JUNE 2015 UPDATE
FROM SIERRA LEONE:
“Then I
heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘whom shall I send? And who will go for
us?’ And I said here am I send me”[Isaiah 6:8 NIV]. This indeed is a call and
response to serve. That has been our conviction that the Lord is calling us to
serve him, to go to the people that do not know the salvation that he has
giving freely in Jesus Christ.
OUR HOME SERVICE: Beloved in Christ, as you are all aware,
our home service for last year came at the time that West Africa, [Sierra Leone}
was hit by the deadly Ebola virus, which necessitated our evacuation from
Sierra Leone.
While back in Nigeria from October 2014, to
May 2015, we were reunited with our family and able to visit some churches in
Nigeria to share with them what the Lord is doing in the Mission field and also
the scourged of the Ebola Virus.
In all we give thanks to God that it went well.
We were able to participate in the general Election that took place in Nigeria
in March and April. It was an excitement for us to be involved in the election
of our leaders, an election that was peaceful and describe as the most credible
in the election process in our Country. The first election of March 28
[presidential] the card reader accepted our fingers. But for April election,
the card reader rejected that of my wife and our Son Johncalvin.
Notwithstanding they were both allow to vote since their names and pictures
appears in the register and the reader did recognized their voter’s card.
Beside the activities in Nigeria, I was also
fortunate to be in Canada during the winter for deputation. For those I met you
will remember my experience with the snow. It was my first time to see the snow
and to experience such a cool weather. I was puzzled to see that people live
and survive in such a winter. ‘That is God’ my missionary friends shares with
me their experience when they come to West Africa in the Month of February,
March and April. It’s very hot. We too are surviving it. It’s all amazing how
the Lord God made our bodies to be able to adapt to places as He send us out
for mission. Glory is to his name.
This two pictures, shows how things
differ in different areas. Picture top is me preaching in a conference in
Nigeria, the venue was outside in a field at the Church premises; this was just
a day before I left for Canada. below is me been dressed to walk on the
snow in a very cool winter, and been assisted.
RETURN TO SIERRA LEONE:
We give God the Glory that we are now, back in Sierra Leone. We arrived
on May 29 2015, this time via Cote D voire [Ivory Coast] there is no direct flight from Nigeria to
Sierra Leone since the suspension of flight from Nigeria to Freetown following
the Ebola Outbreak. We thank God because it was just Five hours flying through
Abidjan, Monrovia and finally Freetown from Lagos. Unlike, when we went in
October, that took us two days to arrive Nigeria. We were well received in
Kabala, by the brethren, who were worried that we may not return. Our first Sunday at the Church in Kabala
after our return was full of joy and Happiness as you can see in their
expressions. Many were asking about the Sudu Family. It was sad mode when they
were told that the Sudu are not returning because Rev. Ezekiel will be going to
School in August. In all they have to accept the reality of changes in the
mission.
Few days
later there was big storm that affected many homes including the House of
Daniel K Koroma the CES program Manager. In all, we thank God no life was lost.
Though, many homes were destroyed.
Praying
in Kondembaia church after our return , bottom, is one of the houses destroy by
storm in Kabala it belongs to one of our church members.
2015
CHURCH BUILDING PROJECT: We give thanks to God,
despite the Ebola scourge, three new Building were erected for worship
auditorium in, Buyan Sukorrela, Wunaduwan, and Yarah. The General Secretary
Pastor David Koroma did a very good work of supervising the work while we were
gone. That we are encouraged that the nationals have started seeing and
accepting the challenge of doing some of the things that we were doing. It
gives hope for sustainability.
Sukorrela [top] and Wunaduwan [middle] church under construction.
Yarah Church under construction.
YOUTH
VOLUNTEER FOR EVANGELISM: One of the challenges that
the church here is facing is that of insufficient staff in the preaching
centers. Most of our pastors are
volunteers who are giving a monthly stipend of $80:00, which are funds that
come from oversea. The churches here find it very difficult to hire personnel
that they can pay stipend. Seeing the rapids growth of the church , some youth
numbering ten have volunteer to go to some of these villages every Sunday to
preach. And so some basic preaching skills had been given to them. This they do
joyfully every Sunday. CRC SL has 63 preaching centers [churches] with only
three ordained pastors, and seventeen evangelists.
[The volunteer youth group for evangelism in the villages. They do that on bicycles.]
SYNOD
MEETING: On June 17-19, delegates from all the
branches of the Church gathered in Kabala for this year’s Synod meeting of the
Church. This is the first time they are meeting since the outbreak of the Ebola
virus. Because of the state of emergency declared by the Government, people
were not allowed to have any form of gathering except for the purpose of
worship. Therefore, it was not possible for the Church to meet. But recently,
the ban on movement was relaxed and some permitted gathering allowed, Hence we
were able to meet.
In the meeting,
one of the important things was the election of leaders for the Church. Two new
members were elected, and two old ones retained their positions. The president
and the Treasurer were re- elected. Election always comes with its challenges
especially for us in Africa. Even when it’s a Church affair. The decision of
the Council was bent. Though initially in 2013, we all agreed that each
position will be tried for one year, up to the period of three years, then we
would have tried different persons that will eventually emerged as leaders. But
they decided to go contrary to that decision. For us to avoid early conflict in
the Church there was a compromise. It was a very hot debate, in the meeting, but
through the leadership of the Holy Spirit, wisdom was provided to go 50/50. And
now have two new persons and two old to work together for the next one year. We
are praying for the Spirit of God to lead them to serve as servant Leaders that
will help to grow the young Church. That will stand to preach and defend the Reformed
world and life view in the Nation of Sierra Leone.
Newly elected and re elected leaders of the crc sl. Left to
the right: Daniel Sawaneh [ re elected treasurer] ,Ezekiel Konjoh, [ new
assistant Sescretary] , John Sesay[ new vice president] ,Rev. MB Jalloh[ re
elected president].
A NEW URBAN CHURCH:One of our goals of church growth and expansion is to reach out to the
Urban centers. In doing this we must find and identify suitable person that
will do this. God has finally provided for us a young man who is so commited in
serving God. For some years now the Church have been inviting him to come work
with us. Finally he got the conviction to join the CRC Church . He was
therefore appointed and asked to work in Freetown. In less than a Month this
young Man has started a fellowship in Wellington , with an Average attendance
of 30-40 people per week. He is Pastor Moses Jawara. He is a very good
mobilizer . He is married .
I believed that with God , the CRC Church has
come to stay and grow in Freetown. The one in Rokel is also doing well with
Pastor John Sesay. We are hoping to
start in Makeni soon. I am very hopeful that if we are able to develop the
Urban Churches , they will help in the development of those in the rural areas.
Pastor Moses Jawara.
CES CELEBRATE WORLD ENVIROMENT DAY:The Christian Extension services , which is the development
arm of the Church , this year celebrated the world enviroment day , with a Tree
planting exercise, at the CRC Primary and Secondary School. CES , provided the
seedlings while students and staff of the both school took turn to plant one
Tree each.It was aimed at demonstrating to the community the need to proctect,
preserve our free natural gifts. Instead of cutting down trees , we should
plant More..”when we preserve our enviroment , our children yet unborn shall
benefit from it, and will appreciate us” they said.
Students at the school planting trees at this year’s world
Enviroment day organised by the CES[ Christian Extension service].
EBOLA:It is
not over untill its over. The fight agaisnt Ebola is still on. Some strict
measures has been relaxed. Presently its three Districts that are still having
few cases , mostly from quarantine homes . One of the distubing incidence of
late is in Freetown [ Magazine wharf] it’s a densily populated slum in the
capital city. Though is not too alarming as previous months, but having it in
such a populated area is not good. But we give thanks to God , the Medical team
and the Government are doing their best to contain the spread. This is coming
mostly as some people are ignoring the necessary measure of avoiding the
spread. Especially secret burials of suspected cases. People are warned not to
touch death bodies especially for suspected cases. But some people seem to be
sturborn and they do it probably at Night. The Authority have quarantined such
places. We are hoping that in the next couples of weeks or Months we may be
experiencing “zero’ cases. We want to assure you all , that Kabala is still one
of the save areas to be in Sierra Leone. We thank God that the people are very
vigilant and cooperative to the preventing measures. No body bury their death
relatives, as most will always call on the ambulance and ebola burial team to bury their deaths. Which is a very good measure in
preventing the spread of Ebola.
There are also check points in all the roads
that leads to Kabala. Peoples temperature are check as they enter the Town,
same are found in most high ways.
Sign showing Ebola checking point as one approach the Town of
Kabala.
PRAYER REQUESTS:
1.
Thank God for our safe
arrival in Sierra Leone.
2.
Pray for wisdom and
humility for the leadership of the Church.
3.
Pray for more harvest of souls for the
Kingdom.
4.
Pray for the new Church
in Wellington and also for pastor Moses Jawara.
5.
Pray for the people of
Sierra Leone as we continue to battle with the Ebola virus.
6.
Pray for the tracer teams as they identify
people with the virus and also for the medical team.
7.
Pray for the peolpel as the raining season is
here , for strenght and good harvest.
8.
Pray for CES as they are into transition as
well. The program manager Daniel Koroma retires from active service this Month
, that God will provide good leaership for the program.
9.
Pray for the School ,
staff and students , as the work load is really hard on them now because of the
late resumption of academic activities nationwide.
10.
Pray for my Daughters
back inNigeria. Judith will be finishing her final Exam on July 9.
11.
Joyce is returning to school this week after
five Months of university lectures strike in their school.
12.
Pray for us for more
grace in the service here in Sierra Leone and good health.
CONCLUSION:Beloved
partners in the kingdom Ministry. We will always remain grateful to you all for
your prayers and financial support to sustain our continue service here. If you
were not there to support us, things would have been very difficult for us. But
because your are there and the Lord being with us all , we are moving on.
Remember to always pray for Sierra Leone. Sent your support to World
Mission [ for you in USAand Canada]
Friends and brethren in Nigeria, you can always send your support to the CRC-N
Headquarters designate for Sierra Leone Ministry support.
Thanks.
SUBMITTED BY:
Rev. Istifanus B
Bahago
CRC-SL/ CRWM
Leadership Consultant.
Email. ibbahago@gmail.com
blog.www.apostlebahago.blogspot.com
phone:+23278264240,
+23277668139
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