MAY 2013 UPDATES FROM SIERRA LEONE
ACTS .2:17-21. The apostle peter
quotes the prophet Joel. “In the last days, God says I will pour out my Spirit
on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see
vision, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women
I will pour out my Spirit in those days and they will prophesy. I will show
wonders in the Heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and
billows of smoke. The Sun will be turn to darkness and the Moon to blood,
before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. And every one who
calls on the name of the Lord will be saved”
Beloved, we give thanks to God that this
prophecy was fulfilled on the Pentecost day that marks the beginning of the
church as was promised by Christ to send the Holy Spirit. Today we are
witnesses to the work of the Holy Spirit in the growth of the Church in the
world, and especially in Sierra Leone. We thank God for, “everyone who calls on
the name of the lord will be saved” indeed that is our experiences here in
Sierra Leone as every day, and the Lord is adding to the Church those who
believed. As the church grows, more souls are being saved, and people
confessing Christ as their personal lord and savior.
HELP FROM CRC NIGERIA
The Month of May in the CRC Sierra Leone, began with a great support
from the CRC Nigeria, with a gift of hymn books to improve our worship as hymns
are sang to glorify God. Today in our worship in Kabala and our daily staff
devotion in the office we sing these songs with great meditations in our
hearts. We are indeed grateful to the CRCN for these gifts.
THE CHURCH IN BO
Bo is the Capital city of the
southern province of Sierra Leone. A CRC Church was started there a few years
ago, and it’s surrounding villages of Barli, Yoviama and Potenhu. Following the
example set by the Church in Kabala in building their Church. The 50 worshipers
in Bo have now begun building their Church in the City. Initially they had a
temporary structure that was covered by mats. This year in the month of March,
a strong wind blew it off. Thereby they have now begun this new building. They
are hoping to complete it this year. (See pictures ).
Construction
on the church in Bo
RCC LEADERS
Following the new structure of
the Church, that was approved during the April synod meeting, various RCC {classis}
have begun meeting and electing their leaders. This is in line with the
constitution of the church that was adopted in the last meeting. Each region is
expected to elect six officials. On May 17, 2013 the RCC Alkalia conducted a
peaceful election. We allowed them to do it on their own without us going there.
That shows a sense of maturity on the part of the delegates in making decision
on how best to run their respective regions.
The same was seen in Kabala RCC which took
place on May 25th, in which delegates from the four consistories
that made up the RCC met and elected six officials to run the activities of the
Classis. With this, we have one Region left to do the same.
NEW CONVERTS
We give thanks to God for his
Grace. We indeed appreciate the works of the Holy Spirit. As we continue to
receive new converts who accepts Jesus Christ, as their Lord and savior. This
is happening in our churches and in the Kabala church. Some of you may have
received the news of the conversion of Mohammed Jawara.
Who now want to be called ALFRED.
Beside Alfred, we also had the conversion of Mohammed Fofanah, of Kamaro village.
Mr. Fofanah can read the Kuranko well, so we have given him a copy of the Kuranko
Bible.
Mr. Fofanah
Alfred
SAD EVENT
It was indeed a
sad moment in one of our churches, as the pastor and his wife were robbed by
robbers on May 2; this was Pastor Elisha Gomeh at Waterloo. We thank God as
their lives were spared, though they lost some of their personal properties,
including the church public address system. Now Pastor Gomeh and his wife are
back in their home, and we thank you for your prayers for Pastor Gomeh and his wife.
Secondly we thank God because the Robbers were caught. We were indeed disturbed
with the happenings back in our country, with Jemimah’s parents losing their
home in the Wukari crisis in Nigeria. It was really so disturbing hearing this
news far away from home. In all we give thanks to God, for your words of
comfort and prayers for our Family back in Nigeria.
BOYS BRIGADE IN KABALA CHURCH
In my previous updates I did mention that, the
young boys and girls in the Kabala church have developed the interest of
starting the boy’s brigade in the church. My younger son Bernhard has mobilized
them and the young are coming for Bible study and training. The CRC church in
Nigeria, Jalingo council, have volunteered to send someone to come and give
these young men and women the necessary training , and plan to buy a set of
Drums {BAND} for them as well. We do hope to get a uniform for them as well. We
are estimating between 40-50 USD for each child to have a uniform.
Bernhard
Bahago with the Brigade
LEADERSHIP TRAINING
In view of the
new development towards a national leadership for the Sierra Leone Church, a
training session has been conducted to various leadership position of the church.
I and Rev. Ezekiel conducted a leadership seminar on the topics of personal
qualification for the church Ministry, and the Role of pastors, Elders and
Deacons in the reformed Church. It’s interesting to note that most of the
elders in the various churches of the CRC were not elected by the congregation.
Hence we have to develop a teaching that helps them to follow the reformed system
of allowing the congregation to elect elders and Deacons. We conducted this
seminar for RCC Kabala, and we intend to continue in the other R CC’s of the
Church. After the seminar we do hope that the congregations will now be
position to start the process of electing elders, and Deacons. That will,
follow through to the national election of the church
leaders in October.
 
Some of the participants at the training
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PASTORS IN TRAINING
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Foray Sesay preaching at the
Kabala CRC church
FAMILY FARM PROJECT
We give thanks
to God , our hope concerning the Family Farm project, has been revived, as
there is positive indication that the program will continue for the next two or
three years. Mr. Travis Wilkins, who is the initial, initiator of the program
has agreed to try to raise fund
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Abu in one of the villages
overseeing the signing of the loan
SPORTS.
For us in Kabala, we were really grateful to God as parents went out
in their numbers to cheer their Kids at the CRC primary and junior secondary
school during their annual sporting activities. It was a moment of refreshment
,and taking out time from the office work to see this young kids competing in a
wonderful sportsmanship, with both winners and losers both cheering each other,
it teaches us about our love and care for one another as Christian. Christian
virtues of tolerance and accepting each other were demonstrated in sport. Our prayers
are that this school will remain a great inspiration and spiritual growth for
the young Sierra Leoneans. Amen.
SUPPORT’
We want to thank you so much for your
prayers and support for the work here in Sierra Leone. We want to continue
to ask that you continue so as the work will grow. God bless you all.Rev.
Ezekiel Sudu and his family and mine, we are all doing fine. Thank you once
again for your prayers.
PRAYER REQUEST.
1. Thank
God for the beginning of the raining season.
2. Pray
for our Families in Nigeria, that God will continue to protect them, in the
event of the recent religious crisis. That they will remain committed to serve
God.
3. Pray
for more zeal and commitment to serve God, here in Sierra Leone. So that people
will be ready to serve God, than seeing the church as an NGO to give them
money.
4. Pray
for the various leaders elected in the region [classis] that God will use them
to bring about positive growth of the church.
5. Continue
to pray, for the forth coming election of National as leaders of the church.
Pray that there will be unity. And dependence upon God to choose the right
people. Not to be divide on tribal lines.
6. The
rain is here, many people are involved in farm work, of planting. Pray for good
harvest. It’s also
a period in which there are a lot of
mosquitoes; pray that we will be healthy to carry out our work.
7. Pray for the Church in Bo as they are working
hard to finish their building, that the Lord will provide for them the fund to
complete the work.
Submitted by.
Rev. Istifanus.
B.Bahago
CRWM/CRC SL,
Leadership Consultant.
+23278264240
+23277668139
Email; istifanusbahago@yahoo.com
www.apostlebahago.blogspot.com
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