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Blogging Missionaries!

Read the Ribbens blog as they work with the Daniel Center in Abuja, and pray for their work.

Read Sheila Dykstra's blog, Education Consultant in Abuja, Nigeria, and pray for her work.

Videos from Nigeria (3):

Nigerian Videos (3)

Nigeria


Mission History

Johanna Veenstra began working in Nigeria in 1920 with the Sudan United Mission (SUM). Her vision brought the Christian Reformed Church to Nigeria in 1940 when, seven years after her death, a synodical decision made World Missions an autonomous branch of SUM.

Since the 1940s, the work of World Missions has been blessed by rapid growth of Nigerian churches and other ministries. Today Nigeria is World Missions' largest mission field in terms of both the number of staff assigned to the country and the diversity of ministries.

Culture

Nigeria is a strategic country for missionaries in Africa. With a population of more than 100 million people in 1995, Nigeria has twice the population of almost any other African nation. Nigerians account for one-fifth of all black Africans. But Nigeria is also diverse. There are 426 ethnic groups within this one country, and each one has its own language and culture. Spiritually, Nigeria reflects the rest of the continent. About 50 percent of the population is Christian, 40 percent are Muslim, and the remainder are animists, worshiping a variety of spirits. But the influence of African Traditional Religions, as these animistic beliefs are known, is greater than the statistics indicate. Many people, while claiming to be Christian or Muslim, never entirely let go of traditional beliefs. On the positive side, since 1985 there has been a growing amount of religious freedom in many African nations. This has opened up many more opportunities for Christian ministry, and may be a factor behind the rapid recent growth of the evangelical church in Africa.

Mission & Vision

Christian Reformed World Missions works with indigenous denominations in the following four areas of Nigeria:

1. The Church of Christ in the Sudan Among the Tiv (NKST). Christian Reformed World Missions took over this work from Dutch Christian Reformed Church missionaries in 1960. The NKST today has more than 500,000 regular attendees.

2. The Christian Reformed Church of Nigeria (CRCN). This group today has 70 congregations and 200,000 worshipers. Missionaries work with the CRCN in ministries to various people groups, including the Dakka and Fulani people. CRCN work also includes training leaders at Veenstra Seminary and the Smith Memorial Bible College, as well as at extension centers around the country.

3. The Reformed Church of Christ in Nigeria (RCCN). World Missions works in more limited ways with the RCCN, which consists of about 40 congregations of Kuteb believers who split away from the CRCNA.

4. Eastern Kambari: A team of missionaries works in this area among the Avadi people concentrating on literacy, translation, agriculture, health and development ministries in addition to evangelism. CRWM is also involved with Hillcrest School and the Mt. View Hostel, which provide a Christian education and boarding facilities for missionary children.

Results

More than 700,000 worship each Sunday in CRCN, RCCN, NKST and Avadi churches. These churches continue to develop new congregations, and missionaries continue to assist these churches, train needed ministers, evangelists/church planters, elders, deacons and religious knowledge teachers. Missionaries work in partnership with Nigerian ministers and evangelists to reach out to rural tribal groups and city residents in such large cities as Abuja and Jos.

Among the Dakka, Christians are worshiping in seven villages. A medical clinic has been established and staffed by a Nigerian Christian.

Evangelism, literacy and translation work continues among the Avadi people in the northern part of the country. Regular worship currently takes place in 11 Avadi villages, but several more villages have shown interest in the Gospel. More than 400 Avadi have been baptized. Urban church planting has begun in the federal capital city of Abuja.

Prayer

The most important gift you can give missionaries is a daily prayer for their lives and work. At any given time Christian Reformed World Missions supports over 200 long-term and short-term missionaries located in over 20 countries around the world. Through partnerships, our work extends to over 30 countries. These people have been called, commissioned, and sent by Christian Reformed churches to represent our devotion to Jesus Christ, and to urge others to accept His offer of salvation.

Here’s a partial list of items to pray for on behalf of missionaries:

Financial Support

Financial support is also crucial for the ongoing work of bringing the Good News around the world. Support can be given for specific missionaries or specific projects can be found in the “Project Giving Guide” online.

The Christian Reformed World Missions Team in Nigeria

More Resources


Videos
Video-2000 Chido: A Redemption Story (13 min./5 min.)
Video-2000 For the First Time: A Nigerian Story (4 min.)
Video-2004 Streams in the Desert: Nigeria to Niger (11 min.)
Video-2003 Different World . . . Same Gospel (7 min.)
Video-2003 My Friend Anaruwa (6 min.)
Video-2003 Mandy and Ige (6 min.)
Video-1996 Nigeria: Key to a Continent (20 min.)
Video-1960 Bulus of Kwambo (13 min./5 min.)
Video Nigeria I Love You (30 min.)
Video Kambari (22 min.)

Proclaim: August-September 2003
• Download the Word Document (16pg, 180k)
• Download the PDF (15pg, 544k)

Proclaim: February-March 2003
• Download the Word Document (12pg, 64k)
• Download the PDF (8pg, 232k)

Proclaim: May-June 2002
• Download the Word Document (11pg, 57k)
• Download the PDF (8pg, 313k)

Proclaim: August-September 2001
• Download the Word Document (17pg, 60k)
• Download the PDF (33pg, 929k)

Proclaim: Summer 2000
•Download the Word Document (18pg, 60k)
•Download the PDF (30pg, 800k)

CRC Source: Spring 2001
•Download the PDF (16pgs, 448k)

CRC Source: Summer 1999
•Download thePDF (16pgs, 448k)