SEPTEMBER 2013 UPDATE FROM SIERRA LEONE:
“AND WE KNOW THAT IN
ALL THINGS, GOD WORKS FOR THE GOOD OF THOSE WHO LOVE HIM, WHO HAVE BEEN CALLED
ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE” [ROM.8:28].
Indeed by this scripture verse, we are more convinced that God calls us
to serve in Sierra Leone for a purpose, that purpose is to win souls to him, for many are
dying in their sins, many are indeed hunger for the spiritual food for their souls.
BAPTISM IN KABALA
CHURCH: We continue to give
glory and honor unto God‘s name for the harvest of souls we are experiencing
here. This month as in August, it started with the Baptism of nineteen [19]
believers in the Church here in Kabala, on the 1st day of the Month.
We thank God for these new members in the Church, our prayers is that the Lord
will keep them strong in the Faith. The Baptism was conducted by Me, Rev. MB
Jalloh and Benjamin Koroma. Rev Jalloh and Benjamin are two out of the three indigenous
ordained pastors we have in the CRC Church. It was a baptism for the new
believers as well as a learning process for the indigenous Pastors, as time
will come that they will be doing these themselves.
NEW YOUTH CORDINATOR .
It
is more than two years now since the youth coordinator of the Church Mr.
Maxwell Kanu Left for studies in Nigeria. Rev. Edison Kamara was asked to step in,
in an acting capacity. Until now we are able to find a person who is willing to
take that position. He is Alpha Kargbo. Alpha has since reported to begin work
on the 2nd of September. Alpha is married with two children a boy
and a girl; he is an active member in the Kabala Church, good in the Choir. He
was among the three persons trained by Mr. Bawa to take care of the Boys
Brigade. With his training on working with the young people we believe that
Alpha will move the youth of the CRC Sierra Leone forward in the fear of God
and also in the area of Church growth especially among the young group of the
Church.
TRAINING FOR EFFECTIVE EVANGELISM: In our efforts to
intensify the evangelism unit of the Church as a department in the Church that
will have her own Board, there is a need to train someone that will handle the
work. In view of that, we have sent Rev. Edison Marvelous Kamara, who is the
evangelism coordinator of the Church for a further training. Rev. Edison has
now gone to Nigeria, for training at the institute of evangelism and Church
Planting in Jos. It is a school we have trained some of our Nigerian staff.
One of the Local
Consistories of the CRC Nigeria, Abuja, has accepted and paid for his fee for
the Training. We praise God for the help
from the CRC Abuja Church, and also world mission for paying his air ticket.
Rev. Kamara will return in December when the training would have completed.
Please do pray for Rev. Kamara for the success of the training in JOS Nigeria.
Rev. Edison Kamara.
KONDEMBAIA AND
OTHER VILLAGES: Though because
of the nature of the roads here during this raining period, we could not be
able to travel much to the villages, but not withstanding, the few surrounding villages,
we were able to visit and encourage the believers in those places such as Saiduya,
Dankawali and Kondebaia. , kondembaia was one of the villages that Rev. Edison
was visiting before he left for Nigeria. We have asked Alpha Kargbo to continue
to do that. Recently he organized a weekend revival a revival, prayer and
fasting in the church. It was quite an interesting program. He reported that,
the people show a life of commitment in the program, they were able to have an
attendance of 30 people that weekend in the Church. As some of you may be familiar with the area we are working, its
predominantly Muslins community, and more so during this raining season, for a church in such a place to have an
attendance on Sunday up to that number, it shows a big breakthrough in their lives.
In Saiduya, Mrs. Musu Marah volunteers to be with them every Sunday. Pa Sorrie,
one of the early converts in the village, from Islam to Christianity, was
rejected by his Family members and peer in the community, including his wife,
who left him to get marry to another man. From the stories, people in His
village refuse to give him any of their daughters as a wife unless he comes
back to Islam. He refused to yield to their intimidation and stood firmed in
his new found Faith in Christ. Recently He found a woman outside his community,
a Christian Widow who agreed to be married to pa Sorrie. It was a big celebration
in Saiduya that Pa Sorrie has gotten a wife. He said, “I thank God of the
Christians and also the love that is in Christianity. Now Satan has been put to
shame” pa Sorrie is about 65 years old.
BEGINNING COUNCIL MEETINGS:
One of the topics we taught in our leadership training for the nationals
is the office of the elder and that of Deacon. Recently the Kabala Church which
is the leading Church of the CRC, conducted elections for the offices, they
resolved to let the congregation elect elders and deacons for the church.
Church members were given the opportunity to nominate persons, and then
Election was conducted.
YOUTH CAMP The Youth Alliance for Jesus, in
Sierra Leone, is an organization formed to bring young people from different
Christian denominations in Sierra Leone to foster unity among the body of
Christ and to mentor them into good spiritual life. That is based on Christian value.
This year, a Camp training was organized; I was invited to be one of the
Facilitators at the Camp. The Theme for this year was “UNCOMMON LEADERSHIP”.
I was asked to teach on three topics namely “QUALIFICATION
FOR MINISTRY, WISE CHOICE OF CAREER AND EVANGELISM A COMMAND FROM GOD”. The Campers
came from different Churches across Sierra Leone. Six Youth from the CRC Kabala
represented the Church.
DISTRIBUTION OF MOTORCYCLES:
We give thanks to God
for his constant answer to prayers. We also want to thank our North American
partners in the mission work here in Sierra Leone. At the start of the work
here, one of the challenges I saw was the need for a means of transportation
for our evangelists in the villages. In my July updates, I reported that some
of the money has come and we started buying the motorcycles. On Monday 9th
September, we started distribution of these bikes to the Evangelists. So far we
have given out Ten Motorcycles. It was a great joy and jubilation as they take
these bikes to the villages where they are.
This time we decided to go for a different model of the
motorcycles they are called TVS. Made in INDIA. These bikes are now very common
here and are being used by the commercial riders to take people to the
villages. The parts are easily available since they are the mostly found in the
market. Also they are easy to maintain, and its fuel consumptions is less
compare to the others. We do believe that these bikes will really help the
Evangelists in their movements to the villages were they are working.
PROMOTING JUSTICE
IN THE TRADITIONAL LAW:
W e continues
to give thanks to God for the acceptance and recognition that both the
community and the churches here give to the Christian Reformed church. The CRC
is seen as a role model in the community. Recently, the council of Churches in
Sierra Leone, besides selecting the CRC to facilitate in a program that
identifies vulnerable Children that cannot go to school to get them back to school.
The CCSL has been selected to undergo a justice program that promote
Traditional law, under a program called Access to justice and security program
[ASJP] it is an attempt to see what is good about the application of Customary
law and how to strengthen its application, to get to the facts on ground, to
see if there are any gaps, to clarify any customary/ civil law issues. It will
help ensure that customary law application is inclusive, promotes access to
security and justice and it will help in documenting the traditional laws for
the community[ chiefdom].At the end of
the findings, these laws will be written and used by the community. To do this,
the Council of churches in Sierra Leone, asked the CRC, being a strong member
of the body, and her presence in the district, to supervise the exercise.
IS HE THE OLDEST?
In Africa especially in Sierra Leone, I have heard that life
expectancy is between 40 to 45 years. One of the reasons put forward for this,
is poor health care facility, poverty etc. For pa Nabieu Lasayor, though he did
not have formal Education nor live in a
place where there is good health facility. But the grace of God kept him alive
up to now. This man may be above one hundred and twenty years old. He has now
found a savior, ‘JESUS CHRIST” pa Lasayor worship at CRC Church in Barli. Tikonko
Chiefdom in Bo District ,in his testimony. Pa Lasayor said he was one of the
laborers that work in the construction of one of the oldest school in the
district. That is the popular Bo boys’ secondary school which was established
in 1906. The question is how old was pa Lasayor when he was
doing this labor? He said to me “my joy
today is that if I should die today, I am dying as a Christian. God kept me
alive so that I should know Jesus and believe him so that when I die I go to Heaven”.
He spoke to me in the Mende language and the Evangelist Victor Sandi translated
to me. The Evangelist in Barli testified that Pa Lasayor never misses service
including midweek services or any activity of the Church. He can still walk two
to three miles to visit with other Church members to neighboring villages of
Yoviama, and potehun.
THE CHURCHES IN BO AREA:
W e gives thanks to God for the continued growth of the
churches in the Eastern Region of Sierra Leone. Just as I reported some time
ago, the church in Bo has been roof, they are now trying to fix the doors and
the windows of the building. And in Barli, they built a parsonage last year and
this year they bought Zinc and roof it. Evangelist Victor Sandi and his family
are living in the House. Victor‘s wife has given birth to a baby boy “Mark
Victor”.
REV. SUDU RETURNS
FROM HOME SERVICE:
O n 18th September, Rev. Ezekiel return from
Nigeria where he had being for two months Home service visiting the churches
and telling them about the work here in Sierra Leone. From his report, the
church in Nigeria shows a great interest in the ministry in which Ezekiel is
doing here in Sierra Leone as +the Training coordinator for the young Sierra
Leonean Church. It was a time too for him to meet with his relatives. We thank
God for your prayers for the safety of Rev. Sudu in travels. He as now resumed
work here.
Also my son
Johncalvin came along with Sudu to join us here in Sierra Leone. We now have
three of our children with us. Continue to Pray for Joyce, she is our oldest
daughter left in Nigeria going to the University. She is feeling very lonely,
but we are encouraging her, as we call her every day, to keep connected.
KABALA PASTORAL
COUNCIL.
The Kabala Pastoral council, is a council of the various
Christian denomination in the district, with the exception of the Roman
Catholic who do not associate with other Christian in the area, the reason is
best known to them. On September 21, the group organized a retreat for the
pastors in the district; I was the main Teacher at the program. The Theme for the retreat teaching was,” the
Biblical Role of the pastor in the Church and the Community, the spiritual Life
of the pastor and also the Pastor as a Disciple “ it was a great moment, for me to be part of the retreat not only that but as the main
resource person from the reformed tradition. It gives us an opportunity to
present the reformed and world life view to other denominations in the area.
Indeed the CRC is seen as a role model in the leadership of the Pastoral
Council in the District.
SCHOOLS RE-OPENED IN KABALA :The month of September, is the month, in
which most schools in Sierra Leone re opens to begin a new school year. It is a
period for promotion to the new grade of the school year and also a new year
for beginners. The CRC school in Kabala, first re opened on the 10th
of September for the Primary school section and then on 16th
September saw the secondary section as well. It was a moment of joy for
students meeting their friends and welcoming new teachers. The CRC was very
fortunate to have two new Teachers from North America [Canada and USA]. Though
at the beginning as well, two National Teachers resign their appointment with
the School. But the coming of these new teachers was a big relief and God
Answered prayers for the School.
Emmanuel Sudu who will be Three comes
December, began his first Day in the kindergarten, this September with great
Joy to see himself with his age mate in the play class.
PRAYERS:
A three days prayer was declared for September 26 to 28, in
the entire Church in preparation for the Synod meeting and the Election of
National Leaders for the Church. The two days Synod will begin on 1st
October and end on the 2nd, the Election will be done on the second
day of the meeting. We organized three days prayers to seek God’s guidance in
the process. Below is a schedule of our prayer programe.please pray with us.
PROGRAMME FOR THE CRC-SL THREE
DAYS PRAYERS AND FASTING : SEPTEMBER 26TH -28TH
2013.
5:30 a.m. – Beginning
of fast and end at 6:30 p.m. daily:Introduction: 1 Samuel 16:7 “......." Do not consider
his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man
looks at. Man looks at the outward
appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
Activities/Prayer
Items:
(1) 5:30 a.m. personal devotion at home
(2) 5:00 p.m.-6:30 p.m. each day – Worship
in the various churches
Activities:
a)
Call to Worship
b) Opening prayer
c) Hymn
d)
Praise and Worship
e)
Short Exhortation from scripture
f) Prayer session
g) Announcement
h) Closing prayer
DAY I -
26TH SEPTEMBER, 2013.
PRAYER ITEMS:
(1) Praise God for his care and protection over our lives
(2) Thank God for CRC-SL
(3) Thank God for our Pastors/Reverends
(4) Thank God for the success of election of RCC
Officials
(5) Thank God for the success in the election of
Elders and Deacons
(6) Thank God for the success in last April
GCC/Synod meeting that adopted a constitution
Of the CRC-SL.
(7) Thank God for the Growth of CRC-SL
(8) Thank God for the lives of our Consultant in
CES and CRC-SL
(9) Thank God for our children that has return to
school after the holiday
(10) Thank
God for successful home service for Rev. James Ezekiel Sudu
DAY II - 27TH SEPTEMBER, 2013.
(1) Pray for the continued growth of CRC-SL
(2) Pray for the new elected Elders/Deacons in the
various churches for wisdom
(3) Pray for the newly elected RCC Officials in all
the three RCCs we have in CRC-SL
(4) Pray for the unity and love among our Elders and
Deacons
(5) Pray for wisdom upon the RCC Officials
(6) Pray for the members of our churches: Men, women, youth and children for the fear
of God and spiritual growth.
(7) Pray
for all our Pastors in the CRC-SL
(8) Pray for continued peace in Sierra Leone
(9) Pray for wisdom for our staff in CRC-SL, CES,
CRC-School.
(10) Pray for the leadership of the Women Fellowship in
CRC-SL.
DAY III - 28TH SEPTEMBER, 2013.
(1)
Pray for continued unity in CRC-SL
(2)
Pray for the continued growth of the church
(3)
Pray for open-doors in various communities for
Evangelism
Pray for commitment
of workers
(4)
Pray for our partners in USA, CANADA, NIGERIA,
ZAMBIA
(5)
Pray for Ron Geerlings, his wife and Kabetu as
they will be visiting us for journey mercy.
(6)
Pray for journey mercy to all the delegates to the
Synod meeting
(7)
Pray for spirit of understanding and oneness in
the deliberation at
the Synod meeting.
(8)
Pray that God will choose for the church the first
National Leaders after His heart.
(10) Pray against any Spirit of the flesh
on the election of our leaders
(11) Pray that God Will choose for us leaders who will work,
and not just to get
Position and
sleep over it.
(12) Pray that the
election of leaders will bring unity and continued growth of the Church.
(13) Pray for wisdom and commitment on
the leaders to be elected
(14) Pray against
tribal or sectional sentiment on the election.
(15) Pray that God
will give our missionaries the wisdom to lead in the election process
(16) Pray for any
other issues that the Lord will lay in your heart to pray for the church
in Sierra
Leone.
APRECIATION :We
continue to express our gratefulness to all of you for your prayers and support
for the work in Sierra Leone. My Son Johncalvin arrived safely with Rev. Sudu;
we are hoping that he will be able to secure admission at the Makeni
University. By next week [first week of October] he will be attending interview
at the University.
CONCLUSION: October will be our month of making history
in the first Election of National Leaders. We are so excited to see that
happen. God is doing tremendous work of saving lives in Sierra Leone. Please
join the team of supporters of the ministry here in Sierra Leone, continue to
give to world mission, so that they will assist the various mission fields.
SUBMITTED BY:
REV.Istifanus B.Bahago.
Consultant CRWM/CRC SL
+23278264240
+23277668139
Email. ibbahago@gmail.com
Blog:
www.apostlebahago.blogspot.com
