UPDATES FROM SIERRA LEONE
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This our first Sunday in kabala church on
19th January. Istifanus, Jemimah , Judith and Bernhard.
Dear beloved brethren.
As you have read from my letter of
introduction. We are finally settled in Sierra Leone for the kingdom work. My
two kids Judith and Bernhard have started going to school here in Kabala.
On 4th to 8th of
February we were out in Foria for a TLT training . we had 28 indigeneouse
leaders taking part in the training. It was an excellent experience for us as I
listen to these leaders giving reports of their action plans were they have
done well and the challenges they face.
On Monday Feb. 11 we started a week prayer and fasting in the entire
church. We are pleased with the turn out and the participation by the members.
We also want to thank you for praying along with us . we know the lord had
heard our plead for the land and for the growth of his Kingdom here..
Rev Phiri and Magaji who came from Zambia
and Nigeria to Facilitate in TLT training have both returned home safely.Boys Brigade; it’s a young Christian organization that was begun several years in Europe. Is very active in the Nigerian church. My son Bernhard who is 12 was a member and he has ask if he could start it with the young people in the Church. He felt that is his own way of contributing to the growth of the church by reaching out to young people of his age.(the object of the boys brigade. Is the advancement of Christ kingdom among boys and the promotion of habits. Of obedience. Reverence. Discipline. Self respect and all that tends towards a true Christian manliness) it’s a uniform voluntary organization. I pray that this will help the young people to come to now Christ as their personal Lord and Savior.(Bernhard Bahago)
VISITING THE CHURCHES.
For me to know the people and the places we
will be working . we visited most of the churches, and the villages. We started
on the 4th of march and ended on 22nd . we finally came
back to Kabala on 23rd.
My
team members in the visit were, Rev. Mamburu B Jalloh and Ezekiel James Sudu
(the training co-ordinator ),of the Church. We started in SAIDUYA and ended in Waterloo near Freetown.
It
was indeed an eye opener for me to see
what is on ground what need to be done for the growth of the young church.
We also try to find out if they have a
parsonage for their evangelist.
Of course the answer to these questions and
several were based on individual places. But one thing that is common is that most
of the evangelists we met are volunteers, a lot of the churches do not have a
parsonage where the evangelist or pastors stay. In towns like BO, and Waterloo.
The SIT.(office in Kabala) did rent an apartment for the pastor. Except for one
village Barli, In TIKONKO Chiefdom, the villagers built a two room apartment
,with outside toilet for the Evangelists and in some like Dankawali, an
unbeliever gave accommodation to the evangelist to use free of charge.
The journey was quiet interesting as we
went through the valleys and the hills and crossing the longest river that
passed across Sierra Leone from the north
down to the Atlantic ocean in the west.
little emmanuel sudu on top of the hill.
The joy we saw is the interest the people
have for the gospel. Though every places has its peculiar challenges , but in
all we give thanks to God that the seed
of the gospel is growing steadily in the heart of the people.
There are two stories that we got which
shows how God is working in the heart of the people as they made decision to
follow Christ, they are determined to keep the faith despite discouragement
they received from their fellow villagers who are not Christian.1. Dankawali,
is a village of about 9miles away from Kabala. The story of this village , as
was told to us by Rev. Jalloh is that , about three years ago when they went
there to start a Church, one of the villagers showed them two grieves of two
missionaries who had attempted to start a Church but died. Therefore they
should be ready to face the wrath of the gods of the LAND . But the sovereign
LORD BEEN ON THEIR SIDE ,they did not fear the treat but went a head to start
the church. The first day they were met by a big python, while they were in the service, but the Lord
did not allow the snake to do anything to them, suddenly it disappear. Today
there is a Church , the only church in the village(CRC) .
(Dankawali church)
Similar
story is told of the church in GBONGBOTO, here a forest was given to the
believers to build a church , the villagers called that place evil forest ,
were they belief that the evil spirits live and especially the gods of the
hunters. They thought the Christian will be afraid and that the church will not
be built. Glory be to God, darkness can not withstand the power of light. The
Christians cleared the forest and today stands a church in the place and some
community members seeing that nothing had happened to the Christian, they are
now moving to build their houses at the
area . what a great change the gospel has brought to the village. (below are
the pictures of the church and part of the forest cleared)
Now are give thanks to God ,we have finally
settle down for work. God willing on April 25th to 26th
we will be having a synod meeting to decide on the constitution and set a date
for the first election of National Leaders of the church. Recently the Kabala
church women had a seminar on the role of the women in the Reformed church.
Jemimah and REV. Sudu facilitated the seminar. At the end of the program.
Election was conducted for the leaders of the women fellowship of Kabala
Church: The joy is that it was done in a peaceful atmosphere, six women were
chosen by the fellowship. This election preceded that of the national women
leaders which was conducted in
Foria. Mrs. Finah Kamara (a teacher at
the Crc School Kabala was chosen as the national leader of the CRC SL women
fellowship. For the Kabala Church those elected were; Mrs. Nyima Marah ;
Leader. Sinkarie J T Koroma ; dputy, Rosetta F.SESAY sec;, Monoca F Marah ;
ASST.Musu Kargbo; Treasurer and Mankapri Koroma ; Fin sec.
PRAYER REQUEST;
We continue to ask for your prayers for the
following;
1.
Pray for the success of the
synod meeting’.
2.
. Pray for me as we settle down
to work. That God will give us the strength and the ability to do the work ,
more especially Good health.
3.
Pray for REV, SUDU as he is
planning for home service in July.
4.
Pray too that God will continue
to grant us the couragew and the comfort as I mourn the recent passing away of
my sister back in Nigeria.
5.
My son Johncalvin is writing
his final examination to finish his high school in Nigeria in july. Pray for
wisdom and for him too to find a college next academic year.
6.
The education of my Children
here in sierra leone is a big Challenge especially for Judith, pray that God
will help us to find a good school for her. Here or somewhere.
7.
Crc Sierra Leone is a young
Church, pray for more support for the growth of the Church. Especially Crwm
That they will be able to raise the require budget for the ministry here .
Thanks for your prayers
and support for the work. Please continue to give your support so that the
young Church here will grow.
OUR CHALLENGES.
1.
There is need for motorcycles
for the Evangelists in the Field’
3.
The challenges in the cities is
too numerous, especially places like Freetown ,Waterloo and Bo. To get a Land
to build a Church is really very difficult, in times of the cost, Apiece of
Land in Waterloo measure 100ft by 50 ft its cost between Two thousand to Three
thousand Dollars. This is very hard for
the few people we have in those cities can afford to buy. There is need to help
them.
4.
More workers are needed to
reach out to other communities with the gospel.
Once again I will Like to say a big thank
you for your support, to the work here in sierra Leone.
Remain Blessed in the Lord.
Your servant in the Kingdom Ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Rev. Istifanus B. Bahago.
CRC SL/CWRM Leadership consultant
+232_78264240
+232_77668139
www.apostlebahago.blogspot.com
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