Quarter Newsletter

From the Director’s Desk
AN ALL OUT WAR!
M
ost of our Supporters and ECWA members alike, have a very wrong
misconception that EMS is only concerned with Rural Evangelism and you,
my dear reader, could be one with such a view. The truth is that EMS is
actually involved in an all out war against the devil, anytime and anywhere and EMS
Missionaries are always at the frontline of the battle!
Of course, the rural areas, with their very
difficult terrains and inaccessibility, are often
neglected by many Churches and therefore
hardly exposed to the Gospel and are
consequently a major battle field where most
of the EMS Missionaries are deployed.
However, Satan has been fighting back to
build strongholds in the cities of the world in a
bid to try and recapture areas exposed to the
Gospel.
So, where need be, EMS
Missionaries are being deployed to these
battle enclaves in cities and urban areas too.
For example, the Missionary Strike Force in
Cross River and Akwa Ibom States is being strengthened, in order to enforce the
victory the Lord won for us against AMORC, by planting more ECWA Churches, who
will boldly declare the Lordship of Jesus Christ over AMORC territory and over every
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cult or occultic organization. It is true that the best defense is to be offensive. We
recently posted an additional couple (Pastor and Mrs Stephen John Manu) both
graduates of Jos ECWA Theological Seminary (JETS) to Ikon Akwa Ibom State to
join with other Missionaries in continuation of this great offensive push.
Also, many city centres today, have become breeding grounds for miscreants that
are vulnerable to satanic exploitation for his evil, wicked activities. These include
abandoned street kids, drug addicts, abused and maltreated children on grounds of
accusation of witchcraft and a host of others. Praise God for the work of EMS of
ECWA City Ministries, popularly known as GIDAN BEGE (House of Hope). God has
used and is continuing to work wonders of salvation of souls, restoration of
backsliders, healing and liberation of captives from the devil through the EMS of
ECWA City Ministries.
Praise God that you are now better informed. EMS of ECWA is not only concerned
about Rural Ministry, but also Urban Ministry and your prayer, physical and financial
support is very critical to both. Wherever the battle is fiercest, EMS Missionaries will
be found at the frontline. For EMS, it is an all out war! But the joy of it all is that, we
are certain of how the war will end – IN VICTORY THAT CHRIST HAS ALREADY
WON FOR US OVER THE DEVIL AND HIS HOST OF HELL! (REVELATION
20:10).
REV STEPHEN BABA PANYA
City Ministries of EMS/ECWA
(CME)
Ministry Summary
What is CME? – CME is an ECWA (Evangelical Churches of West Africa)/EMS (Evangelical
Mission Society) urban ministry. Traditionally, EMS has been a church planting organization
and has focused it’s efforts mostly in rural areas. CME acts as the urban arm of EMS and
helps mobilize churches to do outreach and care for the needy as a para-church ministry.
CME is made up of several specific urban ministry units including Gidan Bege (House of
Hope), which focuses on meeting human need in order to effectively evangelize the lost.
King’s Kids, which cares for needy children. City Sports, which uses sports to reach youth.
Missions, which uses outreach to support the church planting work of Nigerian missionaries in
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rural areas. Mobilization & Training, which helps expand the ministry and make churches &
EMS more effective. Finally, Finance/Admin helps keep all areas focused, organized &
accountable.
CME currently ministers in several Nigerian cities
and has hundreds of full-time, part-time and
volunteer workers that are sharing the love of
Jesus with thousands in need. The vision of the
ministry is to expand to every major city in Nigeria
and eventually into other African countries.
Gidan Bege Unit (“House of Hope” in the
Hausa language) is the urban outreach arm of
CME. Gidan Bege seeks to meet physical and
The Frethiems
emotional needs through the use of medicine,
CME Consultant
prosthetics, literacy training, vocational training,
providing scholarships, food, clothing, shelter
and love in order to build bridges for the gospel. Gidan Bege reaches out to several groups
including orphans, street children, the blind, handicapped, lepers, poor, diseased, prison
inmates and the spiritually lost (Including many Muslims). (Annually = Helping thousands in
need, 50,000+ meals, 700+ urban outreaches from 8 main Centers, 15,000 free medical
treatments)
s
King’s Kids Unit trains the needy children Gidan Bege finds. King’s Kids currently runs
CARE (Children At Risk Educational) Centers for orphans & street kids and helps
support/develop schools for Nigerian missionary children. We currently have hundreds of
children in the ministry full-time and several hundred others on a weekly basis. (Annually = 7
CARE Centers, 400,000+ meals, education, clothing, care for 500+ needy kids)
City Sports Unit uses sports to reach youth. City Sports has HQ teams that compete,
share the gospel and bring discipleship while also training local churches to develop teams
to do the same.
Missions Unit supports the work of Nigerian missionaries. We currently help missionaries
church plant and establish their ministries through the use of general, medical and
Challenge Cinema evangelistic film outreaches. We also help them with training and
distribution of discipleship materials. Additionally, CME has permanent Mission Teams in
several cities & brings in several short-term Mission Teams to support the work as well.
(Annually = 500+ evangelistic film outreaches, train 2,000+ on follow-up, part of 100+ church
plants)
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Mobilization & Training Unit helps make our ministry more effective, helps us expand to
other areas, and acts as a resource to District Church Councils (DCCs), churches and EMS,
in order to help them better fulfill Christ’s Great Commission.
Finance/Admin Unit supports all areas of CME
and helps the ministry to run well. We currently
have a CPA and other experienced financial staff
that help keep the ministry organized, accountable
and effective for the Lord.
Presently, the EMS of ECWA City Ministries is
headed by Rev. Monday Zock as Acting Manager
while Peter Fretheim of SIM is the Consultant. We
are very grateful to God for the critical support SIM
Rev. Monday Zock and Famaily
has rendered and continues to render to keep this
CME Acting Manager
invaluable ministry going. If you want to contribute
towards City Ministries’ (Gidan Bege) activities, you can donate through EMS of ECWA
accounts listed at the back of this newsletter and notify us of the purpose accordingly. God
bless you!
EMS OF ECWA CITY MINISTRIES
Testimonies of God’s Miraculous Works!
The greatest miracle on this earth will ever remain the salvation of souls. The next
greatest miracle is the transformation of lives and then other miracles follow. In EMS of
ECWA City Ministries, popularly known as Gidan Bege, God has been miraculously at
work, saving, delivering and transforming lives. Hope is being given to the hopeless and
those who were literally written off as useless and even condemned to death, are being
given back life by our Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ and being used by Him for His
mighty works.
We in EMS of ECWA City ministries, have been privileged to witness and see
firsthand the miraculous saving and transformation power of our Saviour and Lord
Jesus Christ and we cannot, but tell of His wonderful works for His praise and glory who
alone is worthy. Like the mighty river of Ezekiel’s vision(Ezekiel 47), God has released
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His River of life giving Spirit, and as we watch it flows in City Ministries, we literally see
its incredible effects. As it flows into the dead sea of humanity, it gives life to dead and
condemned people whose lives have been messed up beyond any possible human
restoration. But many times over, we have repeatedly watched with delight and
amazement, as the Lord Jesus does the humanly impossible work of salvation,
transformation, restoration, deliverance and many times healing . Glory indeed be to His
mighty name. Like the great apostle John concluded in his book (John 21:25), were we
to recount all the miraculous works that the Lord Jesus has done and is doing through
EMS of ECWA City Ministries, it would take volumes upon volumes of books. However,
we have stated just a few of the testimonies and as you read through them, may you
be blessed and challenged to be part of this great work that God is doing.
THE STORY OF SANI ZAKARI
Sani Zakari 23 years old. He received Christ through the
program at Gidan Bege about three years ago, 2006. His father
found a tract in his pocket about two years ago, 2007, and his
father told him he must denounce Christ or leave his house. He
would not do this and he did not leave the house. They took
him and chained him to a tree and made him stay there with no
food or water. They left him there for seven days. He had a
friend that would sneak him food when he could. his father then
poisoned him and he got really sick and was taken to the hospital. They could not help
him so all the ministry could do was pray. god did not let him die. After this he returned
to his father's house and the father thought he had turned away from Christ. They did
not talk about it anymore. This past week, may 2009, one of his brothers found a bible
in his room and he took it to their father. The father then ask Sani if he is still a
Christian. He said yes and his father told him to denounce Christ or leave his house. He
then told his father that he could not leave Christ because he knew this was the truth.
He told his father that Christ had come to him in a dream and told him that he is the only
way to god and to not be afraid. his father then kicked him out of the house.
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THE STORY OF MIRACLE
Miracle 6 years old. He came to our ministry in April 2009. He
does not know who his father is. He grew up with his mother and
the mother never showed him love. The mother married another
man and she thought because of Miracle the man would not love
her. So she would lock him in the house so people would not
identify him as her son. When she would cook she would tie him
up so he would not eat the food. She would beat him a lot and he
has marks all over his body from the beatings. She would also tie
him to a tree outside and leave him there. So when he was not
tied up he would leave and stay on the streets. The police found
him on the streets and took him back to his house. The police told his mother that if they
found him on the streets again they would take her to jail. So the mother tried to keep
him tied up more. A woman met him on the streets and found out more about him. She
came to our ministry and told Joseph about the boy. He then went to the mother and the
mother said please take him away. She did not want to ever see him again. When we
got him he was very wild and would not listen, but now because of the love that has
been given to him he is a very good boy.
THE STORY OF ILIYA IKRE
Iliya Ikre 8 years old. He came to our ministry in February 2009. Both
his father and mother are dead. He was staying with his grandmother.
He got involved in secret society through an old man in his community.
About a year ago they ask him to sacrifice his sister so he killed her.
The society then ask him to sacrifice his uncle. The uncle got sick and
the family noticed the boy was acting strange. They ask him if he was
in the secret society and he said yes. They then took him to a witch
doctor. The witch doctor blind folded him, not given food, and tortured
for four days. The witch doctor then said he was cured and released
him. The community then planned to take him to the bush and slaughter him. They went
to the bush, but started arguing about doing this. They were afraid they would get
caught. So then they decided to bury him alive. In the course of doing this a hunter in
the bush saw them doing this and came and started shouting and pointed his gun
towards them. The hunter took him back to his grandmother. She did not know what
had happened. A few days later she brought the boy to our ministry and told Joseph the
story. Joseph traveled to the community to find out more about this. He was told by
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someone that if the boy returned they would kill him, so Joseph kept the boy. For about
two months he would not talk, but now he is starting to open up. Glory be to God!
THE STORY OF EMMANUELA
She was born in 2000 and has two older brothers. She was
living with both parents up until the age of four years when her
mother died. She was taken back to her Mother's family and
has not seen her father since. She was living with her
grandmother but the grandmother's family have never really
accepted her. During the Jos crisis in 2008 the family home
where she was staying was burnt and since then they have
been staying with various relatives.
Her Aunt's son was accused of being in the secret cult and was taken to a prayer man
for deliverance. As part of that he was asked to give names of other children involved in
the cult, he gave Emmanuela's name. So she was taken to the prayer man and was told
to confess. She was innocent and had nothing to confess and so the man started to
torture her by burning her with a heating coil all over her body. She was in so much pain
that she confessed to involvement even though she was innocent. It was at that point
then the wider family threatened to kill her and so Grandma brought her to us at Gidan
Bege.
Praise God that Emmanuella has the chance of healing and being loved in our ministry.
Since coming she has started school and came top of her class in the recent
examinations. She is very happy and contented and a completely different child to the
one that arrived.
THE STORY OF FAVOUR
Favour was brought to our ministry in October 2009. She came
along with her brother aged 8 years .
Her mother was a single parent and worked as a prostitute in
Bukuru. Since moving to the area with her children the mother had
no contact with her family and no one ever visited from the family
so she was alone. At night she used to tie Favour to the bed post
with a piece of string so she wouldn't wander while she was out
doing her business, and Immanuel her brother looked after her.
Then suddenly one day the mother just died leaving these two children not knowing
anyone and totally alone. One of the neighbours brought them to our ministry.
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Since coming she has thrived. She loves all her new sisters and they all love having
someone small to look after. She has started Nursery school and is learning to write and
loves it. She likes it that her brother is in a nearby compound so she can see him
regularly.
THE STORY OF REBECCA AND BLESSING HARUNA
Rebecca is now aged 12 and Blessing is 10 years they
have lived with the ministry for two years now. They come
from Kagoro and they are orphans.
There parents both died within days unexpectedly and
these two were thought to be responsible for their deaths,
through involvement with the secret society.
The family and community made their lives very difficult.
They accused them and beat them and starved them trying to get them to confess.
They made them sleep in the graveyard at night on their parents graves.
One night they were severely beaten and left for dead, but a local man saw them and in
the night he rescued them and took them to Gidan Bege.
They are such beautiful and intelligent girls, both creatively gifted and are thriving in our
ministry, it is hard to understand how the family could treat them so.
THE STORY OF GODIYA
Godiya has been with the ministry three years now and is aged
10. She came along with her brother aged 12.
Her Father was a builder, and one day had an accident at work
and died. They were left with their mother who one day went out
and never came back.
They were left to fend for themselves and were helped by
neighbours. A Muslim family in their village took them in but
treated them little better than slaves and they suffered a lot.
A local pastor noticed and rescued them, he heard about Gidan Bege and brought the
children to us. While staying with the pastor she became a Christian.
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She doesn't have any idea where her mother is up till now.
She is a bright intelligent girl who has learnt to read and speaks fluent English, she is
very good at organizing the younger girls and role playing with them, she is a born
leader…
GOD ON THE MOVE!
(DON’T BE LEFT BEHIND)
G
od has been at work in and through EMS of ECWA since inception and indeed
to Him be all the glory, honour and praise. Amen!
During last year in particular, EMS experienced the miracle of provision. God,
Jehovah Jireh, wonderfully and miraculously provided the major office and even field
infrastructural needs for more effective operations.
Right now, we are so convinced that God has already prepared and positioned EMS for
the next phase of His plan – The mighty move of the Holy Spirit. You however have a
role to play and you better not be careless as to be left behind because you will loose
out in the joy of the celebration of the manifestations of His mighty acts.
Your first and greatest role is to pray and intercede for EMS. As a single intercessor,
Abraham could have saved Sodom and Gomorrah from destruction if he had persisted
enough, but nevertheless his intercession was able to save his Nephew Lot and his
family (Genesis 19:29) ; Moses saved the nation of Israel from extinction (Exodus 32),
Daniel conquered Lions and secured victory for the nation of Israel (Daniel 10). You
too, as an intercessor, can by the grace of God singularly enforce victory for EMS over
the forces of darkness to the glory of God.
Your second and most important role is to help in mobilizing prayers for EMS. The
Bible says, one shall chase a thousand and two ten thousand! This means that no
matter how powerful we are individually as intercessors, the combined effect of more
than one intercessor coming to pray together will be explosive. This is commonly called
the synergy of prayer.
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The Lord Jesus said in Matthew 18:19 that “Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth
agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.” No
wonder, when many believers united and prayed to God for power to proclaim His word
boldly, the power released was so much that it caused an earthquake! (Acts 4:31).
Your third absolutely necessary role is for you to give us a feedback of your prayer from
God. Amos 3:7 says, “surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing His
plan to His servants the prophets.” Psalm 25:14 (a) says, “The Lord confides in those
who fear Him.”Simply put after you have prayed or as you pray, let us know what you
believe God will want us in EMS to do. We will then pray about it too but who knows,
your leading may actually simply confirm what God is saying to us too.
Now, what do you pray for, you may ask. As you begin to pray, we believe God will
lead you to pray in extra-ordinary and uniquely specific ways. However, there are some
general prayer concerns of EMS you should pray about. These are:
1
2
3
4
5
6
Pray that God will endow both EMS Staff, Missionaries and Supporters with
the Spirit of grace and supplication (Zachariah 12:10).
Pray for increasing anointing of the Holy Spirit on our Field Missionaries to
preach the word of God with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep
conviction (1 Thessalonians 1:5).
Pray for a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit on our Mission Fields to stir up
revival among believers and conversion among unbelievers (Acts 2:14-21).
Pray that the Lord Holy Spirit will lead us in EMS to the right ripe harvest field
(Acts 16:9-10) and to prevent us from moving in the wrong direction (Acts 9:67).
Pray for the fulfillment of Mark 16:15-20 as our Missionaries preach the
Gospel, that God will confirm His word by saving souls and making the Lord
Jesus real to them by the signs accomplishing it!
Pray that God will fulfill Matthew 6:33 in the lives of our Missionaries and
Supporters. That as we make salvation of souls our priority focus, God will
meet all the spiritual and physical needs of our Supporters and Missionaries
(Philippians 4:19).
Lastly, as we pray, let us take the challenge of Isaiah 62:8 seriously which says, I
have posted watchmen on your walls oh Jerusalem, they will never be silent day or
night. You who call on the Lord, give yourself no rest and give Him no rest, till He
establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth.”
In conclusion, be a watchman, share these intercessory points with as many other
watchmen as possible. Let us pray, and pray and pray and give God no rest until He
manifests Himself in power and glory. Like prophet Habakuk, let us plead with God
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saying, “LORD, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O LORD.
Renew them in our day!” And let us keep praying until we hear and see the answers
manifest physically!
TESTIMONY
OF
RUTH AND UBANDOMA NABAD
R
uth and Ubandoma Nabad were among the first missionaries from EMS in
Nigeria to join the Sudan team. Since 2006, they have worked faithfully at a
station called Atar in Southern Sudan. The local
people there love them very much and officials have
even given them gifts in recognition of their service. The
locals have given Ubandoma a Dinka name “Thon
Deng” refers to a very special bull which has red sides
and a black design on its back. This bull is known for its
hard work and it never tires. This is the story of their
The Ubandoma’s residence
ordeal at Atar.
burned to ashes
The Scripture that God gave us when we came to Sudan is Psalm 23. “The Lord is my
Shepherd.”
Trouble started on November 18th when Shilluk tribesmen attacked a town called Canal
about one hour by boat or three hours by foot from our village. We do not know the
reason for the fighting but it took about two weeks for things to settle down there. The
police from our village of Atar were sent both to Canal and to Atar school which is about
30 minutes walk from our compound. This Atar School is the place where our
government Commissioner lives.
In the afternoon of December 30th I had been working in my garden. I stayed up late
till about 12:30 midnight working on some reports and pictures in my computer. We had
just gotten to sleep when about 2:30; my wife started vomiting from some unknown
sickness. I gave her medicine but for some reason, we could not sleep well. Then at
about 4: 00 am, we wakened and heard some strangers behind our house. It sounded
like they were cocking their guns. Not long after, the shooting started.
When the bullets started flying we don't even remember how we found ourselves under
out bed. Our three children were crying in a nearby room. “Dad! Mom! What is
happening?” We called out to them to get under their bed.
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It was only then that we realized that the thatched roof above us was on fire. Our roof
had plastic under the thatch to keep out rain and bugs. This plastic was suddenly
ablaze and the fire spread to all the rooms of our house in seconds. The house filled
with smoke. My wife and I crawled to the next room where our children were. Bullets
continued flying through our house. By God's grace, none of us was hit.
I took my wife and children into the kitchen but we
could not reach the front door because of the
smoke. My computer and our thurya phone were
lying on the kitchen table. I took the computer and
put it on top of my head to protect me from melting
plastic that was raining down on us. My wife got
to our water supply and tried to spray the water
onto the burning grass above us. She was trying
The Ubandomas in trauma
to reduce the smoke so we could find the way to our door.
Already she had picked up our passports in her hand.
I went to the door with my computer on my head. The melted plastic dripped down on
my left hand and arm burning into my skin. I grabbed our youngest daughter Kezya and
was holding her close to my chest with my right hand. Shielding my little girl I unlocked
the door. My wife was right behind me pushing the children out the door. When they
were all out, I came out last. The whole house was ablaze by now even the door. As I
closed the door and started to move away, it fell on me burning my back.
We moved out into the open compound and ducked into a tent. In just a moment or
two, that tent caught fire as well. We came out and saw our fellow missionaries rushing
toward the zinc toilet so we followed them. I was the last one to reach the toilet as I was
protecting them and wanted to make sure they had reached safety.
Long before this attack, I had talked with the local Sudanese people about what to do in
times of attack. They told me that in their culture, enemies will never kill women and
children only men. So I realized that once they had finished burning everything, they
would come back to look for the men. If I stayed with my wife and children, they could
kill us all. So for that reason, I left them. The fence surrounding our compound was not
burning yet so I put my head down and plowed through the fence. The river was not far
away so I ran there. Two men from our village were already hiding in the tall grass and
so I joined them. They assured me that I had done the right thing and that my wife and
children would be safe.
In the meantime, my wife and children were in the zinc toilet shed. Soon the fire
reached them and they had to flee again to another tent that had not burned.
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After about one hour, when the fighting had died down I heard people crying because
they thought I had been killed in the attack. I came out of the river grass and it was
already morning. I met with my children and my wife they are all OK. She was crying
because she had not seen me for some time. The local people, however, were
comforting her telling her that I must be alive he is somewhere else. I had been
embarrassed to show myself because I was only wearing the underwear in which I had
been sleeping. Getachew one of the other missionaries lent me his pants. So
everyone was Ok. The Lord had truly been our Shepherd.
Since 2006, when we first went to Sudan, I have kept reading Psalm 23 “The Lord is my
shepherd.” During this whole ordeal this Scripture kept coming back to my mind. “Even
though I should walk through the valley of death You are close beside me” (NLT).
“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” “Your goodness will
follow me all the days of my life.” These words comforted and strengthened me
In retrospect now, I see that what happened to
us is not our power but is a miracle of God.
We lost everything in the fire. This included
personal money, clothes, computer, camera,
cook ware and all our books including those of
our children and all my theological books. But
even though we lost all these things, God
gave us our lives. Their guns (they used large
caliber shells) were aimed right at my bed
where I had been sleeping. It is a miracle of
God that we were not all killed. I believe this is because God
has something for me to do before calling me home. I have
this belief.
Mrs. Ruth in pains
Postscript:
Thank God, the S.I.M emergency Crisis Team was able to evacuate the Ubandomas to
Nairobi where they are being attended to and are recuperating. After all these, the
government officials came down from Sudan and apoogized for what happened and
even gave them a gift! Amazing. Charles G. Spurgeon, the great English Preacher said,
when God's people are revived, the devil is revived too! This emphasizes the need for
us to pray always , just as the Lord commanded.
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MISSIONS AND MISSIONARY SUPPORT
The Great Commandment:
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind
… love your neighbour as yourself. All the law and the prophets hang on these two
commandments. Matt. 22:37-40.
The Great Commission:
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make
disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of
the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And
surely I am with you always to the very end of the age. Matt. 28:18-20.
The Great Commandment spells out our purpose or vision for our existence while the
Great Commission is our marching orders for our mission here on earth. The Great
Commandment has no rival just as the Great Commission does not have a rival. God is
clear and has summed up succinctly what He requires of man. Only those who obey the
Great Commandment and fulfill the Great Commission are pleasing to God. Both the
Great Commandment and the Great Commission have 3 elements that should define
the life and purpose of every believer and Church organization. Due to ignorance or
foolishness on our part we are always investing on temporal and transitory things that
will all pass away and leave us empty and disappointed. The wise invest on things that
are eternal and cannot spoil or be destroyed. These 3 eternal things are both found in
the Great Commandment and the Great Commission. They are:
1.
God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit).
2.
People (Neighbour, Nations).
3.
Bible (Law and the Prophets, everything I have commanded).
Living for the Lord in accordance with His Word and instructing others accordingly is our
purpose for existence here on earth. We are therefore all missionaries on a mission.
FINDING YOUR PLACE IN THE MISSION FIELD
Although we have been commanded to go and make disciples of all nations, yet we also
know that God has varieties of ways and places He wants us to serve. There are those
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that God will send far away to foreign lands; there are those who will go to neighbouring
states in the same country; there are those who will go just across their street; there are
those whose mission field is their colleagues in the office, classmates in school,
neighbours, Sunday school class, Business associates, family, etc.
Full and Part Time Ministry is a Myth.
Just as there are no full time Christians and part time Christians, so also there are no
full time Christian Workers and part time Christian workers; no full time Missionaries and
part time Missionaries. All of us at all times are full time Christians, full time Christian
Workers, full time Missionaries, etc. God has asked for nothing less than total surrender
and devotion to Him and nothing less. The confusion about full and part time arises from
two main sources:
1.
When a person is working in a Church setting or a Church related ministry, we
consider them as 'full time Christian workers.' God gave Adam a full time job of caring
for the garden; He gave Daniel & Nehemiah full time jobs as administrators and leaders
in secular institutions. Their jobs were not less spiritual than those of Ezra and Elijah.
We are all priests as we are told in 1Peter 2:9 but our stations of ministry differ. God has
posted His priests to different places of work so that we can represent Him there. We
are all full time workers.
2.
When a person draws his salary or means of sustenance from the Church or
Church related ministry we often consider such people as full time Christian workers.
This is a myth. Paul was involved in Tent making ministry; that is, he did secular jobs to
sustain himself as a full time missionary. Your source of income is really the part time
job that provides for you to enable you live as a full time Christian and full time
Missionary or Christian worker.
Now that we know that we are all full time Missionaries, God has placed some of us to
work among Christians in the Church or Church related ministries; while the majority He
has sent into the market place as business people, lawyers, teachers, administrators,
soldiers, policemen, etc. Each one of us is where God has placed Him or her to shine
for the Lord. None of us is on part time with the Lord.
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HOW TO SUPPORT MISSIONARIES:
Each believer that is earning a salary or has a source of sustaining him/herself has the
responsibility of supporting Missionaries that God has sent on specific errands and
cannot or do not have time to fend for themselves. The attitude that most of us display
in regard to the stewardship of the resources God has given us is often selfish and
sinful. We are supposed to be conduits of everything God entrusts to us. Sadly though,
the more God blesses us, the more we keep to ourselves and raise our standard of
living rather than pass it on as God intended it to be. We are yet to learn from past
missionaries who were sponsored sacrificially by others so they could bring the Gospel
to us, establish schools and provide other resources to us for free. Now that God has
prospered us, is it not time to step up and support missionaries ourselves? My
observation is that many of us who can afford the good things of life pay for them but
when it comes to things that relate to our spiritual well being we still want to be given
that free. Since many of us have not crossed this barrier, supporting missionaries is the
least thing on our minds.
All Missionaries that depend on support would at any time opt to work to support
themselves if they had the choice than go round literally begging for support. The
cheerful and generous giving of Christians seem to be lacking; instead the missionaries
are made to feel guilty of going round to plead for support. Well, we are missing the
blessings from God.
Here are a few ways you can consciously and systematically reach out to support
Missionaries:
1.
Pray daily for yourself for a heart for the lost and how you can join God in what
He is doing in the Mission field.
2.
Pray specifically for some missionaries on a daily basis and the Mission
agencies they work with. Pray for their protection from the attacks of the evil one and
also for the spiritual sensitivity of the people they are ministering to.
3.
Support Missionaries financially. Where your money is, there will your heart also
be. Rather than support one missionary, you can spread your support to several
missionaries directly or through their Mission Agencies. Relate with more than one
missionary.
4.
Encourage your missionaries with calls, text messages and occasional visits to
the field if possible.
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5.
Ask for regular reports from the missionaries so that you can better pray for
them and also use that to share with friends who may join you in the support.
Rev. Sunday Bwanhot - ECWA USA
TAKING STOCK OF PROGRESS OF PROJECTS
DURING LAST YEAR
Glory be to God for granting us the privilege and enabling us to work together for the
further advance of His Kingdom here on earth. The Lord indeed did great things in the
past year. B We are glad to summarily let you know the following for thanksgiving to the
Lord and as an expression of gratitude for your partnership in the Kingdom's business
during last year.(2009)
The Lord enabled us to improve the allowances and general welfare of our
Missionaries last year especially our foreign Missionaries. With the Lord helping us and
your support, we now have made it a policy to send allowances to our Foreign
Missionaries quarterly in advance! We have continued to receive reports of increase
morale of missionaries. Praise the Lord!
The Lord enabled us last year to better equip the EMS Head Office with
communication gadgets and has continued to help us in keeping closer in touch with
you our partners and dear readers. Praise the Lord!
The Lord enabled us to meet most of the targets for our Projects last year as you
responded by His grace and gave towards various projects . Please note as regards this
in particular that;
One Brand New Hi-Lux was donated by a family supporter while we need just
about N3million now to purchase the second one!
The Donkin Hills Guest House Project at Gampu has began and progress will continued
to be reported.
Work has also commenced on Donkin Hills Church and progress will continue to
be reported.
Full amount for additional 3 Missionaries to Sudan was received but we are not
able to send more missionaries to Sudan as SIM partners there were too stretched on
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their resources to take on more missionaries and of recent, there have been serious
rebel activities in the area, such that it became necessary to evacuate one of our
missionaries among others to Nairobi.( See Ubandoma's testimony).
God enabled us clear medical outstanding bills last year without dipping too
much into our support funds all because you our partners provided for the medical bills.
Many EMS Missionaries in schools enjoyed our N20,000 scholarship and were
greatly encouraged. We hope to continue with the scheme this year. God bless you all!
Our Missionaries in Sudan were sent ACE Materials through SIM. Thanks for
your donations and glory be to God.
We were able to raise up to 27 supporters and Missionaries to the Far North
Region alone apart from many more to other regions! Glory be to God!
All the ten motorcycles were sent to Missionaries in the far North through Rev.
Abdulkarim, the Far North EMS Regional Co-ordinator and this has boosted work there.
Glory be to God!
Our support records have now been computerized. Glory be to God.
Funds donated also helped us to develop a functional data base for EMS. To God be
the glory.
Last but not the least, the Musa Jibo Memorial Chapel project was started and is in
progress at the EMS Children's School Jos.
The only major challenge we are facing is getting supporters for EMS Children's School
Teachers. Please pray that more partners will realize the critical role that these teachers
are playing and will accept to support them as missionaries too!
God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you
have helped His people and continue to help them. ( Hebrews 6:10)
Thank you our supporters and God bless you all.
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EVENTS
Rev. Ishaku D. Katuri N/E Regional Co-ordinator
and others at the foundation laying on ½/2010.and
others at the foundation laying on ½/2010.
A Pastorium building in Dokin
to be used temporarily as Church
EMS Nursery School in Bantai,
Dokin Hills
EMS Central Region Missionary
Conference
in Keffi. 6-9/1/2010.
Ladi an active member of Grupe
EMS Station
Suleja DCC
Ladi assisted with a wheelchair
by City Ministries (Gidan Bege)
Page 19 of 21
Summary of Projects Needs 2010 Forward.
SN
1
2 Hi-Lux vehicles at N4.6m
each.
9,200,000
Amount
Received So
Far
6,150,000
2.
Missionaries Medical Bills
for Field Missionaries
Assistance of N20,000 per
annum for about 100
missionaries on study
without pay for 2010.
Additional ------- more
missionaries for the Far
North for one year at
N20,000 per missn. /
month
Funds Needed Donkin Hills
Churches Development.
EMS Radio Evangelism to
the Far North.
Musa Jibo Memorial Chapel
for EMS Children’s School,
Jos
Media Equipment for Field
and Office use
10 Motorcycles for Field
Missionaries.
Mission News Printing
2,500,000
Nil
2,000,000
400,000
1,600,000
7,680,000
240,000
7,440,000 One
Supporter
gotten
1,500,000
330,000
1,170,000
1,700,000
Nil
1,700,000
8,500,000
2,050,000
6,450,000
450,000
175,000
275,000
1,000,000
1,000,000
2,000,000
Nil
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Mission Project
Amount
Needed
Balance
Remaining.
Remark
3,050,000 1 Vehicle
Donated
and N1.55
received.
2,500,000
Nil Cleared
2,000,000
Page 20 of 21
(English and Hausa
Versions- 4Quarters)
11 Digging of 20 Wells in
Mission Fields at N75,000
each
12. City Ministries(Gidan Bege)
Support for 3 staff for 1year
13. Four Blocks of EMS
Children’s School Host Jos at
N6m per Block
1,500,000
Nil
1,500,000
720,000
Nil
720,000
24,000,000
Nil
24,000,000
Kindly note that you can lodge any donation directly to any of the following EMS of
ECWA Bank Accounts and inform us of the purpose of the donation through
donations@emsofecwa.org. If the project you are donating for has been fully paid for
we shall get back to you and let you know so that you can decide on what we should
do with your donation. Thank you very much and God bless you.
Bank
Zennith Bank:
Diamond Bank:
First Bank:
Inter-Continental Bank:
Union Bank:
Zenith Domiciliary Account:
Telephone lines
General line:
Director’s line:
Administrator’s line:
Accountant’s line:
Account Name:EMS of ECWA
6013304985
0552010007620
2002010039344
0032030000001449
3371030030864
4070996185 (For dollars, Euros, pounds etc)
-
07037762016
08034530817
08030731449
08035869880
Email Addresses:
emsdirector@emsofecwa.og
emsofecwa@yahoo.com
prayer_request@emsofecwa.org
suggestions@emsofecwa.org
complains@emsofecwa.org
donations@emsofecwa.org
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