JANUARY 2016 UPDATE
FROM SIERRA LEONE:
Every year when we enter a new year, there are always mix
feelings and reactions; some may call it resolution etc. But there are always
the Joy of entering a new year and also the feelings and expectation of what
may happen in the months ahead, there could be several questions that expect answers.
Sometimes the answers may be found or not.
In Kabala at the CRC Church as we celebrate the New Year, we were
reminded by the questions of Moses to God and God’s answer to his complains. We
are encouraged to work in the presence of God; .God promised His presence will
be with us as did to Moses. “Moses said to the Lord, ‘you have been telling me;
lead these People, but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You
have said I know you by name and you have found favor with me. If you are
pleased with me teach me your ways, so I may know you and continue to find
favor with you. Remember that this Nation is your People’. The Lord replied.
‘My presence will go with you, and I
will give you rest’.” (Exodus. 33:12-14).Indeed when God’s presence goes
with us in the year and years ahead despite all the challenges in the world
today. There is that assurance that we are protected by the Almighty God. Welcome all to 2016, Let us all walk in the
presence of God and May his peace be with us as we continue to serve him and
brings the lost souls to their savior. Happy New Year!
NEW STUDENT TO
NIGERIA: In our effort to developed a
reformed world and life view in the growing church in Sierra Leone, it
has become very important that we train some if not all , future leaders of the
church especially pastors in a reformed oriented colleges. January saw another
opening for us to send another student to Veenstra Theological Seminary of the
CRC Nigeria for theological training. Ezekiel Musa Konjor left for Nigeria on
January 7 to begin a four year degree studies in Nigeria. Mr. Konjor has since
arrived and started studies. Its hope, upon completion of his studies he will
return to work with the CRC SL.
MR Ezekiel Musa Konjor displays his
passports at the Freetown airport on his way to Nigeria.
TLT TRAINING: Last year. Because of the Ebola outbreak of
2014 and 2015, we were unable to conduct the training, especially in 2015,
after the declaration in November 2015, of the country being free. We decided
to continue with the training. Out of the initial 22 Participants who started
the training in 2014, only 16 were able to turn out for this year’s training.
The training started on 11- 15 January in Foria village. It was an interesting
moment as participants reported on their 2014 action Plans which gave very
positive and encouraging stories of accomplishment and achievement of plans.
One of them was a production of a Drama {movie] on Ebola, it was an educative
movie to sensitize the people on the Ebola virus. This was done in the Koranko
Language. Likewise we received story of the participant mobilizing his
congregation to build their community church which will accommodate 200 people.
. The modules studied were Violence in the family, work and worship and then
Teaching the Christian faith. This year, there was no international
facilitator. We decide to use some of the former participants who completed the
Master Trainer. [Indigenous] it was wonderful to see them using the skills they
learnt previously to teach others. Among them are Maxwell Kanu, Edison M Kamara
and David T.Koroma. I serve this time as a learner to see how this people can
teach their fellow workers even when we are not with them. I was impressed and
it gives me joy that our labor of developing leaders for the church will not go
in vain. Brethren continue to support. Your prayers and financial supports are
working and producing results.
Above a cross section of some
participants, discussing their action plans.
Above, David T Koroma,
and Rev. Edison M Kamara facilitating the training sessions, respectively.
THE RETURN OF EBOLA:
It might not be a surprise that this has happened but it was worrisome. On November
5 2015, the W.H.O declared that Sierra Leone was Free from Ebola, especially
the 2014 outbreak in the sub-region, but warns that necessary care has to be
observed because it has been experience in other countries that it may return
again. Exactly sixty eight days [68] after it was declare free, the Virus
bounced back again. This was not discovered earlier until the death of the
victim that the health workers knew that the Lady, a 22 year school Girl died
of the virus. This was made possible after a laboratory test of her swap. A
week later one of her contacts was tested positive of the virus. Well the Virus
is here again , but the medical people are doing very well in tracing all the
contacts, and many people are educated about the mode of the spread and so necessary
precaution measure are being taken no more denials as was the former cases that
lead to an unprecedented spread. We hope that this new cases will be contained
in a short time. It’s as a result of the awareness that only one case was
recorded after a week of that death. In 2014 and early part of 2015, it was
like nearly 50- on a daily bases. Continue to pray. We shall overcome.
GRADUATION : This
year three of our office staff graduated at the College of theology in Freetown
. Rev. Edison M Kamara graduate with a Bachelor degree in Theology, while as
Mr. Foray Wollay Marah and Lansana Jawara graduated with a Bachelor in
Community Development respectively. The College of Theology, is a college established
by the Methodist Church. It offers degree in both theology and community
developments. An amazing thing about h=this College , which was initially a
Theological seminary , but now offers secular courses that you have only few
people studying Theology. Out of the 72 students that graduated at the college,
only sixteen did Theology. ( 8 Bachelor of theology, 4 Diploma in Theology and
4 certificates in Theology) among those
that graduated with Bachelor in Community Development are Muslims, ( This is
Sierra Leone , were you will find Muslims going to study Community Development
in a Christian Seminary).
Rev. Edison M Kamara been congratulated by
his wife and daughter Favor, Rugiatu Priscilla Tarawalie one of our youth, she works with CAUSE
CANADA, also graduated with a BA in Community development.
NEW CONVERTS: The
youths in our church are
encourage and taught how to witness and tell their friends about Christ and
invite them to Church. This has started yielding fruits, as one of our youths invited two of her classmate
to the church. They in turn confess to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and
savior. On Sunday January 17 Frances Conteh and Isatu K Mansaray gave their
lives to Christ and are now coming to church for worship. They are all from
Muslims families.
Frances Conteh and
Isatu Mansaray, after their first Worship in CRC Kabala church.
VISIT BY DENNIS DEGROOT.We are blessed this year, the beginning
of the year with a visit by Dennis Degroot form BC Canada. Our partnership with
the BC churches is growing from strength to strength. Dennis has come to see
the progress of the School and as well as the CRC-SL. Mr. Degroot brought
greetings from the BC churches, and will be preaching on Sunday 31 at the
Kabala Church.
Mr. Degroot greetings
the congregation of Kabala church on Sunday January 24 2016.
FAMILY FARM PROGRAM:
The family farm program is working with various communities, the results from
those villages are encouraging. This year’s harvest was good especially for the
rice farmers. Three stores where completed in 2014, and work has began in
Saiduya and Dundokor community for building their grain stores as well.
Alhassan is doing well in visiting and encouraging the people to work. Besides
the farming, FFP was also involved in the sensitization activities during the
Ebola outbreak, especially in the communities where they are working. They
provided buckets (veronica buckets, as its call here) and soaps.
Pictures above: an
example of a rice farm, in one of the communities, Harvested rice in Gbongbotor village, a completed store house in one of the communities, villagers
molding mud bricks for new stores in Saiduya and Dundokor. Standing is Mr.
Alhassan Sherriff , FFP staff on a visit to the site, to see the progress of
work, done so far.
THE MULTIPURPOSE
CHURCH AND OFFICE BUILDING: We want to thank you for your prayers and
financial support for this project. So far the building (first Phase” offices”) is on the lintel
level, we are hoping to finish the wall, next Month. This will depends on funding; the local
people are doing their best in their little way to see the work progresses. We
have also received some support from some churches in Canada, thank you. Please
continue to sent your donation for this project, it’s of paramount important
for the growth of the ministry here in Sierra Leone.
This is the level in
which the first phase of the building has gone so far. We are planning to fix
the door and the windows on the basement to be use temporary by people within
the area to start a cell meeting of the CRC-SL, which will eventually become the
second Kabala CRC, to reduce the
stress of people walking the long distance of a mile or two to attend worship
in the town where the present church is situated. There are between fifty to
sixty people including Children who are members of the kabala CRC that walk
from that axis to attend worship every Sunday. During the raining season, some
find it difficult to go to church especially when it rains in the morning, or
there is a sign of rain. If we are able to start a church at that end of the Town,
it will be the first .Presently there is no any church in the area.
CRC SL WOMEN
CONFERENCE: It has been a long time tradition that started sometime in
1994, when Women meet annually in a selected place for Spiritual conference
that brings Women virtually from all the branches of the Church. This year the
Women are meeting in Firawa village from January 27th-31st. The THEME for this
year’s Conference is” SALVATION AND DELIVERANCE CAN ONLY BE FOUND IN CHRIST”.
One of the Guest Speakers at the conference is Mrs. Jemimah Bahago, others are:
Pastor Gborie and pastor Kallie Sawaneh.
Above picture shows a cross section
of some of the women at the conference in Firawa, next is Mrs. Jemimah,
clapping and praising God .Also Mrs. Kumba Sesay interpreting the message to
the Koranko listeners.
APPRECIATION:
Once more I want to expressed my continue gratitude to you all, for your
prayers and support for the work here. We are all doing fine, even though you
might have hard about the new case of Ebola in Sierra Leone. But we want to
assure you that there is no cause for alarm, for us, we are safe and well here
in Kabala, Koinadugu. Continue to send your gifts and support for the work here
through World Mission, office, and sure your gift will reach us and we will do
the work.
PRAYER REQUESTS:
1.
Thank God for bringing us to the year 2016.
2.
February 20 we will be ordaining six pastors.
Pray that their Ordaining will be a blessing to the Church and that God will
fill them with special anointing in shepherding God’s People.
3.
Pray that the New Ebola case will not spread as
the first one. Pray for the health workers and the contacts tracers that God
will protect them.
4.
CES will be having evaluation next Month please
pray that this will help to strengthen the work. Pray for safety for the team
that will be involve in this exercise.
5.
Pray for Ezekiel M Konjor as he begins
theological studies in Nigeria.
6.
Please pray for Rev. MB Jalloh, he is sick and
admitted at a Hospital in Makeni. He is being treated for a chronic bronchitis;
The X-ray shows his Lungs have problems. Pray that God will be merciful to him
and heal him. He is actually responding to treatment.
7.
Pray for the ongoing Women conference, that God
will bless them and that they will be of help for the growth of the Church.
8.
Pray for my Daughter Joyce in Nigeria, she is
getting close to complete her studies in the University for her BSC [In
Chemistry]. They will be writing their final Examinations soon. She need pray
for wisdom and success.
9.
Pray for safety in Travel for Ron Geerlings and
Albert Strydhorst who will be visiting Sierra Leone and Liberia next Month.
SUBMITTED
BY:
REV. ISTIFANUS BALA BAHAGO
LEADERSHIP CONSULTANT CRC-SL/CRWM
Email: ibbahago@gmail.com
Blog.www.apostle.blogspot.com
Phone:+23278264240,
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