AUGUST 2013 UPDATE.
“For from him and through him and to him are all things. To
him is the glory forever. Amen” [Roms.11:36].
NEW CONVERTS IN THE CHURCH
Indeed, nothing is made without God and from him are all
things, including the life we have, and calling people unto himself. The month of August and off course other months of the year
all belong and made by God. For us in the CRC Sierra Leone, the month began in
a positive note. Some of you may have received in my previous information about
the conversion of Mr. Saio Marah Anthony who was a strong traditionalist, juju
worshiper and a sorcerer, a magician. He was touch by the Lord and gave his
life to Jesus. He is now an active member of the Church, Mr. Saio made a lot of confessions about his past
life. That I have described as a big catch out of the Kingdom of darkness,
beside Mr.Marah, there were other converts from Islam as well. We thank God for
your prayers for the growth of the church and it is growing gradually.
REACHING OUT TO THE
LESS PRIVILLAGE.
The Council of churches in Sierra Leone, after their visit to
our office last month, decided to pick the CRC as one of the churches to carry
out the program of reaching out to the less privileges kids who are vulnerable
and cannot go to school because their parents cannot pay for them or they are
street Kids. Recently, more than one hundred and twenty kids were screened to
make sure that they are actually vulnerable. Some of the kids were mostly
orphans who are, between the ages of six and twelve that were screened, the
essence is to provide scholarship for such children to continue their education
or go to school for those that are not school going but are up to the age.
MUSIC
NIGHT [ or PRAISE NIGHT].
There are different ways of communicating
the gospel to many people. One of the gifts we have in our Church here in
Kabala is having the Choir. On Sunday August 4th , the Choir group
of the church invited other music groups from other churches within Kabala for
what they called Praise night were every group that was invited presnted
wonderful songs of praises to God. The church hall was packed full with various
singing groups and lovers of gospel music within the Kabala Town. The important
of this was for the groups to learn from each other the importants of singing
praises to God and why we should honour God with songs of praise. it was like a
music jamboree.
Different
groups presented songs.
BOYS BRIGADE
ENROLLMENT SERVICE.
The enrollment service
of the Boys Brigade was conducted at the Kabala church on August 18, the
activities includes, preaching, recitation of memories verses from the Bible by
the young, a march pass in the town square of Kabala. It was an event that drew
the attention of many people in the Town as the young march with drums and
blowing trumpet. The military and the police officers were all there to
participate with them. An interesting thing that happened was the conversion of
a young man by name Ali marah. Ali is a Muslim but when he saw the young people
of his age were rehearsing, he decided to join them. And for the first time
that Sunday he was in the Church with his peer, his mother too came to Church
to see what the son has found. The mother them said, we will allow our son to
follow your Jesus. That is another way the Lord is using a small beginning of a
program to bring people to himself.
VISIT TO THE
VILLAGES.
Visiting the villages at this time of the year is extremely
very difficult at times, but we give thanks to God for his protections and for
the provision of the land cruisers which are very strong on the roads. The
water is flooding and the roads becoming muddy and slippery but with a four
wheel vehicle it makes it easy at times.
VISITING THE
MILITARY:
The gospel is been preach not only to the villages or people
in the markets. The military and the Police are not left out in this Kingdom
news. It was a great opportunity for the CRC here in Kabala to visit the Army
Formation , to share the good news of
Christ to the Men and Officers of the 12 infantry Battalion, as they listen
keenly to the word been preached. I was invited by the Chaplain of the
Battalion to preach during one of their Morning Parade.
BEST SCHOOL RESULT
The Bible says, ‘the fear of the Lord is the beginning of
wisdom” that is true. The dream and the desire of providing quality, God fearing
Christian base Education, I am sure was the goal and desire of the founding of
the CRC Kabala School. Recently the National Examination Board of Sierra Leone
released the final results of pupils who sat for the National Primary school examination
for this year. The wonderful news was that the CRC Primary School Kabala came
first in the entire District. The first best student came from the school and
also the third best. If not just for one
point, the school would have produce first, second and third, before others
will follow. The school score 100% pass to become the first in the district.
Dr. Johanna wrote “This is with great thanks and credit to our parents, teachers,
the guiding framework… but especially in the hope confirmed; God, who has begun
his work in us, is seeing it to completion”. We give thanks to God for this
result.
CHANLLENGES FOR
EVANGELISM:
Evangelism and Church planting is our major focus for the
growth of the church, and I believed too that witnessing is the heart beat of God,
for soul winning. We are hoping that in the next dry season, we will go out for
village evangelism and Church planting in new communities where there is no
Church. Beside one to one evangelism, we are planning for outside activities
such as open air preaching in the village square and usage of the Jesus Film to
show in the Night. One of the challenges we are foreseeing is in the area of
equipments such as public address system and a film projector or power point to
shut the films. The great commission movement[ campus crusade] here has
been of a great help to rent such
equipments , but of recent , these equipments are not longer working fine, and
the few they have they are in Freetown , moving them to the interior of Kabala
is not easy. We do hope friends will come to our aid, by providing such
equipments. In less than three months
from now, the rain will be gone and we will be going out to these villages.
I .T. TRAINING:
We were privilege in the mission field with the visit of Mr.
James Kpanto from the SUM –CRC Nigeria office, and Miss. Kathy Vander Kloet,
who assisted us in installing a solar panel and light for the office so that we
can run the internet for twenty four hours with the solar. Though the internet
is very slow, but with patience, and knowing that it can be available at
anytime, is helpful. Mr. Kpanto also
facilitated in giving some basic training for the staff on how to operate and
use the computer and also the internet in communication and storage of data.
Miss Kathy has, been helping in the training of our book keepers for proper
accountability and stewardship of the resources giving to us to manage.
Kathy, James and Bawa
have so far returned to Nigeria.
REJECTED BECAUSE OF JESUS
?
Life is indeed challenging. Jesus did tell us that we will be
rejected by the world because of him, since the world too rejected him. JENEBA
SESAY use to attend the CRC Church here
in Kabala , but for some weeks now we do not see her again , we thought she may
have travel ,. Not knowing that she was passing through a difficult moment of
her life. A life of rejection by her Father. Her Father and mother had divorce
for more than ten Years now. The Mother is in Bo while the Father is married to
another Woman and lives in Kabala. Jeneba started going to Church while in Bo
and coming to Kabala, she continue to attend and worship with us. The Father
wanted her to be a Muslim, which she said no. That had become a bone of
contention between her and her father. Finally, the Father sent her out of his
house and disowns her. Jeneba is Twenty one [21] and is in the secondary
school, the Father had vow not to pay her fee as well. She now lives with her
Friend. We have visited and encourage her, to continue in the Faith.Jeneba need
your prayers.
Jeneba ‘,s
case is one of the numerous issues we
are facing here at times, many coming to our doors with different complains, sometimes
one wonder what to do but the joy is
that his grace is sufficient to see us through this great task.
FORAY AND MAXWELL
We thank God for the twelve weeks holiday of
our students in Nigeria. Maxwell and Foray. They had a lot of church work
experiences, as they were involved in Preaching, teaching and visitation to
homes and villages, as well as church planting. Both have since returned to
Nigeria to continue with their studies in the seminary.
ROKEL CHURCH:
Following
the return of Maxwell Kanu to Nigeria early this Month, we are grateful to have
someone who will take care of the newly established church in Rokel. Pastor John
Sesay. Pastor Sesay was a staff of the Great Commission Movement [campus
crusade] in Freetown, he has been involved in Church planting, in some places
through the movement, and He has now become a member of the CRC and has
accepted to take care of the Church in Rokel. We are hoping that he will be part
of the next timothy Leadership Training class, we will be having by the
beginning of Next year; through that we will be able to get him learn some
basic reformed Teachings beside the orientation we are giving him now. Sesay is
Married and has three children [two boys and a Girl] they are also expecting
one more. His wife is called Fatimata Sesay. Pray for Sesay in the task before
him.
APPRECIATION:
We continue
to express our appreciation to God and to you. We Thank God for giving us good health,
despite the high rate of malaria and typhoid that is high here, we are still healthy. We say a big
thank you.
We also want to thank you for your supports to
us and especially for praying for us, and writing us as well. We are thankful.
I want to especially thank you for your prayers for my family. Sometime ago I
told you about my son Johncalvin who is in Nigeria writing his final exams. The
exams are over and the results are out. We thank God he is able to make the
required credits to enable him go to the college. We are hoping that he will be
joining us here next month. We have already sent his application to the
University in Makeni. We do hope they will be able to accept him.
PRAYER REQUESTS:
1. Pray for Rev. Sudu for the success of
home service in Nigeria, and his return on September 18th.
2. Pray for Johncalvin, he will be
coming to Sierra Leone with Sudu in September. This is going to be his first
experience on the plane.
3. Pray that we will be able to secure admission
for Johncalvin at the university in Makeni.
4. As the time draw near, we continue to
ask for prayer for the election of national leaders for the church here.
5. Pray for Jeneba, to stand firm in the
Lord, and also our new converts.
6. Pray for Pastor John Sesay for the
work in Rokel, that God will use him for the growth of the church.
7. We intend to have just a two days
synod meeting on first and second of October. The Election will be second October.
So pray for God’s guidance.
8. Pray for safety for Ron, Sue and
Kabetu who will be visiting us in October.
9. Pray for safe travels for new
Teachers that will be coming from North America to teach at the CRC School
Kabala.
10. CRC School Kabala re opens September
9, pray for parents, children and Teachers as they prepare for the new school year
. Pray that parents will be able to sponsors their kids, pray for wisdom for
the Teachers and pray that the Children will be able to learn.
11. Pray for Jemimah, recently she has
been complaining of pains on the back, sometimes she finds it very difficult to
bend. We have tried the available medication here but still the pain is on. We
need your prayers for God to heal her.
CONCLUSION:
Beloved in the Lord, we continue to thank you for your support, and we
will not stop to say please continue to give for mission, God will surely bless
you. You gifts have kept us strong to do the work please I say continue. .
There are some pictures on my blog that may interest you to see.
Thanks.
SUBMITTED BY:
Rev. Istifanus Bala Bahago
Consultant:
CRC_SL/ mission field, Sierra Leone.
+23278264240
+23277668139
Email:ibbahago@gmail.com
Blog: www.apostlebahago.blogspot.com
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