FEBRUARY 2016 UPDATE
FROM SIERRA LEONE:
“Then he
said to his disciples. The harvest is
plentiful but the workers are few, ask the Lord of the harvest therefore to
send out workers into the harvest field” (matt.9:37-38 NIV).
For sure that has been the prayer of our Lord
for the church. The Month of February for us saw a blessing of additional
workers into the harvest field of Sierra Leone mission.
The cool and the dust is almost gone here in
Kabala this few days. It’s still moderately cool in the morning hours. But warm
and hot in the day. Cool in our setting but not like the snow storms that prevented
plane from flying or landing. In few days time will be into the hot period of
the year. Though, some parts of Sierra Leone are already passing through it
now.
THE
VISIT OF DENNIS DEGROOT: We give thanks to God for the visit of Dennis for
three weeks with us here. Beside his visit to the school, we were fortunate to
have him give presentation during our induction training for new pastors of the
Church. He presented an excellent teaching on servant Leadership to the new
pastors. Together with Dennis, we visited Kondembaia, Foria and Nanfayie to see
the schools.
In Kondembaia, Rev. Alpha M Kargbo mobilized
the church members to start a Nursery class for the kids. Dennis presented a
reading story book written by Dr. Jo to the teachers. In Foria, the community
decided to start a Christian school .While in Nanfayie we saw the progress of
the classroom building been assisted by Smithers CRC.
CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS: Koinadugu district of Sierra Leone
is mostly regarded as the most backward in times of development especially in
Education. The starting of the CRC Schools in Kabala in 2007 to date has
brought a new perspective in the area of quality Education in the area. Today
some of our churches in the villages has
seem the challenge and are making efforts on their own to see how best they
will be able to mobilized the church and the community to start a Christian
School . First were the church and the community in Nanfayie Village. Their
efforts were boasted by the intervention of Smithers CRC in Canada, who is
building a three classroom block which is near completion now beside the
renovation of their old building. Foria community is mostly regarded as the
home of the early missionaries in the 1980s through to the war years in Sierra
Leone, have also seen the value and important of the Christian School. Even
though is Muslims dominated, but the chiefs and the entire community opted for
a Christian School. They started it last Month and name it CRC Junior Secondary
school.
COMPLETION OF KONDEMBAIA CHURCH BUILDING: We want to give thanks to God and to
all the brethren that are partnering in the mission work here in Sierra Leone.
The CRC –Nigeria Church (especially the Puje- church in Wukari) assisted the Church
in Kondembaia to complete their church building. It’s the finest church
building in that Village. Thank you CRC –N for your support. Below is it.
VISIT TO LIBERIA: In January report I requested for
prayer for safety travel for Ron and Albert. We give thanks to God the visit
was safe and successful to the glory of God. Both Ron and Albert have so far
returned to USA after witnessing and participating in our Ordination program
here in Kabala. We appreciate their visit with us.
.
ORDINATION OF SIX PASTORS. It’s always a great joy to have
workers added into the harvest field. The harvest in Sierra Leone is plentiful
more workers are needed. Of the 69 Churches that we have there were only three
ordained ministers, plus me making four. The work was too stressful. But we
give thanks to God for adding into the number six more. On February 20 at
10:00am Local time [GMT] we had the ordination. The preacher was Rev.
Strydhorst. Ron brought a good will message on behalf of world mission, to the
newly ordained as well as the church .The event was witness by family members
and well wishers. Before the Ordination, we had five days of induction training
for the pastors and their wives. Mr. Andrew presented a paper on the role of
the church in community development as well as an over view of what CES is
doing in the various communities and how the church can complement their
efforts by reaching out to the communities with the message of salvation. Mr. Degroot,
who was here, also gave a heart touching teaching on servant Leadership.
Jemimah who have been a pastor wife for over twenty five years, share her
experience with the wives and also gave them a teaching on the role of the
pastors wives in enhancing the growth of the church with their husbands. I did
the remaining aspects that have to do with reformed theology, the sacraments, and
the pastor, elders’ relationship.
February 20 climax all the events with the
ordination.
SADNESS AND JOY: February 24th at about
3:30pm we were all in a confused state here in Kabala when news came that Rev.
David Tamba Koroma , the General Secretary who was among the six that were
ordained recently was shot on his way to Alikalia , where he intend to be
during this weekend and also administer his first Baptism as a pastor. Why he
was shot is a question that is yet to find answer. The Joy is that he was not
killed he survived it and is stable now after the bullets were removed. The
X-ray shows the bullets did not affect his bones. Several bullets were removed
from his left arm.
TIME TO SAY THANK YOU: Bill and Chris were here for two
weeks for an evaluation of the CES work in the past years. After the exercise
both staff of the CES and CRC-Sl gathered at the conference hall of the office
to say a big thank you to them. The team and CES staff both expressed their joy
in seeing what the Lord is doing in Koinadugu district through CES right from
the time of its begging to date. Bill and Chris have both returned to USA and
Nigeria respectively. Below, Bill and
Chris admiring the gifts presented to them by the staffs at the office.
THE MULTIPURPOSE BUILDING. We thank you all, for your support
for this project. Below is the level in which we have gone so far. We are
trusting God to be able to put the roof next month. This will happen sure
because you are part of the blessings of God. Please continue to send in your
support until it’s done.
PRAYER REQUESTS:
1.
Thank God for the safety in travel for Ron and Albert as well as the CES
Evaluation team.
2.
Thank God for additional pastors for the Church.
3.
Thank God for healing Rev. MB
Jalloh .
4.
Thank God for sparing the life of
Rev. David Koroma.
5.
Pray for the newly ordained
pastors, for their ministry in the church.
6.
Pray for more funding for the multipurpose church and office building
going on in Kabala.
7.
Pray for the continued growth of the CRC Sl.
8.
Pray for all the pastors and their
families.
9.
My Daughter Joyce is facing her
final examination in the University; continue pray for wisdom for her.
10.
Pray for Jemimah as she continues to write her thesis, for more wisdom
and strength.
11.
Pray for more courage for us in the field. We were all worried when David
was attack. These are villages that we visit almost every week to preach or
teach. Whatever the motives are. Pray that God will continue to protect all of
us as we do his work.
12.
Pray that Ebola will not return again. As we continue another count down
after the last month incidence.
SUBMITTED
BY:
REV.
Istifanus B Bahago.
CRWM/CRC-SL
Leadership
Consultant.
Phone:
+23278264240,+23277668139
Blog:www.apostlebahago.blogspot.com
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