APRIL 2014 UPDATE FROM SIERRA LEONE.

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APRIL 2014 UPDATE FROM SIERRA LEONE
“Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him and by his wounds we are healed….”
The message of Easter was a message of both suffering for the Lord and a hope for the salvation of Mankind. I bring you yet another Easter greetings from Sierra Leone. Christ took upon himself the suffering that was for us, that by his wounds we are healed, and on his resurrection, gives us hope and life again to live for Him.
Here in Sierra Leone, Easter is celebrated with great joy merriment for both the Muslims and the Christians. To the Muslims here it’s all about holiday to rest from works. For us Christian we celebrate the victory over everlasting death, to a new life that is found in Jesus Christ. W e used this to explain to our Muslims Brothers and sisters, who have gone on a picnic to celebrate Easters at the riverside in either Badala or Musaia.
Despite the fear in Peoples Mind concerning the recent outbreak of Ebola fever in Neighboring Guinea and Liberia, we still are hopeful of life in Christ Jesus. We thank God for his cares.
BAPTISM IN YARAH. On Sunday April 6, was a great joy in the Church in Yarah, Eleven adults who have given their lives to Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and savior were baptized into the membership of the body of Christ. As in many Communities here, Yarah is equally a Muslim dominated village. Out of them, the Lord has his elect, and these Eleven accepted God’s special revelation that is found in Jesus Christ.
Baptism in Yarah Administered by rev. Benjamin Koroma.
RETURN FROM ITALY.I give thanks to God for his care and protection as He led me safely to Italy to attend a Consultation on Mission to the Muslims. The Consultation as I said in My March report, it was worth attending for me especially working in a predominant Muslims Society. Thought the case of Sierra Leone, is a unique context of religious freedom especially in Sub Sahara Africa. We are relatively peaceful here in Sierra Leone in times of religious core existence. But my participation at the conference, widen my perspective , understand and deepened my Love for my Muslims brethren . We have hard quite a number of converts who have come from that background most of them are still living with their Muslims relatives without any difficulties. Of course there are few isolated cases of rejection by Family members because of their Faith but they are very, very few.
CHURCH PROJECTS: We thank God for this year’s building projects in the villages. April is always the last month for such building to be completed or at least roof, to avoid being destroyed by Rain. We are grateful that most of the buildings have been roofed; we gave out five bundles of roofing sheet to the villages that were able to raise a
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structure. With the roof on now, we are sure of the protection form Rain, gradually we will do the plastering as funds are made available.
HOPE REVIVED: Last year in one of my report, I gave information concerning one of the villages called Mamburia , where a so called Dreamer claimed that he saw Jesus, who told him that Christianity is fake. That affected the Faith of few new believers there, but thanks, is to God, for the Holy Spirit revived the Faith of the believers to know that those are the scheme of the Devil to deceive people. Today the believers in Mamburia have embarked on Building a worship place. The picture below shows the old Church in 2013 and the new one this year under construction. Already we have given them five bundles of zinc to assist them to roof it before the rain.
MULTIPURPOSE BUILDING: F or years now the ministry offices here have been on a rent property. It is the desire of thee CRC SL to have her own permanent structure where it will host both the denominational offices and halls for meetings and other church related functions. A piece of Land was bought by the Kabala Church for the purpose of Building a Church. But with the Challenges on Hand, the Kabala Church decided to handover the Land to the
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National Church to be used for the entire denomination. In order not to lose the Land to the Authority, because of inability to develop within the stipulated time, recently , the official embark on clearing the land and removing the stumps within the piece. They are now planning to start molding bricks for Future development. We are now working on the building plan. The project is on the Conditional Budget for Sierra Leone. We are hoping that donation will be given to help build the structure.
VISIT BY NIGERIA CRC CHURCH LEADER: On April 11 – 15, was yet another exciting moment for us and our members here in Sierra Leone, as we were visited and encouraged by one member of the Leaders of CRC-N. Rev. Jerry Williams Agabison is the Chairman of the CRC-N Mission Board, as well as one of the Executive Committee members of the Church in Nigeria. He came to see us, as missionaries and also to see what the Lord is doing in Sierra Leone. During the Visit, the Kabala Church organized a two days spiritual Conference I n Which Rev. Agabison was the speaker. Christian from other churches within Kabala attended the weekend program. It was indeed Spiritual blessings, and revival of the soul. The Rev. Agabison also visited the Kondebaiah , Yarah and Rochen Malal Churches to encourage the people.

PRAYER GROUP: One of the weapons of warfare of the Church is Prayer,, in prayer we communion with God, in praised and thanksgiving and also petition, through that we are strengthened that God hears us. The youth of Kabala Church, have decided to organize a monthly Prayer vigil every last Friday of the Month, that the Church will grow both physically and spiritually. Join us every Last Friday of the Month to pray along with us.
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THE SCHOOL BUILDING PROJECT:
In my last Month report, I gave the information that the construction work at the School has begun. Indeed the work is moving fast. The Foundation work has been completed and the building of the Wall has begun. We continue to Thank God for the lives of the donors who are giving to make sure that the work is completed and the Children here get a conducive place for learning. When completed, the Building is going to be the best in the entire district. Already the School academic performance is also excellent. Please continue to pray for the School and the partners that are supporting it.
The School was also visited by the Country Director for the West Africa Examination Council [WAEC] [ Mr. Sapates Jalloh]to see the Facility of the school for a possible approval of the School for an external Exam center. He was so happy to see it and commended the Sponsor to continue the good work, that they are willing to give all necessary professional advice for the running of the school. He promised they will work with the School to make sure the School is approved as a center in the latest two years time.


FAMILY FARM PROJECT: The Family Farm Project is one of the programs initiated to help various Families to meet up their responsibilities for Food security. The program has yielded a lot of positive results in terms of improvement in their family income in meeting the need of various families. In other to help them save for Future, the program is assisting some communities in building store houses for grain, either for seed preservation or for market purpose. They have begun building in one of the villages. [Gbokoroma] .The FFP is planning to build such places in three communities. One has just begun.
KAMARON CHURCH PROJECT: I have chosen to single out the Church project in Kamaron to report briefly about it because of the peculiar circumstances or lessons it teaches us about peaceful religious harmony that exist in this small community of about three hundred Families. The Christian that attend church worship in this village are not more than twenty in Sunday worship. The village Head , Pa Yirra Koroma who is a Muslim, saw that the Christian do not have a conducive place of worship except for the grass hut they made . He mobilized the Community who are mostly Muslim to come out and help the Christians to mold bricks so that they can build their own place of worship. He also provided a piece of Land to the Christians. The place look outskirt, but interestingly it s the place that welcome visitor to the community. After the primary school building and the Clinic, the next structure you will see before entering the village is the Church. Pa Koroma told me,” i have to do this because the Christian are our /sisters brothers, we have a place of worship and they do not have, it’s not good we are worshipping the same God”. A church has now being built, we provided the roofing sheet, I hope to get some cement for the plastering soon as soon as we get the fund. Isn’t interesting?
CHILDREN THANKSGIVING: One interesting annual program of the CRC Kabala Church is the setting aside a Sunday every year for the Children of the Sunday school class, to display to their parents and all worshippers their knowledge about the Lord who love little Children . This Year’s Children Thanksgiving Sunday came up on 27th April. It was full of excitement to see this Children reciting various verses of the Bible and also singing songs of praises to the Lord. The preacher this year for the Children Program was a twelve year old Girl of the CRC Junior Secondary school form one [13 grade] Mary Tala Koroma. She preached from Luke 18:15-17. With the theme “Let the Children come to me”. A striking point the little Girl [ Preacher] said to the parent was , ‘ parents do you know that whenever we come to Church and you ask us little Children to give way for the adult to sit in our place and you sent us out , it pains us and we too have feeling” ? . Wow every parent at the Church was really touched. That is the message let allow the children to come to Jesus.

NEW BELIEVER IN KABALA: One of the instructions given to Christian by our Lord Jesus Christ is go preach the gospel to all Nation, meaning every tribe and people. The Fulah people [Fulani] in Sierra Leone are of the strong committed worshippers of Islam. Getting a Fulah convert is always very difficult. But the Holy Spirit that controls the heart of people and convict them breaks every harden heart. Nene as she is popularly called is a Fulah Woman here in Kabala. I have been driving pass her house and will always greet her. One day she asked me if I were a Pastor I say yes. She said to me,” I want to be a Christian I do not know how to go about it”. So I share the gospel

with her and invited her to come to the Church so that she can have fellowship with other believers. Finally, the Holy Spirit convicts her, and she has made up her mind to follow Christ. On Sunday April 27 she was in Church. This is what she said. ‘ It been long the Spirit of God has been telling me to go to Church , I have always resisted , but Today I cannot , I have come to Jesus , I now belong to Jesus please be praying for me”.

THE STORM: The Rain is here again, the Farming season will soon kick up. As usual with first Rain, it comes with heavy storm and strong wind. This year the beginning is the fall of Big Trees on the way. We were on our way to Dondoya, Foria village, when suddenly it happened before we arrived, A big Tree falls and block the way, so we could not pass. After we have returned to Kabala, this morning we were
told that another one fell between Badala and Kondebaia. So if we had not returned, it means we would have been trap in the Middle. Thank God for his Care, and Protection.
PRAYER REUEST:
1. Please pray for the continued growth of the Church in Sierra Leone.
2. Pray for the various construction works going on in the field, such as the school building g and the Churches in the Village.
3. Pray for continue peaceful coexistence among various religious groups here.
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4. Pray for us, the news from our Country [Nigeria] is quiet disturbing; my wife lost some of her relations at an attack in one of the villages of Wukari by the Extremist.
5. The Pupils at the School will be writing their Final Primary school exams. Pray for success.
6. Pray for the Sudu as their have accepted to renew their stay here. Pray that God will continue to give them the strength and the grace to serve him.
7. Pray for Tabitha Sudu, this morning she was diagnose to have what they called extensile Hypertension. What that means we do not know, but we know that our God is a Healer.
8. Pray for members the rain has started and planting will soon begin, pray for food planting and great harvest this year.
9. We have stated experiencing the falling of big trees on the roads, though now damage recorded .pray that the storm will not course damage.
10. We thank God for the service of Mr. Joseph Jawara , who has worked with the CES/CRC for thirty years now. Pray for God to give him more strength and grace to serve.
APPRECIATION: Thank you all for your constant support to us here both financially and prayerfully. As you continue to give for the work, the Lord who owns the resources will continue to bless you greatly. On behalf of my Family and that of Rev. Sudu, we will like to say to you thank you.
CONCLUSION: God we thank you for your care and protection in then call and ministry you call us to serve you here. Thanks Brethren for your time to read this update you’re your constant prompt response.
SUBMITTED BY :
REV. ISTIFANUS B. BAHAGO.
CRCSL/ CRWM
LEADERSHIP CONSULTANT.
Email:ibbahago@gmail.com
istifanusbahago@yahoo.com
+23278264240
+23277668139
Blog:www.apostlebahago.blogspot.com

MARCH 2014 UPDATE.

MARCH 2014 UPDATE FROM SIERRA LEONE.

…. I have come that they might have life, and have it in fullness [John 10:10].

 This is the word of Jesus, for the purpose on which he came to the World, that the believers will have life, in its fullness, may this lent period be a time in which we will continue to experience the fullness of life as demonstrated by Christ in his Death and resurrection.

  I am pleased to bring to you this Month , briefly of what the Lord is  doing in the life and growth of the church here in Sierra Leone.

 CONSTRUCTION OF A SENOIR SECONDARY SCHOOL BLOCK

God is so gracious to the people of Kabala and Sierra Leone, as a whole. Last Month I did report that, all is now ready to begin the construction of a new classroom block at the School. We give thanks to God and to our partners in North America for their tremendous support. Work has now begun at the school for the building. Many blocks had been molds, and Foundation work started.

 MUSLIMS COMMUNITIES HELPING THE CHRISTIANS.

We give thanks to God for the good working relationship and love that is existing among the Muslims and Christian in Sierra Leone especially where we are working.  Though the Muslims are the majority in this Land. But they are willing to help their Christina brothers and sisters in Building their own places of worship. Recently in Kamaron and Dondoya villages, the Muslims Village head mobilized the community to come out and help the Christian to mould blocks for their Church building. The buildings have begun and reach roofing levels.

We are pleased with this development , presently work are going on in Mamburia, Wasima, Rochen Malal, Dondoya, and Gbangbafira. A part from Rochen Malal , all other places, their Muslims Communities came out in mass to help them make blocks, for their buildings.

PROMOTING TRADITIONAL MUSIC IN WORSHIP.

In other to make worship, relevant to the context of the people,the Kabala Church bought  new traditional musical instruments to be used during worship. As is typical in many African setting, worship is mostly accompanied by expression of dancing. Therefore, the introduction of these instruments added color and joy to the worship in Kabala Church.

GENERAL SECRETARY IN OFFICE.

In our effort to establish a national Leadership for the CRC SL , just as I did reported in my previous update, We are pleased to have pastor David Tamba Koroma , in the office as the General Secretary of the Church. Pastor Koroma started work here on 3^rd March. We are now looking out for accommodation for him in Kabala , as soon as that is done , we are hoping his Family will join him in April. We thank you all for your prayers on this.

VISIT TO LIBERIA:

March 6, I, Rev. Sudu and some youth where in the republic of Liberia, to attend a youth Conference, we were invited to serve as guest preachers at the conference. It s a conference of youth alliance for Christ , its being organized to bring Christian youth together in serving God. Last year it was hosted by the Youth in Sierra Leone, and this year we were invited to Liberia. It was a moment of fellowship and sharing of experiences in the service of God by the young people.

 We also used that forum to see if some work can be done in Liberia. We have been receiving calls to come and start work there. A small community in the suburb of Monrovia headed by Pa Daniel Powell is asking us to come and start a CRC Church in their Community. We are yet to response to that, we hope Morris Sonnie will be there by July. It depends on what the Lord will lead us to do.

CRC/RCA CONSULTATION ON MISSION TO THE MUSLIMS:

I am pleased to be one of the participants to this Consultation which took place in Casa cares Florence Italy from 24^th to 28^th March. It was an opportunity for me to share with the participants, what God is doing among the Muslims in Sierra Leone and the good harmony that is there between Christians and their Muslims neighbors. I was so excited to visit Assisi, the home of St. Francis of Assisi.

APPRECIATION:

We want to thank you so much for your continue support for us in the mission field and your prayers for the work in Sierra Leone.

PRAYER REQUEST:

1.       Thank God for his protection during our travels to Liberia and to Italy.

2.        Thank God for the healing of my son Johncalvin. He was sick [Malaria and typhoid] so much that he was unable to go to school for two weeks. He is now getting better and hopes to go back to school on Monday 31^st March.

3.       Thank God for my Daughter Judith, she celebrated her sixteen birthday on the first of this Month.

4.       I am sending out this update while in Italy; please pray for my safe return to Sierra Leone. And all the participants at the consultation.

5.       Continue to pray for the Sierra Leone Church for her growth.

6.       This Month and next is for buildings, as the rain will come by May. Pray that God will provide the funding and give strength to our members in those villages that are building their places of worship to complete before the Rain.

7.       Pray for Rev. Sudu and his Family as they decide in signing for a new term of their stay here in Sierra Leone to continue their work for God to guide them in their decision.

8.       Please pray for the situation in our country Nigeria. For peace, the story we hear back home is very disturbing, but with your prayers, there will be peace.

9.       Pray for my Family back Home.[ for comfort] I lost a cousin brother, who is a Pastor with the CRCN . He died on 21^st March while I was on my way to Italy.

CONCLUSION.

Thanks for being there to pray and support us in the ministry, May the Lord bless you all.

SUBMITTED BY:

 Rev. Istifanus Bala Bahago.

Leadership Consultant.

CRC SL/CRWM.

Email:ibbahago@gmail.com

+23278264240

+23277668139.

Blog. www.apostlebahago.blogspot.com