MISSIONS UPDATES FEBRUARY 2023 – 14 BAPTISMS AND 2 SEMINARS
I am glad to inform you that God continues to give blessings and increases to His work in my area.
The WBS Abak Team met on 23rd February during our monthly meetings and reported of twelve baptisms for the month of February on 12th February. I preached at Church of Christ, Ikot Akpabio and one soul, Emediong Emem John was baptised into Christ. That same day, the youths of Church of Christ, Ikot Akpabio released and launched their first album “De Voice of Grace Accapella” and many ministers and congregations came to support the programme.
The Nigerian Christian Bible College, Ukpom celebrated her 69th Founders Day and Matriculation Ceremonies on the 18th February 2023. I supervised the programme and it was very successful. 39 students matriculated into Ministerial Program (N.C.B.C Main Campus). 11 students matriculated in Diploma Programme (Itigidi Study Centre, Cross River State). 8 students matriculated in B.A (Ed) Religious Studies and 7 students into B.A Religious Studies. More than One Million Naira was raised for the college vocational projects.
On the 26th February 2023, I spoke in a Youths Seminar at Church of Christ, Manta No. 2, Abak, there I met with some WBS students who were recently baptised and also enrolled new students for WBS courses.
We are experiencing a very difficult time in Nigeria during this elections time. There is no cash in many banks and money are being sold to owners. Petrol and food stuffs are very costly. We need your prayers and help to survive. We believe that before the end of this month, March, life will normalise and cash will flow to everyone. Chad Wagner will wire money for the first quarter of 2023 to Nigeria very early this March as he plans to make some trips. Please send your money to him early enough to catch up with his time. Please contact Chad to know exactly the time.
Thank you very much for your prayers and support for this ministry. God bless you all.
25 BAPTISMS, 3 RESTORATIONS, 21 OPEN AIRS PREACHING WITH GOSPEL CHARIOT
This is the eleventh month of the year, I am so thankful to you my dear supporters for all your prayers and support for this year which has helped me to preach the gospel to the lost souls and continue to edify the body of Christ in Nigeria.
For the past two months, I have been involved in evangelism, laying foundation for new Church building, Gospel Chariot Open Air Preaching and W.B.S Seminars and contacts. God has really blessed our efforts with twenty-five baptisms at different places.
On 17th September 2022, One Hundred and Fifty (150) Church Leaders gathered at Church of Christ, Ikot Akpabio where I am preaching for Men Fellowship and discuss strategies for Church Growth and expansion of the kingdom of Christ.
On 25th September 2022, after a series of Bible Studies, I baptized Glory Emem John who was formerly an Apostolic member, she now worships faithfully at Church of Christ, Ikot Akpabio.
I took one month leave from Church of Christ, Ikot Akpabio in the month of October after serving there for ten years without a leave. This enabled me to visit younger congregations which I have planted and also to preach at my home congregation, Central Church of Christ, Ukpom Abak. On 9th October, I helped in laying foundation for Church of Christ, Ikot Edung Uruan new Church building.
In the afternoon of that same day, I spoke in a W.B.S Seminar in a young congregation at Ikot Oku Ikono, Uyo Flyover, which resulted in two baptisms.
14th – 16th October, I worked with N.C.B.C Staff and Students to weekend evangelism at Itighi Idi, Abi LGA, Cross River State, while there we visited seven small congregations preaching open air and house to house and God blessed our efforts with four baptisms.
On 17th October, I baptized Abasifiok Aniedi Usen, a W.B.S Student of Donna Goulding of Perry Church of Christ, Ohio.
On 23rd October, I preached at Central Church of Christ, Ukpom my home congregation. That same day in the afternoon, I spoke in a W.B.S Seminar at Church of Christ, Obio Itak, Ikono.
I participated in the Gospel Chariot Evangelism which took place from 9th – 30th October 2022, Abak and its environs which employed house to house evangelism and night open air preaching at twenty-one different locations and eight souls were baptized.
On 30th October 2022, I visited Church of Christ, Ibuonung Achat by the invitation of Dr. Fiokedu Okorie I preached there at his home congregation.
I am grateful to inform you that I requested for a borehole from the Healing Hands International for Church of Christ, Ikot Akpabio, and they have graciously provided one borehole for this congregation and the community it is about to be commissioned. After spending one month preaching for other congregations, on November 6, I resumed at Ikot Akpabio and was warmly received by the brethren.
I have appreciate all you have been doing for me and my family, God will continue to bless you all in Jesus name-Amen.
On 19-02-2022 I have encouraged women in where I preach to attend women gospel seminar at Nigerian Christian Bible College, Ukpom Abak. The topic for the seminar was tagged CHRISTIAN WOMEN AND INTERGRITY taken from the book of Prov. 28:6, 2 Chron. 8:21, Judges 4:1-10. Has they came back from the seminar, I got a brief report from two-three members that is was very interesting.
Still on 12-02-22 I joint hands with COC Ikot Akpan Abia in Nsit Ubium to organized a one day World Bible School Seminar and evangelism. one soul was restored and many prospects to be contact. Here is the picture of the soul restored and picture of the participants displayed. Still on 19-02-22 I joint hands with the COC Itung Mbang in Uruan Local Government to organized a one day World Bible School Seminar/evangelism. Two souls baptized here is the picture displayed and also the pictures of the participants displayed.
Still on 20-02-2022 I joint hands with COC Ikot Oku Ikono to organized one day World Bible School Seminar/evangelism one soul get baptized into Christ. Picture of the soul ad participants displayed, we also had many prospects which the preacher of that congregation will work on it. On 23-02-22 Bro. Chad Wagner was able to visit my office World Bible School at Nigerian Christian Bible College Ukpom. Here is the picture of me and Bro. Chad (displayed). Bro. Chad was very grateful with me. I told him the work I am doing and also the seminars held and souls that got baptized through World Bible School Materials.
Still on 19-03-22 I have encouraged women from where I preach to attend women gospel seminar at COC Uruk Uso in Otoro Abak tagged CHRISTIAN WOMEN AND FORGIVENESS taken from the book of Col. 3:13. I got an information from 5 of them that it was unique and interesting. On 9-04-22 seven of our members took active part at general gospel seminar at COC Ikot Obioko in Abak L.G.A. The Topic is LUKEWARMNESS taken from the book or Rev. 3:14-18. It was very interesting. Here is the picture of the participants (displayed). On 16-04-22 I have encouraged women from where I preach to attend women gospel seminar at C.O.C Eka Midim in Abak. The topic was tagged: THE RIGHT CONDUCTS OF A CHRISTIAN WOMAN taken from the book of I Peter 3:3-6. It was interesting as I had an opportunity to interviewed one of them in the Church all.
Still on 16-04-22 men forum, where I preach took active part in the men seminar organized by Abak preachers forum which I am a member. The men seminar was held at C.O.C Atai-Otoro. The topic was tagged GROWING UNTO PERFECTION IN MATTERS OF Christ taken from the book of Heb. 6:1. It was very interesting. Here is the picture of the participants displayed.
Still on 22-04-22 I have two new convert got baptized into Christ through studying World Bible School Materials.
I have appreciate all you have been doing for me, our God will bless all-Amen.
Greetings from Monday Akpakpan and all Akwa Ibom State WBS FOLLOW UP WORKERS.
Here are what took place in April 2022.
– At Ifa-Atai, Uyo A FOUR DAY EVANGELISM WORK brought 8 souls to Christ and a new
congregation was planted.
– At Efa, Etinan L. G. A. there was A THREE DAY EVANGELISM WORK and 2 people were
converted to Christ.
– There were 2 baptisms at Central Church of Christ Ukpom, Abak.
– During WBS Seminar at Edem Idim Manta, Abak we had 1 baptism and 1 restoration.
– At Atai Otoro Church of Christ there was one baptism.
– We had WBS Seminar and house to house evangelism at Ikot Akpaetong there was no baptism but we enrolled many students into WBS Correspondence Course.
– Nelson Akpan reported 4 baptisms.
– M. B. Archibong reported 6 baptisms and 2 restorations.
– Women Gospel meeting took place at Eka Midim, Abak.
– Church Leaders/Men Followship took place at Church of Christ Atai Otoro, Abak.
– There were 5 baptisms at Ikot Oku Mfang reported by Anameti Akpan.
– We had 2 baptisms at Ikot Obioko, Abak.
– 2 baptisms at Esa Atan, Ikot Ekpene.
– WBS Seminar took place at Abia Okpo Ikot Abasi Inyang, Obot Akara.
– Uyai Joshua reported one baptism at Ikot Akpabio, Afaha Obong, Abak.
Dear Brethren, we really appreciate your financial and moral support for our evangelism work.
A big thanks for the Bible Lessons, Tracts, The Voice of Truth International, World Vedio Bible Study (WBVS) and many other Bible Lesson Materials you people always sent to us. Thank you.
Our Evangelism for 2022 started well. Let us see what happened in January 2022.– At Two Towns Church of Christ where I am worshiping there were 2 baptisms. – At Ikot Odiong where Mojima is preaching there was a two day WBS Seminar and 6 people were converted to Christ. – Bro. M. B. Archibong reported 16 baptisms from his area in Cross River State. – WBS Seminar was conducted at Adiasim Ikot Akpan Osom on 1st Sunday of January 2022 after morning service. We had 7 baptisms.
– Bro. Christian Etuk Uko reported 3 baptisms from Ikot Ekpeyak Ikono, Uyo. – Atai Otoro had 2 baptisms, reported by Sunday Solomon. – At Central Church of Christ, Ukpom there were 2 baptisms. – At Church of Christ No. 1 Ukpom Abak there were 9 baptisms and 1 restored soul. – Etim Nyong reported 4 baptisms from Uruan L. G. A. – Nse Edet reported 1 restoration from Ikot Oku Ikono, Uyo. – Anameti Akpan reported 2 baptisms from Obot Akara L. G. A. – Anameti reported 1 baptism and 2 restorations from Ikot Oku Mfang Church of Christ. – Women Gospel Meeting was conducted at No. 18, Ebom Avenue. The attendance was very, very good. – Nelson Akpan reported 2 baptisms. – Youth Seminars took place at Abak City, Edem Idim Manta and Ediene Ikot Oku Ubara Churches of Christ in January 2022. – 9 Souls baptized at Ebebit Afaha Obong.
– Annual Gospel Meeting was held at Church of Christ No. 2, Ukpom Abak. The only challenge I am having is having Bibles to give to the new converts and the WBS students. Brethren, we appreciate your support and your partnership. May God bless you . Nothing can stop us from the work of God. Please keep praying for us.
Wishing you and your family a happy and a prosperous new year in the next few hours. I am always very grateful for what the Lord has accomplish through us in His vineyard in spite of many odds in the country.
I so much appreciate your encouragement and prayers which enable me to work effectively in this trying period in Nigeria. May God bless you.
The year 2021 is about ending. Tonight, prayers and fasting will be conducted in our congregation for a better 2022, God’s guidance and protection in the new year. I am sending a brief report of October, November and December of last quarter.
– WBS Seminar/Evangelism at Odukpani and Okurikang in Cross River State between 5th and 6th October recorded 26 baptisms.
– The WBS Seminar at Atai Otoro on 10th October 2021 was very successful as one soul was baptized and many WBS Students were in attendance.
– Manta II Towns recorded 6 baptisms during the period.
– Between October and December, Ikot Ekpene correctional Center had a total of 31 baptisms being added to the Church.
– Ikot Ekpeyak in Uyo recorded 2 baptisms.
– In Ukpom, a husband and wife were baptized.
– At Ukana Ikot Akpabin, in Essien Udim l.G.A, 3 souls were added to the Church.
– Itung Mbang in Uruan L.G.A, one soul was baptized.
– A new Church was planted at Ikot Oku Ikono-fly over on 31st October with 4 baptisms.
– 2 baptisms were harvested at Ikot Edung.
– Ikot Eyem in Obot Akara had 1 baptism.
– Evagelism at Uruk Uso, Otoro on 6th November had one soul
– Atai Otoro recorded another one baptism on 7th November.
– ACSS, Usung Atiat had one baptism.
– Ebebit Afaha Obong had 11 baptisms
– The seminar at Ikot Akpabio had 2 baptisms and one restoration on 14th November, 2021.
– A one week preaching campaign-tagged “Gospel for All Race” was launched in Akwa Ibom State on 15-20 November 2021. The week long preaching event which cut across all the districts in Akwa Ibom State brought 21 souls to Christ.
– WBS Seminar at Nkwot Edem Edet, Ikono, on 24th November 2021 had one baptism with heavy attendance.
– Children/Youth activities Atai otoro had one soul baptized on 19th December, 2021.Prizes and Bibles were given to those who participated in the events.
– Evangelism at Ikot Akpakop in Mkpat Enin LGA on 8th-11th December witnessed Eight Souls and planting of a new Church in the area.
– Ikot Amba in Obot Akara had 4 baptisms during the period.
– National youth forum Obong Ntak on 22th-25th December had 19 Baptisms. Pictures of some of the events and baptisms are attached.
plans of work in the 1st quarter of 2022 have been proposed. I pray may God help us to continue to partner together in His ministry in 2022 for more greater result. May God bless you.
Dear Brethren, Our Evangelism work in 2021 was very very effective. The month of December 2021 was not left out. Here are some of the things that took place in December 2021.
A three Day Bible Seminar at Ikot Akpakop, Mkpat Enin brought 8 souls to Christ. All Nigerian Youths Seminar at Obong Ntak on December 22 – 25, 2021 added 19 souls to the Church.
At Atai Otoro Church of Christ 2 baptisms were reported by Sunday Solomon.
Children’s Annual Bible competition that always takes place at Two Towns’ Church of Christ Manta/ Midim, Abak was very very effective in December this year. Many children that competed very well, received Awards of Bibles and other items.
Youth Gospel Meeting Church of Christ, Etim Ekpo, Ika, Oruk Anam and Abak L.G.A. that took place at Township Church of Christ Utu Etim Ekpo on December 25, 2021, was a very great occasion. Awards were given to many people.
Emmanuel Ntia reported 1 baptism from Edem Idim Manta Church of Christ.
At Ikot Ekpene Prison, there were 26 baptisms.
The Abak City Church of Christ Youth monthly Gospel Seminar took place on 1st Sunday of December 2021. The attendance was very very encouraging as usual.
General Gospel Meeting was held at Church of Christ Utu Abak No. 1 on December 24, 2021.
WBS Seminar was conducted at Anua Obio on June 27, 2021. After the Seminar many people have been converted two days ago. I received a letter from the Church, appealing for me to send them not less than 20 Bibles to give to the new converts.
Our work for 2022 will be more effective than 2021. We need your prayers and financial support. Many of us have started making some plans for our movements in 2022. E. G. Mojima plans – January – March 2022Mike Udam /Nelson Akpan – January – March 2022Abak Team – January – April 2022.The arrangements are for early part of the year because we do not have much rain from January – April. Please, Brethren, keep praying for us. Yours in His service,
Good afternoon from Oro town in Kwara State ,Nigeria.
We are here for a brief visit to a congregation planted some years ago by the SWSE foundation chairman, Bro. David Akinola where one of our graduates is now ministering since the exit of Bro. David Akinola two years ago.
As for the work in Aramoko-Ekiti, our students are still there working with Bro. Akinrinade Sunday till tomorrow noon. The Aramoko-Ekiti outreach was graced by the three instructors from BVBIN-Lagos Island, two from Ikorodu, two from Ondo, ten from Ibadan (3 instructors and 7 students). Even though no conversion yet as the results of the outreach that begin on Tuesday morning by Lagos team, but we are blessed with many prospects. The Lagos team left yesterday morning due to this weekend assignments. We conduct house to house evangelism in the morning and open-air Bible Lectureship in the evening in two centers. My team visited a community college in Aramoko-Ekiti to share the WBS correspondence courses on Thursday noon and over 300 introduction courses were distributed which will be collected back next week by Bro .Akinrinade Sunday. In BVBIN -Agege, 19 students were in class,15 in Ikorodu, 7 in Lagos Island, 7 in Akure center and I’m yet to hear from Ondo center in spite my several sms to them. Thanks for your concern and help in many ways. I will be going back to Ibadan after tomorrow morning worship. Have a wonderful weekend. Our best regards to your family and associate.
The work of the lord within the periods of July and September 2021 had been very rich in the eyes of man. I hope the lord will be satisfied with the labours of his servant who according to Luke 17:10 is an unworthy servant.
Within the church meeting at Ukpagada, the lord blessed our effort with 5 souls to the glory of God. We also lost three souls to the devil for not walking orderly as the Lord directed.
Externally, my team and I spent two weeks in Kenya to strengthen the church there and to the glory of God, the network of my preaching was expanded. My lessons I share daily on facebook and whatsapp now feed the church in Kenya, Eswatini, South Africa and the West Africa sub region.
Back at home in Nigeria, I had made a trip to Oron 430 km from Ogoja to speak to church leaders there during the Oro Leadership retreat.
We also spent a weekend in Wula eastern Boki, to strengthen the church there. God blessed our effort with 8 souls. We are planning a big mission there in December this year. Lord willing and with available funds, we will storm the area and hope to make a huge impact.
Within this period, our enrollment in WBS got reactivated. Our strategy is now to catch them young. So, most of the students we have now are school students. Close to 100 have so far been enrolled during this period.
Keep me in your prayers. After eight years of work at Ukpagada, I thought the workload would reduce, it is now that the workload has increased. I now teach bible classes in the two new congregations that we established (Ukpe = Thursday and Okuku = Friday) in addition to my two days at Ukpagada. As of now, with our dwindling economy, my expenditure on fuel and vehicle maintenance is now very huge.
The summary is that the work must be done and I am available. Thank you for your continued support. It has boasted my work so much to the glory of God.
My first daughter, NT-Rose, is through with secondary school at the age of 16. She is warming up to enter the university in the next three months or so. Pray for her.
In the last quarter of this year, our lectureship is the main focus of my drive. We shall have evangelism, open air preaching and indoor lectures. It is scheduled for between the 25-28 of November.
Greetings in the wonderful name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the hope and the spirit of the saints.Below is the summary of our activities in the Lord in this month of September 2021.
FIRST SEMESTER CLASSES AND INSTRUCTORS
This session began on August 16 ,2021 and will come to an end Lord’s willing on November 15 followed by a month Vocational Training for our year-1-students while the year-2-students will embark on preaching trip within and outside the Western States of Nigeria. Bro. Isaac Olaniyan is handling Life of Christ-1(Matthew), 1,2 & 3 John and Church Problems; Bro. Kayode Eniafe is in-charge of Scheme of Redemption, OT & NT Survey and OT History; Bro. Andrew Adeolu is handling Godhead and The Pentateuch; Bro. John Makinde is handling Research and Writing-1 and NT Church-1; Bro. Silas Guda Mazi is handling Denominational Doctrines and OT Wisdom-1(Job & Ecclesiastes) while I (Bro. Makinde Ebens)is in-charge of Evangelism-1(Personal Evangelism), Prison Epistles and Systematic Theology.
WEEKEND EVANGELISM
As scheduled, the year-1 Students and staff of the BVBIN & SWSE IBADAN embarked on what they love most, that is, weekend outreach in all the Saturdays and Sundays in the month of September. We were divided into five groups while our year-2 Students now attached with some young congregations within the Western States of Nigeria.
WORLD BIBLE SCHOOL FOLLOW UP TEAM
Our WBSFUW team continue in reaching more souls with the gospel of Christ through the WBS Correspondence Courses. Bro. Kayode Eniafe and Bro. Dele Shotola visited four Schools in Osun State (Community High School, Ayepe; Orile-Owu Grammar School; Field Street and Smammah Comprehensive College, Apomu) and 114 enrollment was recorded. Bro. Matthew Rowland visited two High School in Akure, Ondo State ( Fiwasoye Grammar School and Oba-Ile Junior High School) and 555 Introduction collected out of 600 distributed in the first week of September. And Bro. Akilapa Samuel enrolled 155 people for WBS Correspondence program in the city of Ondo in Ondo State. All these were part of the parcel posted this month to World Bible School Tulare County, California under the directorship of Bro. Joel Coppinger.
NEXT PREACHING TRIP
Lord’s willing, the Instructors of BVBIN-Schools in the Western States of Nigeria (Ibadan, Lagos and Ondo State) will be re-visiting the young congregation in Aramoko-Ekiti ,Ekiti State from October 19-24,2021.The BVBIN & SWSE IBADAN will be represented by myself (Bro.Makinde) Bro.Kayode Eniafe and Seven of our year-2-Students. And on October 23, I will be visiting the Church of Christ in Oro, Kwara State with Bro.Kayode Eniafe to encourage the Church planted there by our foundation chairman (Bro.David Akinola) during his active service in Kwara State. One of our graduates (Bro.Akindele Joseph)is now ministering in Oro congregation.
COVID HELP FROM WORLD EVANGELISM TEAM
The one time Covid help from World Evangelism and Sister Betty Choate and associate will be shared with twelve brethren from ten congregations in Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Ogun and Lagos States and for feeding over fifty children of the less privileged people in our South West Kiddies Academy located in Butubutu village, Ibadan from September through December 2021.We deeply appreciate the kind-gesture extended by the World Evangelism Team, USA to those who are badly affected by this global pandemic. May the Lord of blessing continue to bless all you do for His name is our fervent prayers. Amen.
ABOUT ONE OF OUR STUDENTS
Bro. Daniel Salvation hail from Ogbe, Edo State, Nigeria. Born in the year 1996 to the family of Bro. and Sister Daniel Ayomide Goodness. His father is from Ogbe, Akoko Edo Local Government Area of Edo State and mother from Otuo in Owan East Local Government Area of Edo State. He was added to the Lord’s Church in January 2010 through the effort of Bro. Paul Ajeh (Minister of Church of Christ, Ogbe). At the age of ten, he had his First School Leaving Certificate from Orukpa Primary School in Ogbe in the year 2006. He began his secondary school education in 2007 at age eleven. Due to the death of his grandparents In 2006, his family relocated to Igarra (a town in Akoko Edo Local Government Area of Edo State) where he started school at Universal Group of Schools. In 2009 his father took him to another school (Saint Paul’s Anglican Grammar School also in Igarra town) where he obtained West African Examination Council (WAEC) results in the year 2012. During this time, he worshipped with Idiba Church of Christ Igarra. He was admitted into BVBIN & SWSE IBADAN in year 2020. His greatest desire in life is to serve God and win souls for His kingdom after his tertiary education.
ACCOMPLISHMENT: I loaned the sum of N1,500,000 on August 10 for tilling School’s Hall (popularly known as Doug Wheeler Events Center) between August 13 through 21 which I hope to pay back in installments with my BVBIN assistant director’s allowance and other Supports from Oceanside Church of Christ and that of Dorman & Donna Lough from the last quarter of this year through the last quarter of year 2022 Lord’s willing.
OUR CHALLENGES:
1. We are in need of at least the sum of N30, 000 ($75) monthly supports to assist one of our year-2-students (Bro. Akinrinade Sunday Hezekiah) who have shown interest in ministering in the just planted congregation in Aramoko-Ekiti in Ekiti State.
2. The school is also in need of a Mini Gospel Chariot or a Twelve Seater Bus for evangelization of both Urban and Rural areas of the Western States of Nigeria. This will cost us at least $7,000 for truck, durable chairs, speakers, 2.5kwa generator, lectern, construction of a stage and other necessary things or $4,500 for a first class second hand used bus.
CONCLUSION
We deeply appreciate you all for your moral and financial supports toward the growth of the Lord’s Church in Africa most especially in Nigeria. May the great God keep on blessings all you do for His name is our fervent prayers.
I remain your fellow servant of God,Makinde Ebenezer Olufemi
For & On behalf of the BVBIN & SWSE IBADAN
**If you’d like to support Makinde’s work and the Southwest School of Evangelism, you can do so here.
