Wednesday, where she emphasised the importance of combining faith with accountability, planning and hard work in addressing real-life issues.
She noted that while prayer is essential for guidance, strength and wisdom, many physical challenges require tangible solutions.
She wrote, “Dear African Christians, as we continue to pray, let us not confuse prayer with action. You cannot bind and cast away bad roads. You cannot rebuke a failing healthcare system into working. You cannot pray away the bandits who are terrorising our lives.
Physical problems require physical solutions. Spiritual problems require spiritual problems.”
Njoku further argued that basic needs such as food do not materialise through prayer alone, stressing that human effort is involved at every stage of production and supply.
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“You cannot pray food onto your plate, someone has to plant it, harvest it, transport it, cook it, or provide the means for you to get it yourself. Even in the bible, provision often came through people, work, and practical action,” she added.
She also pointed out that sectors like infrastructure, healthcare, education, security and economic development demand deliberate action from both leaders and citizens.
“Good roads, quality healthcare, education, security and economic growth will not appear simply because we pray about them.
“Prayer can guide us, strengthen us, and give us wisdom, but physical problems must also be addressed with physical action, planning, accountability, and hardwork,” she said.