“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord not for men.[ Colosians.3:23]”.
We give thanks to God Almighty for bringing us to the middle of the year 2018, we praise him for his grace enabling us to work in his vine yard and the steady growth of the church here in Sierra Leone. Your Prayers , financial supports have really ginger us to work assiduously as the Holy Spirit leads us. Our growth has been in soul winning as well as infrastructural development to aid the work. This is happening because people like you have been praying and giving your resources.
I am pleased to present to you a brief update and prayer requests of the working of the Holy Spirit in Sierra Leone, in this Month of June 2018. God bless you.
CALVIN SEMINARY INTERN: This year we are blessed to have another intern who has come to be with us for a period of five weeks. Joshua Jiang Hang arrived Sierra Leone on June ten [10] , he has so far participated in our leadership training as well as visited some of our churches in the villages. We pray that Joshua will have a nice time here and we will all learn from each other on how best to serve the Lord in a different cultural setting.
CRC – SL PASTORS WIVES RETREAT .On June 12-15 all the Pastors, Evangelists’ of the church and their wives attended the three days leadership retreat which we organized to build their Spiritual capability and enhance their performance in preaching , teaching the word and how to live an exemplary life in their various community. Joshua lead the pastors in reminding them of our reformed teachings and stand in the scripture ,Jemimah facilitate the wives and of course with their husband on how best the pastor and his wife can work together in enhancing the kingdom growth. I served as the main facilitator of the training. it was a great blessings as pastors and their wives re- committed themselves in the service. We prayer that they shall implement what theyhave learned during the three days retreat in their various churches and community.
TIMOTHY LEADERSHIP TRAINING [TLT] IN FREETOWN: We concluded the third manual of the Timothy Leadership training- on ‘From harm to harmony, overcoming violence in the Family’ this is the third manual on the series of the six manual, participant from Freetown who started the training in August last year and have done the three manuals received their basic trainer Certificate on June 20th at the CRC Wellington Church in Freetown. Jiang and I facilitate the training. With this those of them who are ready to continue will start the second sets of the training that will qualify them as master training God willing in February 2019.
NANFAYIE CHURCH RENOVATION: The people of Nanfayie church decided to rebuild their church structure [building] they pull down the old building and erected a new one. One of the things that pastors in the CRC-SL are taught during the TLT training and leadership training is stewardship. In this they are encourage working hard and owning their projects instead of over dependences on donors or whatsoever. Pastor John Jalloh shared this challenge with his congregation in Nanfayie and they developed a plan of rebuilding their church auditorium. Today the building is up their have roofed it. Though presently they are worshiping in a classroom, pending when they will complete the building. I was really encouraged by these singular efforts by the Nanfayie Church. They are hoping to finish it next year God willing.
VISIT TO OTHER CHURCHES AND VILLAGES: Following the coming of Jiang , we decided to visit some villages for him to have a first information about life in the rural area and see how God is moving among the people to grow His kingdom in this part of the world. We visited Yarah, Sambaia Bendugu , Shekuya, Alkalia , Foria, Firawa and Yirah Filaya Badala. We thank God we saw the roof of the Church in Yirah Filaya Badala that was removed by windstorm in April has been rebuilt as well as the one in Kondembaia. The people in these villages were so excited. One of the questions or excitement expressed by one of the Christian in the villages was that “are there Chinese who are Christian?” For him that was the first time to see a Chinese Man who is a Christian. He was so excited and said for sure the gospel is for all nations. We appreciate the coming of Joshua Jiang Hang.
THE BLESSING OF THE LORD IN KABALA SCHOOL: I have reported severally concerning the building of the new classroom block at the Kabala Christian secondary school [CRC] . Finally the goal have been achieved the building, roofing, plastering, painting , wiring etc that has to be done as far as the building is concerned , is now completed . We give thanks to Schools for Sierra Leone and the various donors who gave willingly for the furtherance of quality reformed base Christian Education and also for the promotion of the gospel and growth of the church in Kabala as well as the whole of Sierra Leone.
THE MULTIPURPOSE, OFFICE AND CHURCH BUILDING KABALA.I am pretty sure those of you that have been following my monthly update, you will be familiar with this story by now. In April I said the work was moving in a slow speed. In May I showed the picture of the wall been completed on the second phase which means that the speed have improved beyond that speed. I am please to expressed my gratitude to God and to you all for your support, the speed has improved very much we are now on the roofing stage, we are hoping to finish the roofing soon, and begin the ceiling and thereafter the plastering. Friends and partners please let the support continue to come until the work is done.
PRAYER REQUESTS:
1. Thank God for the success of the building at the Kabala Christian School.
2. Thank God for all our supporters to have helped us raised the building of our office to this Level.
3. Thank God for safe arrival of Joshua Jiang Hang.
4. Next Month we will be doing the TLT training in Makeni , Bo and as well travel to Liberia pray for journey mercy on the trip.
5. The Leadership of the CRC-Nigeria is planning to visit us next Month. Pray that God will bring them safely.
6. Pray for My daughter Joyce in Jos and also the Christian Brethren in Nigeria. Last week there were several killing of Christian in plateau state Nigeria, We were all worried because Joyce is there and of course many people. pray for safety for all the brethren there and for courage for the Christian to remain faithful.
7. Pray for our Pastors and their families that as they implement the teaching acquired during the retreat it shall enhance the effectiveness in their ministries.
8. Pray for more funds to complete the ongoing projects of our office soon.
SUBMITTED BY: Rev. Istifanus B Bahago. Leadership consultant –CRC-SL/ Resonate Phone: +23278264240, +23277668139 Email: ibbahago@gmail.com, istifanusbahago@yahoo.com