FEBRUARY 2014 UPDATE FROM SIERRA LEONE
“It is not
the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick… for I have not come to call the
righteous but sinners. Mathew: 9:12- 13”.
We continue
to express our gratitude to God Almighty for his cares and protections over our
lives, for he came to save sinners and called people to carry out the work of
seeking for the lost sinners.
VISITORS
TO SIERRA LEONE. The Months of January and February has been a great blessing
for us here as Friends and partners in the mission work from North America came
visiting. Paul Kortenhoven, Ray and Pauline Prins, whom I reported in my last
updates, Then we had John Loeks, a man who has Sierra Leone in his heart as he
and others have been very much instrumental in the Building of the CRC Schools
in Kabala. Then we also were blessed by the visit of Dave Mayer and Rev. Joel
Ringma from Canada. Beside these, Miss Kathy Vanderkloet from Nigeria was also
here to work with the new accountant for the School to train her on book keeping
for proper stewardship at the school.
The visit of these Folks was a great moral
boaster for us in the field. We Thank God for their supports and prayers and
all the greetings they brought from USA and Canada.
TRIP TO COTE DIVOIRE. I thank God for a successful journey
to Cote d Ivoire for visa interview0n February 9 to travel to Italy next Month.
Because there is no Italian Embassy in Sierra Leone, It became necessary for me
to travel to Abidjan, the journey was without hitches. My wallet was stolen in
Freetown (pickpocket guys) it was amazing how the wallet was removed from my
pocket without me noticing it until when I got to my hotel, I then discovered
that the wallet was gone. It was worrisome but thank God my travel documents
were not inside, so I did travel, but I lost some money and identity card,
driving license, etc.
VISIT TO HEREKO VILLAGE: Finding good drinking water is
major challenge to life in Sierra Leone. Thanks to the CES and also the Denver
groups who in years past did some water project (Gravity, water) for some
villages. But these needs are still there. Following the visit of Ray Prins and
his wife, some villages were visited to see the source of water they have,
among those villages visited was Hereko. The village head wrote to us
requesting we should help them get drinking water. So we visited them with Ray
Prins on February 6. They have a good water source on the Hill closed to the village.
Its half mile (½) away from the village. Nothing was promised but they were
very happy to see us come.
NEW TLT CLASS. In, July 2013, the first batch of participants
for the Timothy Leadership Training, completed their Training in which some
were given the Master Trainer Certificate, Trainer certificate and also
Participants certificates. In all 26 got their certificates. In continuation of
training the indigenes in the area of
Leadership and preaching in the church, a new Class was begun on 17th
February. This time we had Twenty Three [23] participants who were selected
from various Churches of the CRC SL.
Two Manual [Modules]
were thought namely stewardship and Caring for God’s People [pastoral care]
Rev. Joel Ringma of Terrace CRC in Canada was
one of the Facilitators, He thought the Stewardship, while Rev. Bahago facilitated
on the Pastoral cares. . The Class was so excited and the teaching was interactive
in Natures. All Participants expressed their happiness on the Modules. The Training lasted for five days, 17 to 21
February in Foria village. Participants were asked to come out with a four
Months action plan in which they will implement before the next contact section
that is to begin on July 7 to 11 2014. The Training coordinator Rev. Ezekiel
James Sudu was at hand to make sure that all participants receive the teaching
Materials, Rev. Edison Kamara the evangelism coordinator of the CRC Sl led in
the morning devotions on the topic, lay mobilization in the Church. The emphases
were to challenge the Participants to mobilize their members towards evangelism
and Church planting in their Neighborhood.
CHURCH BUILDING PROJECTS IN THE
VILLAGES; As we
get deep into the dry session, which is also the best time of building in
Sierra Leone, villages were we have churches have started building places of
worship, some are renovation while others are new building. The practice here
in the villages is for them to raise the Building and we give them a little
assistance of roofing sheet and cement for plastering. This year, we are taking
Kondebaia, kamaron. Dondoya, Gbangbafira and Rochen Malal, for plastering , we will
take Sambaia Bendugu and Barli and bakoro. In addition we want to secure the
Land in Makeni.
PROTECTING OUR ENVIRONMENT: One of the responsibilities given to
us, apart from preaching the gospel, is caring and protecting the environment
in which we live in other to enjoy life in its fullness. This is the
encouragement and the campaign embark upon by Dave Mayer and the Christian
Extension service [the development ministries of the CRC SL]. Dave Mayer, Mr.
Andrew Gwaivamin and the staff of CES tour some Chiefdoms of the District where
they met with various community leaders and the people, drawing their attention
as to the importance of caring for our environment, which will result to
healthy living. Bush burning is a common practice here. With this, CES hope to liaise
with the Church, the community and various Government agencies to carry out
this enlightenment.
NEW CHURCHES ARE BEIGN PLANTED: We continue to celebrate the Grace
of God, as day to day he makes his will known to many and are coming to embrace
the Faith. A report from the villages shows how the church is growing day in
and out. Report from Sambaiaa bendugu shows that new churches are being planted
in three new communities in Dankawalia area in Tonkolili District. These
villages are: Sekurela, with 45 worshippers, Keredugu also 45 while Wunaduya
25. Evangelist John Sewa is working in those areas; he reports that the people
are very eager and excited in their new found Faith.
In the BO
area the story is quite encouraging it shows that the CRC is being accepted among
the Mende People. There, two new Churches
are planted in Bompeh Chiefdom in Mokpendeh and Vulahun. Mokpendeh has 50 worshippers while Vulahun
has up to 20 attending Church every Sunday. Augustine K Sam and Mohammed Jobbie
are volunteers helping in those places respectively.
John Sewa,
Augustine Sam and Mohammed Jobbie were both at the TLT training program to
enhance productivity in their work.
MORE BAPTIZED IN KABALA CRC: As in the Church of the New
Testament at the time of the Apostle, more people are coming to Faith and been
Baptized into the membership of the Church. The same is happening in the CRC
Kabala Church. Sunday February 16, twenty one (21) People were baptized.
FFP : The Family farm program is going on Fine, recently , two villages
graduated, so they can continue to be on their own by practicing the skills
learned from the project. Abu and Alhassan are doing very well in this; most of
the communities are cooperating in their Loan repayment.
JOY AND SADNESS. When we were in Foria for the TLT training,
Pastor John K Mansaray, who is the pastor of the Foria Church, His wife gave
birth to a bouncing Baby Boy. All of us at the Training were happy, and we gave
the Child a name Joel Timothy Mansaray. Unfortunately, a week after he was born, the
Child Died. He was born on 19 February and died on 25th. Please pray
for Pastor John and his Family.
A BIG HOPE: There is a big anxiety and hope at
the CRC School Kabala, as all is now set to begin the construction of a new
classroom block that will have also, a science Lad and a computer room for both
students and staff. The parents, staff and student were so excited, with the
commitment of John Loeks and all the sponsors of the project from North
America. The school Board and the Partners from North America, namely; John Loeks,
Paul Kortenhoven and in attendance were Ray and Pauline Prins. It will not be
too long for the contractor to be mobilized to site. We praise for this
development.
CRC School
board members, deliberating on the new Building. After the meeting, members
pose for a group Photograph, Mama Pauline Prins was also there to support the
Men.
CANADIAN PARTNERS ENCOURAGE CRC SL: Chairman and secretary of the BC
partners for the CRC SL Mr. Dave Mayer and Rev. Joel Ringma, during their visit
to the CRC SL, met with the members of the CRC SL partners in Kabala. The
visiting leaders encourage the Church to continue in their good work and to
expressed the Love of God in their preaching and Teaching. They also promise to
continue to pray for the growth of the Church here. After that the partners
encourage the nationals to have and email where they will be communication with
the North American Partners. (This is
the email for the Church:crcsierraleone@gmail.com).Abu M Jalloh will now be the
secretary for the Partners. Both Ringma and Mayer have returned to Canada.
APPRECIATION: We give thanks to God Almighty for the
great things and revival that is happening here. We praised his name for his
mercies always. We continue to thank you all for your support and Prayers. For
our Partners who visited us this past months. Namely; Paul Kortenhoven, Ray and
Pauline Prins, John Loeks, Kathy Vanderkloet, Joel Ringma and Dave Mayer. We
thank you folks for all your words of encouragements and Prayers. Your coming
was like the “transfiguration” visit. We wish; we would have said like Peter,
let us build a place for you to stay here. But if we do, your Families will not
be Happy with us. There, we have to let you go back to be with them. We love
and miss you. Thanks for coming. We are more encouraged with your visit. “Kushe,
tenki fo kam”.
CONCLUSION: Beloved, God is great his love is
beyond measure, we praise his name for what he is using Men and Women to
fulfill his mission to the World. You and I are part of God‘s mission work.
Your continue prayers and support for the work here, will be bless by God.
Remember World mission you’re your Church Mission Board is there to do it for
you. Support them with your Finances, prayers, Love advice, and the work will
continue.
PRAYER REQUESTS:
1. Thank God
for the success of the TLT training in Foria.
2. Thank God
for the safe returns of our visitors.
3. Our youth
and others will be travelling to Liberia on 5-9 March for a conference. I and
Sudu are the main speakers, pray for journey mercy.
4. Pray for Pastor
John K Mansaray and his wife for comfort over the lost of their one week old
Child.
5. Pray for
me, God willing I will be travelling to Italy in March for Consultation on
Mission to muslims.Pray for the success of the Consultation, that it will help
us as we witness Christ to our Muslims neighbor especially here that is
predominantly Islam.
6. Pray for
Pastor David T Koroma, as he will begin work next week March 3 as the General
Secretary of the CRC SL, for wisdom.
SUBMITTED
BY:
Rev.
Istifanus Bala Bahago
CRWM/CRCSL
Leadership
consultant
Email:ibbahago@gmail.com
+23278264240
+23277668139
www.apostlebahago.blogspot.com
No comments:
Post a Comment