Blogging Missionaries!
- Pray for the Ribbens at the Daniel Center in Abuja. Read their on-line journal here.
- Pray for the Persenaire-Hogeterps in Niger. Check out their site here.
- Pray for the Hellemans. Get more information on their work here.
Africa: Nigeria
Mission HistoryJohanna 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. CultureNigeria 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 VisionChristian Reformed World Missions works with indigenous denominations in the following four areas of Nigeria:
ResultsMore 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. SupportThe 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 about 300 long-term and short-term missionaries and about 200 missionary children located in over 30 countries around the world. 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 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” at your church or available from the World Missions offices in either the United States or Canada. More Resources:Videos Proclaim: August-September 2003 Proclaim: February-March 2003 Proclaim: May-June 2002 Proclaim: August-September 2001 Proclaim: Summer 2000 CRC Source: Spring 2001 CRC Source: Summer 1999 |