Nigeria Missions: Kamberi Field Update

Evangelism is a lot easier during the dry season this year even though quite a good number of the people spent their time harvesting their crops. God has added to His flocks in Lambo, Tugan Yaboyi and Saminaka as we go out o evangelise the people. Just last week we had Bulus and Ibrahim who confessed Christ. Their wives and children also did the same. Two of our converts put to bed. Join us in thanking the Lord for the safe delivery. The devil continued to resist in various ways. Just recently, one part of our primary school classroom collapsed. We are grateful to God that no one was hurt. One of our strong and old converts Yohanna backslid to the extent of thinking of going for a second wife. Pray for his restoration. We know the devil is out to frustrate our effort in the land but he will not succeed. Five more children were added to the Unreached Children Home (UCH) including a baby who is less than four months. Pray for more grace for the increase in responsibility. The high level of illiteracy in the land affected our discipleship effort negatively as most people could neither read the Bible nor write. Pray along with us as we continue in our literacy programme and for wisdom for the people to learn very fast. The dry season adult literacy is on and no fewer than 15 persons are participating.

Unreached Children Home: A Key To Harvesting The Nations

In 1993, God stirred up our heart to catch the unreached kids young for Christ and raise them up to become God-fearing future leaders, church planters, evangelists, medical missionaries, teachers, etc. While we were yet praying, God began to open doors for the realisation of the vision as parents (from various unreached people groups) willingly began to handover their children to us to help bring them up. That gave birth to what we today call the Unreached Children's Home (UCH). What we thought was a long term vision soon began to yield short term dividends as we see so many lives transformed literally from being the village idol worshipping and Muslim boys and girls to becoming sound Christian believers and instruments of reaching the unreached people. Monica Omale (nee Ogwuche) served as pioneer missionary who handled the home. Her passion and interest in the kids was unparalleled. With her little upkeep allowance then, she kept and fed several unreached kids. One of the kids, Ayuba Ajikovi today is in the final year in secondary school. God has raised him up to be a formidable instrument in His hands. He has served as president of the Fellowship of Christian Students in the school where he attends for several years now.

The few occasions he travelled home on holiday gives us a lot of joy and hope that the nation of Kamberi will be harvested in a short while as he preach to his people in their cultural context and God backs him up with unbelievable results.

This little beginning metamorphosed into a rescue ministry when Monica’s predecessor, Stella Ella found herself in a scene where a baby was to be buried alive with her mother six months after delivery. She literally rescued the baby from death. Baby Blessing is a big girl now and growing very fast. Stopping her people from burying Blessing alive with her dead mother was a challenge of its own and the various infections she had sucked from the mother's breasts during her prolonged illness was another challenge. After several months of combined medical and spiritual battles, Baby Blessing is today a big girl under the motherly care of the current field leader, Mary Ojile. Today, Blessing, a Dukawa girl like others from various backgrounds in the UCH are growing fast to take over the responsibility of reaching their people.Worse than baby Blessing’s story is baby Victor. The mother died when he was less than four months old. His juju priest grandfather had consulted his oracle and their demand was in line with their cultural practice which requires that he accompanies the mother. Victor was however fortunate that a compassionate relative who knew of the ministry of the UCH ran to inform one of the grace Foundations’ missionaries, Blessing Abafi. Moved by compassion, the missionary quickly ran to the scene and without struggle, she was handed over the child.

The people were very sure that in a matter of days the baby will become a history because of how pale he looked. To their dismay, the baby is still alive. The missionary named him Victor. His victory however depends on you as Victor still has a long way to go. He is constantly sick and need thorough medical attention. Victor is not fortunate to enjoy his mother’s breast milk but with fund he can enjoy better alternative. Victor needs your prayer and your financial support.

Beside Victor, baby Blessing and Ayuba Ajikovi, the UCH has other kids from Muslim and idol worshipping background who are today doing very fine in the Lord. Joy Yahaya is a form one student in Bethel High School. Salisu Chiroma, the grandson to the village head of Dir land was the first fruit of our work among the Dirawa people. He is one of the UCH kids. He needs our support and our care. Daniel, Irimiya, Apollos and many others have the priviledge of growing up in the unreached children home. They are source of joy and keys to harvesting the nations but the challenges are enormous. Yet many other children are waiting for the loving arm of those who will embrace them through the ministry of the UCH.

The UCH has some challenges which include inadequate upkeep funds, concerted demonic attacks on the kids and the usual teenage challenges. Additionally, school fees are needed for those in secondary schools and school materials like textbooks and uniform are needed for those in primary schools. You can make a whole lot of difference for one of these kids via our UCH Distance Kids Adoption Programme.

If you feel led to support or make enquiries, write to: Grace Foundation Inland Missions, P. O. Box 2704, Jos-Nigeria. Tel: 0803-7054214 Email:uch@gfim-ng.orgSupport should be paid directly into our account and communicated to us or Bankdrafts/crossed cheques payable to Grace Foundation Inland Missions. Our Bankers: Standard Trust Bank - 01754817401111, Diamond Bank Limited – 0151060001167

2006 International Events: African Missions Summit(Nigeria & South Africa)

Grace Foundation Inland Missions will be hosting two key international events in 2006. Tagged: African Missions Summit (AMS 2006), the events will serve as annual fellowship platform for African missions’ practitioner

The first summit will come up in March 14 - 19, 2006 at the Grace Foundation Inland Missions Furaka, Off Bauchi Ring Road, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria with the theme: Doing Missions at Difficult Times.

The second will come up in June 25 - July 2, 2006 at Grace Bible Church, Soweto, Republic of South Africa. The theme is Winning the Remaining Giants

AMS 2006 aims at bringing together over 100 missions practitioners, support agencies and other stakeholders in world evangelisation of various kinds from over 15 African countries representing various missions movements across the globe. It is both interdenominational and international in nature with over 10 missions agencies, churches and para-churches joining hands to host.

The Purpose
To fellowship with each other and rob minds on the challenges of African missions. Other purpose includes identifying the remaining unreached people that still badly needed pioneering work, sharing models that agencies have successfully adopted, exploring practical opportunities for networking and partnership and above all pray for each other and bridging the gap between the South and West African subregion especially as it relates to partnership and networking.

Approach
It is purely interactive with few soul stirring messages coupled with breakout syndicate sessions, round table frank discussions and prayers.

Who Qualifies to be There?
African missions practitioners working across the globe, expatriate missionaries working in Africa or with interest in African missions, every categories of stakeholders in African missions including Christian student movements, donor agencies, churches and para church leaders committed to frontier missions

Cost
The summit holding in Nigeria will not attract any specific fees but participants are urged to register with whatever they can afford to help offset the cost of hosting. The Southern African Missions Summit will attract a minimum of $100 registration fees for delegates from outside the region.

Accommodation
Hostel-like accommodation will be provided for registered delegates on the basis of first come first serve. Some delegates will be fixed with Christian families. Hotel and Christian guest houses will be provided at delegates’ request. The full cost of such will be bore by the delegate.

Resource Persons:
Rev. Dr. Mike Oye, Nigeria
Evangelist Matthew Owojaiye, Nigeria
Rev. Clement Hlama, Chad
Rev. Peter Makengero, Tanzania
Rev. & Mrs. Gerald Golbeck, Canada
Rev. M.J. Maphanga, South Africa (Host)
Rev. & Mrs. Andrew Abah, Nigeria (Host)

Also featuring:
Rev. D. Lori, Iraq
Bishop Simon Peter Emiau, Uganda
Pastor Joseph Egwuda, Nigeria
Rev. Samson Ajetomobi, Nigeria
Rev. Peter Makengero, Tanzania

Others:
Rev. Jerry Abbey, Ghana
Rev. Michael Placca, Ghana
Rev. Peter Watt, South Africa
Rev. David Salami, Nigeria
Rev. Yinka Laoye, Nigeria
Rev. Fred Adigun, Nigeria
Mrs. Amina Godfroy, Cameroon
And others

AMS 2006 Contacts
Grace Foundation Inland Missions
Furaka, Off Bauchi Ring Road
Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria
Email: info@gfim-ng.org
Website: http://www.gfim-ng.org/
&
Grace Bible Church
Soweto, South Africa
Email: amssouthafrica@gfim-ng.org
Website: http://www.metmissions@org.za


Registration
Pre-registration is required. Simply send us the following information and attach photocopy of your International Passport (Biodata page). Call to confirm your acceptance before sending in your registration fees.

Name:
Address:
Organization:
Position:
Amount enclosed

Missions Training: School of Cross-Cultural Missions Update

One key area that is crucial to our success in the frontier missions is missions training. God has helped us a great deal in this area. In March this year, our School of Cross-Cultural Missions graduated 15 missionaries from three countries from.

Presently, we are training 14 students and the scope of our operations is enlarging. We have many more trusting the Lord for financial support to enable them resume.

Building Project Update

Part of the reason why our frontier missions’ expansion work had been restricted was the emphasis on building project. The sudden relocation from our British American building following the death of the donor on November 11, 2003 poised a major challenge to the ministry and an opportunity for God to express His love in an completely new dimension to us.

Almost all of you here contributed immensely to helping us to overcome the challenge. To the glory of God, in less than two years, we have these physical structures on the ground. The student hostel was the last we worked on. We trust the Lord to tidy it up soon and face the biggest of the challenge which is the decking of the auditorium. Before the inflation in the cost of the cement, the estimate for the decking was N1.3million. We are appealing to you to kindly pray along with us for God’s mercy to direct men with resources to contribute to the decking of this auditorium.

Niger Republic/Hausawa and Zabramawa Work Update

God gave us a convert in Kwalan Gobirawa by name Saadou Debbi. With him now have a total of 10 converts with 10 others who cannot be said to be Christians but who also join in our weekly fellowship.

In Tululu near Ahole, one Haroun Kaka also gave his life to Christ. At Ahole, God gave us more favour before the people as we distributed clothes to the people and that paved way for the Gospel. In Kwalla, an old man (father of one our converts) was seriously sick. We prayed for him and God healed him. We are still following him up and trusting the Lord to save him.

As we disciple some of the converts, we sense God’s calling upon some of them and we are working out the possibilities of their going for training. They include Mousa and Monka Daouda.

Some of the conservative Muslims are reacting very sharply against our work in the land. We were ejected out of the house where we lived because of the impact of the gospel and the negative implication on the Islamic religion. We seriously need to build a house of ours before it becomes too late. At least N270,000 will be enough to build a small mission house for a start.

We also need a motorcycle to go round because the responses to the gospel from the surrounding villages are quite encouraging and the converts cannot be ignored. They need constant visit. We also need more missionaries as some of the villages require missionaries to live with the converts. We covet prayers for our convert Ousman who is very sick.

Northern Cameroon/Fulani Work Update

Our Fulani work is scattered across our various field with largest concentration in the North of Cameroon which is currently on suspension. Through our community development effort which has remained a core strategy in achieving our wholistic missions dream, we currently adopt adult literacy programme to evangelise the Fulanis in Nigeria. Two of them have been quite outstanding. We need to pray for Tambodi (one of the Fulanis) that God Almighty will heal his wife who has been sick for over three months.

Determined to resume work in the North of Cameroon fully, the Lord blessed us with Issa Damaka, a Youth with a Mission (YWAM) graduate. He is currently on training at our headquarters in Jos, Nigeria. His wife who put to bed recently is expected to join him in the training by February 2006. Both of them speak Fulfulde fluently. Elise Maliake is at the verge of rounding up her training and will be expected to work with us until her marriage next year.

Chad Republic And The Bonghor Work Update

The work in Chad suffered a major set back as a result of the accident our missionary, Samuel Benuodji in August 2005. We are grateful to God that he is alive and has tremendously improved. As at the last report, he has started using his second hand and he is able to eat with it. He can also bath himself and go to toilet. Thank you for your prayers. Unfortunately, he lost his father and had to travel from N’djamena, Chad where he is currently located for his village.

Benuodji is raising a Fulani man whom he is planning to send for missions training. He will on graduation assist him on. At least N65, 000 is required for his training. Please pray along with us.