JULY UPDATE 2016

JULY 2016 UPDATE FROM SIERRA LEONE:

“And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses, entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others…. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. [2Timothy.2:2, 15]”. The encouragement and instruction of St. Paul to Timothy is indeed a desire of every leader and mentor to his or her mentee. Same is through of the young growing church in Sierra Leone. (The CRC-SL).

BAPTISM IN MAKENI: Recently our focus have been on the newly establish church in Makeni. The Makeni church is so unique not only because is one of the churches we are planting in the urban cities of Sierra Leone, but because of its unique and God driving purpose of its beginning. Rev. Maxwell who is one of the first pastors to be sent and train outside the country. His return and what the Lord is using him to accomplish is indeed an encouragement to the mission to note that the investment in training him was in the right direction. Beside the challenge of having a permanent place of worship, Maxwell and the few believers have stood their faith to prove that we are serving a living God. They have remained focus in their meeting at the perceived place of the devil, in which many have run away. We are grateful that many are coming to the faith.  On July 2^nd, 20 people were baptized in Makeni.

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DEDICATION OF NANFAYIE SCHOOL BUILDING. Smithers CRC in Canada have put smile and joy in the life of the community of Nanfayie in Tonkolili District, especially the school pupils and the teachers. Monday July 11, we dedicated the newly constructed block of three classroom building and an office. The entire village suspended their work in the farm that day to witness the great dreams coming to fulfillment. It was like a Manna that drop from heaven, when they were wondering where their help will come from to provide a conducive learning environment for their kids. Eventually the Lord provided the help with this fine building greatly funded by Smithers. To Expressed their Joy, the community all agreed to name the school “CRC Primary” school.

NEW LEADERS FOR THE CHURCH: In our strife to get leaders for the Christian reformed church, this year in her Synod meeting which was held for three days between July 13-15 the delegates elected new set of leaders for the church, to replaced Rev. Jalloh who retired last Month because of age and poor health. The meeting was attended by delegates from all the local churches of the denomination. It was peaceful. Beside the Election, the delegates where led in a teaching session with the topic Servant leaders. This was done by Rev. Moses Jawara, the man who later emerged as the president.

 One other interesting decision taking by the delegates was for them to look inward to raising funds for the church instead of depending solely on outside funding for their activities. The church agreed to raise their quarterly due with twenty percent increase, with the lowest paying le.36000 [about $5, quarterly and $20 per annum].

 Those elected were: Rev. Moses M Jawara- President, Rev. John Sesay – Vice President, Mr. Amara Fefegula, and Mr. Karifa S Jalloh.

MOSES JAWARA: Rev. Moses M Jawara, is a Nephew to Mr. Joseph M Jawara , our office accountant. He is also the supervisor of our urban ministry in Freetown. Rev Jawara is a very committed young man; the new church he planted in Wellington is growing very fast. He is one of the young men that really have passion for the church. He is married, just three years ago. Because of his passion for the young people, prior to his becoming CRC he started a youth group called Youth alliance for Christ , it’s an interdenominational youth group  It has branches in Freetown , Bo Makeni Magburuka , Kabala and recently a youth Christian group in Liberia invited him to start a branch there in which he did .

 He is Kuranko by tribe His parents are from Dondoya village, a village close to Foria (the Home of Paul and Mary. And Barry meyer).

WOMEN MICRO FINANCE PROGRAM: Women form the majority in the membership of the church. A very hard working personality of the home, but they are the less educated and also badly hit by poverty in the society. The church in its effort to help the women meet some domestic needs of their homes, introduce a Micro finance program to help the women improve in their lively means. Though the program is so challenging as some of the women who could not repay the money given to them, became afraid to come to the church. In view of that, last year we introduced a different ways of helping these women not  tobe scare away because  of the micro Loan. We bought a rice milling machine, which was meant to help them in reducing the labor involved in milling rice which is main food of sierra Leonean. But also to generate income for the women fellowship. The price for the milling was reduced so that they women can afford and with that they can also generate an income for the group, communal work.

 This method seems to be working very well. In Five Months, they were able to generate le.3000,00 ($500) its hope that within 18 Months they will be able to buy a new machine for another community.

Its hope that the Micro finance program will empower 50 qualifying women in 1 groups through income generating activities such as the rice milling to support their children and the work of the church (806133- is the budget code for this in our budget)  Recently we visited Fununbakoro village were the machine is located.

PROGREES REPORT FROM LIBERIA: We give thanks to God Almighty for the continued growth of the Church. Morris has finally resume work among the Vai people of Liberia in Cape Monte County. He is based in Tieni. Morris visited us recently. In his report it shows that indeed there is interest among the people in accepting the Gospel especially as its coming from one of them. Vai people are predominantly Muslims. But they are receptive to hear what Morris is telling them about Christ. Morris plan is to start with a Christian school along with planting of churches. He has begun a home cell meeting for Bible study every week. The chief of the village and his elder welcome Morris nicely and promised to give him Land for the ministry anytime he needs it. Morris is trying to get volunteer teachers who will be willing to teach at the school. In a stakeholders meeting which, was attended by one of his cousin who works with the government, were able to raise $400 towards the school program. They have gotten a place an uncompleted building, which they are hoping to start there. They are hoping to start the school comes September .It’s going to be called Christian Academy Tieni. Someone also pledge to pay the registration fee with the Government, the fee for that is $350 Liberia Dollars..

 Morris Challenge now is to raise at least USD 1,705, if the school will actually start by September as he proposed.

TLT TRAINING: Eighteen [18] Participants turn up for the July TLT training , out of the initial twenty two [22]. We give God the glory for the Facilitators who did a very wonderful job, the participants expressed excitement on the way the facilitators handle the training. Besides, the training to complete the modules that was started in February. There were reports on their action plan, how and why it was achieved or not. But in all the reports, it was a 90% success stories. One of them was a story about reconciliation in a family that was divided by series of crisis.  Also Pastor Augustine Sam of Mokpendeh, gives testimony on how they were able to raised a church structure in their village, in which the people were mobilized to do communal work, that really reduced their absolute dependents on outside help. God willing by February next year the remaining two modules, which is Biblical Preaching and Sustainable development will be completed. This time because of the rain, the training was done in Kabala,

APPRECIATION: July 16 was another day of celebrating God grace on the life of Jemimah. We want to thank all of you that sent good will messages for Jemimah during her Birthday on July 16. This year our friend, colleague Sarah Kluitenberg was not around to make cake for her, but we eat a lot of rice and potato leaves , others was cassava leaves. We also want to thank you all for your prayers and support for us. Please do continue, Our Multipurpose and church project is still on.

It was birthday for Jemimah ,

PRAYER REQUESTS.

1.       Thank God for saving the life of pastor Augustine ‘s wife who was biten by snake last Month. She is well now.

2.       Pray for the new leaders of the Crc-sl  for wisdom and patience to lead.

3.       Pray for the growth of the Church in Sierra Leone.

4.        Pray for Pastor Maxwell and the church in Makeni to remain steadfast.

5.       Pray for Morris Sonie for the work in Liberia , .

6.        Please Pray for my Son Johncalvin. Two weeks ago he was diagnosed in the Hospital to have Hepatitis B. Well this is worrisome to us. But we believed that God will heal him. Before our coming to Sierra Leone, we were all immunized and were told that it will last for ten years. So for him to be diagnose for this, it’s surprising to us. But as I say your prayers and ours will bring healing by the grace of God.

7.       Continue to pray for more fund to complete our Building project.

Submitted by:

 Rev. Istifanus Bala Bahago.

CRC-SL/CRWM Leadership Consultant.

Phone;+23278264240, +23277668139.

Email:ibbahago@gmail.com, istifanusbahago@yahoo.com.

Blog.apostlebahago.blogspot.com.