April 2012 Missions Update

Dearly Beloved,

Calvary greetings in Jesus name. We trust that this update will find you growing in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. We are very sorry for our long silence. The past few weeks have been a very busy one. We were working in several jungles where internet facilities and telephone networks are either non-existence or extremely weak. We deeply appreciate your consistent prayer support despite the silence.

Kasuwa in front of her collapsing house

The Advanced School of Ministry for 2012 was very successful despite the conspicuous absence of Prof   and Dr. (Mrs.) Ron Meyers who were earlier scheduled to be our main resource persons. They withdrew at a very late hour because of the security risk associated with the city of Jos where we hosted the main event. Elsie Govender, Yvonne Singh and several others filled in the gap. The attendance was highly encouraging and the quality of teachings was excellent. The presence of God cheered us up and many of the missionaries testified that they were tremendously blessed.

The African Mission Summit (AMS) 2012 was also successful. As at the last count, no fewer than 258 persons were in attendance. The focus of the summit was on encouraging the body of Christ to focus on distant and difficult dark nations like the Middle East and the entire Arab world. Our main resource person was from Iraq. He shared lots of personal experiences and ministry opportunities in that part of the world. We were also privileged to be addressed by an Egyptian couple and a Sudanese from the underground church. As usual, delegates made new friends and initiated new network relationships.

Shrine being set ablaze at Oma

The 2^nd Idoma Missions Summit (IMS 2012) followed closely. The primary focus was to sensitize the participants on the role of the Idoma Nation in World evangelization. Special session was held on the need to watch out for the threat of Islam and the preparedness for Boko Haram invasion. We appreciate the labor of the local organizing committee led by Pastor Adole Ejah. Many persons responded to altar call every single day of the Summit to get involved in mission work both locally and internationally. Pray along with us that they will take steps to get trained and truly become missionaries.                                                               

In between the AMS 2012 and the IMS 2012, we travelled to Dir, Bolu, Bum and Zull mission stations to encourage the missionaries on ground. These stations are close to the operation of the Muslim terrorist called Boko Haram. Elsie, Yvonne and Fred Adigun were part of the visiting team. The church building at Dir field which was nearing collapse was dismantled and rebuilt. A new television set and small generator were donated to the mission field during the period. In our effort to build the bridge and attract the Bolu women to the Gospel, a sewing machine was bought by Elsie for the field. They have been consistently resistant to the gospel and stumbling block to their husbands. Some of the converts turned back from faith for fear of losing their wives.

At Bum, funds were released to complete the abandoned mission house project. At Zull, Benjamin and Esther Itodo were formally released from GFIM. While Esther left for further education without proper permission, Benjamin who recently lost both parents need to go and address some issues in life that has retarded the progress of the mission work under his care. The work at the Kemberi and Dukawa fronts are making good progress. Sabatu  Karambana has completed her training program and joined her husband on the Dukawa field. She is already impacting the women on the field. The Kemberi field leader and his wife, Pastor and Mrs. Sunday Musa were blessed with a baby boy. One of the converts just got wedded and another is planning for her wedding this month. Many of the converts recently had their water baptism. Pray for more grace and wisdom for Yohanna and Rahila Musa as they are daily confronted with pressures from the Muslims. Pray also for Barnabas and Fatima Haruna as they are trusting God for N30000 to formalize the documentation of the land where the church and mission house is built.

The closure of the Nigeria, Cameroun/Chad boarder on the North because of the Boko Haram problem is already taking its toll on us. Our missionary, Benuoji Sam have difficulty travelling across the border. He made effort to come in March and pick up support meant for the replacement of his stolen sewing machine and to also attend the summit but he was turned back. Please pray along with us that the boarder be opened soon. Benuoji plan to wed on June 12, 2012 in Chad.

After the IMS 2012, we travelled to Ahogbo, Oma and Aiona in Benue State. In each of the fields, several persons gave their lives to Christ. Shrines and Idols were burnt.  One of the teary moments was a visit to Mama Kasuwa. This old widow met Christ and embraced Him as her Lord and saviour in 1984 when God sent me to the community as a young missionary.  She has since then been very faithful despite severe persecution and multiple life challenges. She is not just a widow but childless. She has neither brother nor sister that is alive. Her only hope was a niece which she brought up but she too passed on to eternity.

Sometime ago, her small 2 room apartment collapsed partially. Thank God the roof did not give way. Because of the danger, she moved to a rented apartment. She did not last long there. She was evicted. Her only offence was that she prays too much. No one else is willing to take her in. She got some willing hands who brought in some woods to provide cover for her partially collapsed house. Kasuwa has since moved in.

This faithful God fearing woman who is over 75yrs of age stands the risk of been trapped death if the building collapses suddenly on her. She is not   grumbling or complaining but she needs God’s divine intervention.  It will not cost more than N120,000 to erect one room structure with mud blocks for her and furnish for her. Pray that God arise and prove Himself to be husband to this poor faithful old widow in accordance to His word. Please call me on +2348037054214 if you want to be an extension of God’s hands to build and furnish a room for Mama Kasuwa. Remember James 1:27 tells us that ‘Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.’

Finally, the Unreached Children Home(UCH) has been renamed. It now bears  Home of Grace(HOG). We have also admitted one more kid, Dauda and are soliciting for partnership to enable us bring in Japhet. We thank God for the miraculous way He provided funds for last school session. We are also grateful to God for providing 10mattresses and pillows for the home through Yvonne Singh. We pray He will do same this coming term.

On a sad note, we lost a very dear friend and partner of the ministry, Pastor/Barrister Tubosun Oyelade. He died in a ghastly motor accident and left behind his wife and four young kids. Please, pray for his family for God’s comfort and provision.

Thanks and God bless you richly.

His bondservant,

Rev. Andrew Abah
International Director, Grace Foundation Inland Missions
Nigeria Representative, MET(Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada)
Off Bauchi Ring Road, Furaka
P.O. Box 2704, Jos, Nigeria
Tel: +234-8037054214
Skype: andrewabah
Blog: Http://gracefoundationsupdate.blogspot.com

Website: www.gracefoundations.net