MAY 2014 UPDATE FROM
SIERRA LEONE:
“What is the
kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? It is like a mustard seed,
which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the
birds of the air perched in its branches…what shall I compare the kingdom of
God to? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of
flour until it worked all through the dough.” Luke. 13:18-21.[NIV]
Looking at
how the seed of the gospel is growing here in Sierra Leone, it will make us to
understand the parable of the mustard seed as told by Jesus in the Gospel. It’s
not human making, but its divine, the Church is growing steadily in the heart
of Sierra Leoneans.
Even as the raining season is here again, many
farmers are busy plowing their farm and planting various crops with
anticipation that it will grow and one day, they will harvest it and have
enough food in the house for the family and also get some income for the family
as well.
We are indeed grateful to God for making the
seasons, besides the planting of crops in the farms; we are also determined to
continue to plant the seed of the gospel of salvation into the lives of the
people as well, God helping us.
STORE HOUSES: The stories about store house , is
very familiar with Joseph in Egypt in his prison dreams, which lead to the Egyptian
authority to build store houses for the preservation of grain , to serve during
famine. Well , here we are not anticipating any famine per say , but save for
future use is very important , to meet needs at the time of crucial times when
the rain will not be here and the swamp all dried up, we can then turn to our
grain stores , and there food s are available. The Christian Extension services
[CES] and the Family farm Project, have embarked in building this store houses
in various Communities, through the community efforts as well. CES plan to
build in ten different communities and FFP is building in three. Some of the
buildings had been roofed, but those that could not start early enough before
the rain came, will have to wait for the next dry season to begin.
These communities are so excited about these
projects. Indeed CES and FFP are putting smiles in the
Faces of our
various communities.
CES CONSTRUTED STORE IN KOMOYA , AND
ALSO PROVIDED DRINKING WATER TO YIRAFILAYA BADALA.
AHMADU KOROMA
Ahmadu
Koroma is one of our National youth Leaders of the CRCSL.
Ahmadu is Mende by tribe, one of the Largest
Tribes in Sierra leone.Born on April 24 1990.In Bumpe Chiefdom of Bo District
in the southern part of Sierra Leone, into a Muslim Family. He is the fourth
Child of his parents. His Mother was the first wife of his Father.
Ahmadu’s
Father Mr. Mohammed Koroma was the
chief Imam [Senior Muslim cleric] of Kenema District. .His Father’s expectation
about Ahmadu was that since he was the oldest Male Child, he is going to be
heir of inheritance of the family and possibility as an Imam.
But at the
age of 14 (2004) , through one of his Christian Friends, Ahmadu was converted
to Christianity and got Baptized in 2005.Since then this Changed negatively for
Ahmadu from his family members especially his Father. The Father refused to pay
his fees, and so the mother had to struggle to sell some vegetable in other to
pay for his School. Unfortunately when he was in the 9th grade [form
3] His Mother died, so there was nobody to pay for his fee. His Father sent him
out of the House, so he has to find some friends to stay with.
Ahmadu continue to struggle. Stay out of
school for a year and luckily for him, someone introduce him to a scholarship
program that was given out by the Former Vice President of Sierra Leone,
Solomon Barewa. But the scholarship was meant for students who were brilliant
in school, so he went for the exam, and he score a good grade , and so he was
awarded the scholarship that help him to complete his secondary Education in
2010.
That same year he met Pastor Mathias Gabriel
of the CRC in Bo, it was Mathias that brought him to the CRC Church, because
after his Mother’s Death, he stopped going to Church, since he has to find some
petty job to feed himself. Ahmadu later became one of the first members of the
BO Church.
Presently He
is not staying with his Father, because the father hates to see him. The Father
calls him all kinds of names. Infidel, dog. Etc,
Out of this
struggles, Ahmadu was able to go to college, he now has a certificate in
Community development. It is a two years study at the College of professional
studies in Bo.
Presently he
has no Job and continues to stay with friends as he cannot go to his father.
Recently His Father summons a family meeting where he declares that if Ahmadu
did not return to Islam, he ceased to be his Son.
Ahmadu said after he became Christian and his
father sent him out of the house, he has found consolations in the word of God.
He said. “My favorite Bible verse is Psalms 27:10”. “Though my father and my mother forsake me,
the Lord will receive me”. Presently Ahmadu lives in Bo, but has no Job and
move from one friend house to another. Life has been so difficult for Ahmadu.
His plan is
to go to Seminary and become Pastor one day.
Please Pray
for Ahmadu, that God will protect him and give him the grace to endure these
difficult times in his life. If there is anything you feel you can assist
Ahmadu, which will be fine. His Main need now is to go to seminary, so he will
need sponsorship.
TLT ACTION PLAN:
After the
Timothy Leadership training session in February, participants were encouraged to
write Action plan which they will implement before the next session in July. We
decided to go on a visit to these areas where they come from to see if they are
implementing their plans, and see if there are successes or not so that we can advise
accordingly. Jeremiah Sesay is one of the participants that came from the Barli
church in BO. His plan was, to mobilized the youth in his area to plow a piece
of land for Ground nut [peanut] farm and cassava. It was amazing we met the
young people in that region that were mobilized by Jeremiah in the farm
plowing. It’s a big piece of land. They want to do this so that they can generate
some income for their youth program in the Church to reduce over dependency.
A NEW WORSHIP CENTRE:
We continue
to give thanks to God for the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believers,
as they continue to preach the good news of our Lord Jesus Christ in Carrying
out the great Commission. We are glad that the CRC in Sierra Leone is being
accepted across the various regions of Sierra Leone. Recently we visited a new
congregation in Mokpendeh village in Bo District. In this village we also have
one TLT participant by name Augustine K Sam. There are up to forty [40] worshipers
in this village. As in most Sierra Leone Community, Mokpendeh is also a Muslims
dominated area. There is one Islamic Primary school there, so the few Christian
are saying to us “please give us a school so that our Children can be taught
the Christian religion otherwise, we will lose our Children when they grow
because they are being taught the Islamic religion in school”.
MAMBURIA CHURCH:
In the April
update, I gave a report concerning the church in Mamburia which I caption HOPE
REVIVED. We thank God there is great progress on the Church building. The house
is now roofed; we do hope to do the plastering as soon as fund is available.
The picture below is still the old Church where they were last year and what
they are now.
PASTOR ALPHA RETURNS:
We give
thanks to God , Pastor Alpha Kargbo the youth coordinator who was in Nigeria
for a Training at the International School of Evangelism , has completed his
training and is now back in Sierra Leone to continue his work as the youth
Leader of the Church. We hope that he will use the knowledge acquired to
promote the youth ministry and Evangelism in the Church. We Thank the ISE in
Nigeria for their support, and also the Nigeria CRC for given him practical
lessons as well. Thanks to CRWM for providing the ticket and living expenses
for him. ISE is still committed to helping the CRCSL in Training.
.
THE SCHOOL BUILDING:
Working is
progressing steadily at the CRC School Kabala .The building has reached the
lintel Level. We continue to give God the praise for the provision of resources
to our sponsors in North America. They are making this dream come to be. Please
continue to pray for our partners in North America that God will bless them as
they continue to support the School. Another interesting event at the school
recently, is the annual inter house sporting competition. The Yellow houses
continue to show their supremacy in the sporting event. Last year they won and
this year they refused to allow other houses to beat them. It was an
interesting activity at the weekend of 16th and 17th May. As patron
of Green house, I was jumping up and down to boost the morale of the kids so
that Green house will win. But these guys in Yellow they were smart. Anyway we
accept the defeat, next year we will try hard.
APPRECIATIONS:
Beloved, we
want to express our gratitude to you all for your prayers and constant support
for the work here, your love for the work here is indeed tremendous. Please
continue to do. Give your gift to the World Mission, and it will come to us.
For those in Nigeria, you can send your gifts through the CRCN Headquarters.
PRAYER REQUESTS:
1. Please pray for Ahmadu Koroma for the
continue grace of God in his life.
2. Pray for the CRC SL Synod meeting
comes up at the end of this Month for safety in travel. It’s the first Synod
meeting to be chaired by the Nationals after their Election Last year. Pray for
Wisdom.
3. Pray for our Family Members back in
Nigeria.
4. Pray for the release of the Girls
Kidnapped by the terrorist in Nigeria, Pray for their Families.
5. Continue to pray for our Members as
they continue in their Farming this session for good Harvest.
6. Pray for us in the field, The Sudus
family and mine that we will continue to experience God’s grace in our lives.
Despite the Challenges of staying in a different culture and People.
7. Pray for Humility a servant hood
Leadership in the life of the National Church leaders of the CRCSL.
8. Pray for Foray Sesay, one of our
students studying Theology in Nigeria. He is getting married on June 28.
9. Maxwell and Foray are home now for
summer Break Pray that as they will be involved in various Church work , that
God will use them to impact the knowledge they have gotten for the growth of
the Church.
SUBMITTED BY:
ISTIFANUS B. BAHAGO
CONSULTANT CRC-SL/CRWM
+23278264240
+23277668139
www.apostlebahago.blogspot.com
Rochen Malal Church building under construction.
Ahmadu Koroma one of our youth leades, rejected by his father because of his FAITH IN CHRIST.
Water is life. the people of Yirafilaya Badala provided with Drinking water by CES.
At CRC SL youth farm in Potehun , Bo district.
Grain store and Rice mill, built by CES in Komoya.