APRIL 2016 UPDATE
FROM SIERRA LEONE
In this
Month’s Today meditation, I so much love the learning process of leadership
that Moses went through in order for him to be an effective servant leader to
lead the Israelites to the promised Land. It was not easy the people too had to
learn through the leadership of Moses. In Exodus 16:4, God told Moses that “in
this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions…..”God
want His people [followers] to follow his instructions. The instruction given
to us by our Lord Jesus is for us to preach the gospel to all nations. Some do
that through their physical presence in doing the work while others do it by
their supports: prayers, visitation, financial etc. You and I are called to
follow God’s instructions, so that he will be pleased with us.
MORE ADDED TO THE CHURCH: As we continue to obey the command
of the Lord in reaching out to the unreached, God have been calling people into
His Church. On April seventeen 17, the Lord added more believers and their
Children into the Church in Kabala. Eleven Adults were baptized, and two
Infants.
FFP
STORAGE PROJECTS:The farmers in the communities where the
Family Farm program is working continued to expressed their Joy and happiness
as they now have a storage facilities courtesy of the FFP of the CRC Sl. Beside
those that were built in 2014, this year two communities are benefitting , they
are Saiduya and Dundukor villages. The one in Saiduya is 95% completed, the
Building in Dundokor is at the lintel level. That too we are hoping in the next
couples of days it will be completed and roof. We are grateful to Mr. Erin and
Travis for their supports in these aspects.
SCHOOL
SCIENCE LABORATORY:The Joy and hope of parents including
the students and teachers were so over whelmed when the anticipated and well
equip science Lab of the Kabala Christian Secondary school( commonly called
CRC- Secondary ) was opened for use. We are hoping that this will produce young
and reformed scientist in the near future of Koinadugu and Sierra Leone. This
is the only school in the district that is purely science and well equipped
with the necessary Lab. Equipment. May this School be a witness of the Kingdom
of God in this Land and beyond.
VISIT
BY JIM TRIEZENBERG AND BRIAN CLARK: We were so fortunate
and excited to have two staff of the communication unit of the Christian
Reformed World Mission office in Grand Rapids Michigan visiting us between
April 19-26. It was an educative and encouraging moments. Jim and Brian travel
through some of the places and villages. It was a tedious journey for them .
The community and the Church people were very happy. They were able to see what
CRC SL and CES are doing in the various communities. They visited and had video interview with some
pastors and church members listening to how God is working in the West Africa
country of Sierra Leone. Some of the places visited were:Wellington, Rokel,
Rochen Malal, Bo, Mokpendeh, Makeni, Baykayhun, Kabala, Firawa, Saiduya,
Dundukor, Yira Filaya Badala, Kondenbaia, Kamaron, Foria, Alkalia, Kumala,
Bendugu and Nanfayie.We thank God for their visit, and words of encouragements
to us and the people.
The People of Yira
Filaya Badala are very anxious to have a church in their community as a result
of what CES did for them they now have clean Drinking water, a school building
and this rice mill. To them nothing is more than this than to accept the Christ
of the Christian. They believed and accept that the God whom the Christian
serve is a Loving and caring God. We are trusting God that by next Month [May]
we will be going there with our Evangelism team , for two days house to house
evangelism , show them the Jesus film [ movie] then start a fellowship there.
God has so many ways to call people unto himself. Beside that we will send an
evangelist who will be nurturing the new believers. Interestingly the man
behind the call for the church in their community is the chief who is a Muslim.
God is great indeed.
WELLINGTON
AND ROKEL CHURCH: We continue to give thanks to God for
the growth of the church in Wellington [Freetown] as well as that of Rokel.
Rev. Moses Jawara and John Sesay respectively are doing well. The average
attendance every Sunday in Wellington including children is now at 220 to 240.
They are now in a former cinema hall which we have rented for use as an
auditorium for their meetings on Sundays and other weekly activities of the
Church.
For the next
quarter, the Wellington Church is planning for a radio program with the FM
station in the area and a house to house witness. They are hoping that through
that more people will come to church.
CRC
KABALA YOUNG ADULTS GIVES THANKS TO GOD: The CRC Church
in Kabala on Sunday April 24 witness a “great crow” as the Young Adults of the
church celebrates her first thanksgiving service. It was an event full of Praises;
dance etc to the Glory of the lord. The young adult is a subgroup within the
congregation to encourage older Youths of the church to serve God and commit
their lives in honoring God. The Group was able to raise about $1000 to support
the church in her ministry work. This is the highest amount to be raise by any
group of the church in a day. That shows how the people are now seeing the need
of supporting the church from their local funds than depending 100% from outside.
The kabala congregation is a model on this. It could also be because of their
semi urban setting. But none the less it’s a good beginning of the future of
the CRC SL.
An interesting feature of the events was a fund
raising competition between, teachers, Bankers, and Journalists who are all
members of the church. The teachers boasted that they taught both the bankers
and the journalist. Hence Pupils and students including parents supported the
teachers. The teachers won the competition.
{Whom would you have supported if you were in Kabala last Sunday]?
Picture below shows the young adults of CRC Kabala singing praises to God,
during the worship thanksgiving service on Sunday.
WIDOW’S
MITE OR KID’S MITE. The story of the widow Jesus saw in the
temple casting her offering, in Luke 21:2-3, is very popular to many Christians
when it comes to giving. Sometimes people will refer to their giving as widow’s
mite. But the story tells us that the widow gave all she has. Some people these
days gives and still have some left in their bank accounts or at home or even
in their pulse or pockets right there in the church but still calls it widow
mite. Any way the story in Firawa village was of a little boy call Alhaji. His mother
gave him le.100 [Leones] which is less than ¼ cent or there about for his lunch
at school [ it will not even buy bread] Alhaji met the pastor in school [
pastor John Kargbo of Firawa] He handed the coin to the pastor and said “
Pastor please keep this for me, I do not want to spend it I want to save it for
my offering on Sunday”. That is faith and commitment on the part of little
Alhaji to sacrifice his lunch money for that day in other to save for Sunday
offering. What a lesson to learn. This was one of the success story told to us
by pastor Kargbo when we visited him in Firawa with Jim and Brian.
If Jesus
where here physically as was in the story in Luke 21:2-3. What would he have
said of this Boy?
VILAGE
CHURCH BUILDING PROJECTS: We thank God for the success of
these projects. This year, we are helping in the buildings in two villages
namely; Mokpendeh and Baykayhun. Last month in my update I mentioned our fear
about the building in Mokpendeh should it not roofed before the rains comes. We
give thanks to God. The building now has a roof on. The people were so excited
when we visited them. They are now trying to plaster the outside wall
especially, so that it will not be washed away since it’s a mud bricks.
Likewise Baykayhun is now at roof level. Thank God the zinc are all available
as soon as the wall is finished, we will be able to roof.
.
NANFAYIE
SCHOOL BUILDING: This project is been supported by
Smithers CRC in BC Canada. We thank God the work is almost completed now. The
kids have started using it. Very soon its going to be painted. The furniture
are been made.
THE
MULTIPURPOSE BUILDING PROJECT: God is good ,
tremendous progress have been made because you are praying and supporting
financially. Finally we have put the roof on the first phase. We are now
working on the doors and windows.
APPRECIATIONS:
Partners and friends. We are so much grateful to you
all for your prayers, support, letters, and visits. MANY MORE. Because you are part of this Kingdom work,
the work is moving on many souls are surrendering to Jesus. The power of the
gospel is penetrating in the souls of the sinners. Your support towards the
work here are great. May the good Lord continue to bless you. As you continue
to pray and give your financial support. Please give and designate to the work
in Sierra Leone. The cities, the villages and the towns they need the gospel of
salvation. Support us; support World Mission the work will be done for the
Master. Amen
PRAYER
REQUESTS:
1.
Thank God for the safe arrival of
Jim and Brian, and their return to USA.
2.
Thank God for the roofing of the
Building in Kabala and also Mokpendeh.
3.
Thank God for all that are giving
for the ministry here in Sierra Leone.
4.
Pray for the church in Wellington
as they embark on one week Evangelism and radio program that God will touch the
lives of many to repentance.
5.
Pray for the growth of the church in Sierra
Leone.
6.
Pray for our supporters as they
continue to give that God will bless them and for more support.
7.
Pray for more funding that we will be able to
complete both phases of the multipurpose
building, to serve God and humanity.
8.
Pray for our plan Evangelism outing
in Yira Filaya Badala, souls will be won to Christ.
9.
Pray for the Church buildings in
Mokpendeh and Baykayhun that funding will be available to complete the work.
10. Pray
for good working relationship among the head of our institutions especially the
schools [primary and secondary] that through that the purpose in which the
school was established will be achieved to bring people to Christ and provide a
better Education for the future and young leaders of Sierra Leone.
11. Pray
for Sierra Leone April 27 is the independent day. Pray for wisdom for the
leaders. The country is 55 years old after her independence from the British in
1961. Like many African countries, they are backward in both education and good
health for the citizens.
12. Pray
that wellington church will be able to get their own place of worship. The
owner of the present hall is a Muslim. He is willing to sell the place to the
Church. Tough his other Muslims brothers who are Fullahs are against him renting
the place to Christian. Pray that God will touch their lives. Ant that through
the presence of the Church there, they will see Jesus and accept him as their
Lord and savior.
SUBMITTED
BY:
REV. ISTIFANUS B BAHAGO
CRC-SL /CRWM LEADERSHIP CONSULTANT.
Phone:+23278264240, +23278169147
Blog.www.apostlebahago.blogspot.com
