MINISTRY COORDINATOR’S REPORT  MARCH 2011

Rev. Friday Udofia

To God be the glory for His’ faithfulness and kindness.  The joy of the Lord continues to be our strength as we trust Him to help us overcome several challenges we face in the ministry daily. Some of the highlight of events which took place last month includes:

LAGOS DISTRICT HELD ORDINATION SERVICE:  This was another milestone achievement in Nigeria.  Two of our pastors pastor Friday Jackson from Lagos and Pastor Stephen Onyeso from Port Harcourt were ordained elders by our General Superintendent, Dr. David Graves.

We were so grateful to God for the privileged of hosting the general Superintendent and our Field strategy, Rev. Mark Louw. We also enjoyed the insightful teaching brought to us by our leaders.  Testimonies are that both pastors and laymen truly benefited immensely from the scriptural teaching.  Our delegates both from Port Harcourt and Lagos were grateful to God.  

PAKURO ZONAL TRAINING CENTER: A miracle happened in this place last February when the Lord used our field office to provide support for the purchase of the land for the zonal training center.  Nazarenes in this community are grateful for having a permanent place of worship and training of their leaders. The land has been paid for and possession taken since February.  The zone is working on putting a storage facility on the land where building materials will be kept when construction will eventually commences.

Meanwhile, the group continues to meet freely on their land to worship under canopy sent to them by Light House assembly. They are working on purchasing another tent to add to the one they have been given by Light House assembly. Everyone seems to be happy fellow shipping with one another and with their Lord.  Several of them have pledged to donate blocks and other building materials to kick start the development of the land after the registration of the land is done.  This is going to be the next line of action.

This aspect of the land development is critical though sometimes expensive, but it worth doing it for the security of the land.  About N421, 000 (about $2, 845) is estimated to be spent for the survey and registration of the property. I am not sure of how much they will be able to raise for this registration project and for how long. It must be done in no distant time as land here is tricky due to high demand.  But is my prayer that the Lord will supply this need by blessing Nazarenes at Pakuro to register their land. 

VICTORY WON THIS MONTH

  This month the Jesus Film team in partnership with church of the Nazarene, Abak zone conducted a crusade at Ukpom village. At the end of the three days crusade a church was established in the village. A primary school block is hired for the meeting place where the ten new converts meet for the worship service.  We praise God for this new church!

This is the direction of our prayers in Lagos, even as we celebrate Easter 2011,

Respectfully,

Rev. Friday Udofia

fudofia@awfcon.org

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Ministry Update by Rev. Friday Udofia

For June 2010

The Month of June was good. I was able by His’ grace to carry out all my projected plans.  In each case God’s presence was remarkable.  The Lord protected me as I travelled several miles serving Him and His’ people around Nigeria.  Above all, He helped by his’ grace to stay truly connected to Him. Below are some of the highlights of progress;

The work in Abia state:  the church in Abia has been a struggling Church over the years.  It was planted before the Church in Port Harcourt. In fact, Rev. Obinna knew about the Church of the Nazarene from Abia state.  Now Port Harcourt has out grown Abia. 

Over the years since I became MC, I have been in close contact with the Church in Abia; visiting, teaching, encouraging and praying for them and telling the truth with mincing words. This is what they needed. I have been there at least once each year since 2006.  I am so glad that God is sending revival to the Church in Abia.

The first generations of Nazarenes there have given way for a more vibrant, dependable, mature Church to emerge.  The Holy Spirit is actively working purifying His’ Church. Pastor Onosike has become the new leader who is a more Nazarene, Spiritual, and dependable leader.    I am truly encouraged by this new trend and development. My heart is warmed to see that the church there is not lost.

Rev. Eshiet and I visited the area, met with pastor Onosike with his lovely family and members.  It was the first time of visiting him in his home.  It has always been a Church visit.  But this time was different.  I wanted to know more of him to help me know the best way to serve alongside with him and others there.

We saw a new land for the future Church building bought by the local Church at Umuomei town. Great move!  They also shared with us how they are going to put up temporary structure for worship on the land. They were glad that at least they have a place they could be identified with; a place they could called theirs forever. Before now, they were given a city hall for rent.  This is where they have been from their inception in Umuomei community.

The testimony is that the community they are ministering truly admires the way they go about doing their Christian services, especially the way they pray.  The entire community has been commending and giving them a very high mark for the way Nazarenes at Umuomei conducted themselves. People in the community have been listening to them preach, teach, and pray

We were told that one of the persons in the community who was keenly listening to Nazarenes though he has never entered the Church to worship for once, overheard them one day pray for God to give them a land they could have permanent place of worship. After the service, the person went to visit the pastor in his residence with a story.  The story was that he was impressed by the way Nazarenes conducted themselves.  And that Nazarenes have been of tremendous blessing to him even if he has never worshipped with them for once, That whenever they pray and preach it is always a blessing to him.  The story is that Nazarenes are so different from Pentecostals and charismatics in the town.

As such he will not like the Church to move very far from him and his family.  That he will like to give his land adjacent to the city hall, their place of worship for Nazarenes to have their permanent hall of worship in Umuomei. According to this man, he has no plans to collect anything from the Church but only about N100, 000 will be required to settle his family members for approval of the proposal.

Pastor Onosike told me he actually jumped up with joy and thanksgiving to God.  For me that was just to say the least. Nazarenes at Umuomei also called thanksgiving service to praise the Lord for what he has done.  It was a celebration of God’s faithfulness. Nearly half of the land fee has been paid as at the time we visited.

We made efforts to see the man who donated the land to the Church, but we were told the man was out of town.  I shall visit him next time I am there to say thank you, on behalf of the Church in Nigeria. God is helping His people in Abia state.

Rivers state - Port Harcourt:  The Church is Iwofe, a very fast growing Church where Rev. Festus is having some troubles.  The land was initially donated to Pastor Obinna, but for fear of losing some of his members due to far distance, he turned it over to Festus to plant church there. 

Central church of the Nazarene Port Harcourt is a local Church of about eighty members mostly youths.  Festus has been able to raise a very strong Nazarene group in Iwofe community in Port Harcourt.  It was amazing when I visited them for the second time last February. They have completed the building of their worship hall.  Iwofe group is a model in Port Harcourt.

However, the community there is planning to open an access road through that property and has since given a evacuation notice to the Church board. They want the Church to be pulled down for the road construction to take place. Nazarenes there do not want to see that happen.  They do not want to see their resources wasted just like that. They are in pains; crying to the Lord.  They are praying that such a wicked plan may be averted.  Rev Festus has called me to pray for the situation.  The entire Church in Nigeria is praying.

We are praying that God will intervene in the situation.  If the building is finally pulled down; Central Church should be compensated we thought and prayed.  But they have not been promised anything to date.  I have told Rev. Obinna to go there and meet with the community.  He has since done that,  but the story is the same. However, the demolishing period has been extended from the initial seven days to three months now.

To keep the group together, they are working on using the remaining part of the land to set up another structure for worship. It was about three plots in total. They did not plan for that.  As such there was no budget for such this year.  It is an emergency situation.  As a national Church, we have nothing set aside for such an emergency, but God will help us to work on this vision.

Please keep Rev. Azubike, his family and central Church in your prayers.  We trust God to supply the needed resources to effectively handle this crises situation. They sincerely need some assistance to be able to put up another building for worship services within three months. The fully completed and painted building is gone. Everyone is lamenting, “where will they get money to build another building”.  They must know that God is always faithful and will truly build His’ own Church.

NATIONAL LEADER’S CONFERENCE:  In the next few weeks, to be precise July 29 about one hundred Nazarene leaders in Nigeria will gather for the first time in Lagos.  Most of them will be first timers to Lagos. Thanks for praying for this all important event. We have delegates from Akwa ibom, Rivers, Kogi, Abia, Edo, Imo, ogun, Oyo, Abuja and Lagos fellowshipping for four days. We expect another Pentecost in this place. We have long been praying for revival.  We need it now.  Let it begin with the leaders.

The Church will not be the same again.  The theme is “energizing national holiness revival, strategic Church planting and intentional discipleship”.  The first day is entirely devoted to revival.  The second day church planting; and education and discipleship during the third day.  Sunday August 1, will be having worship services in local Churches in Lagos. National advisory board and other committees will officially be inaugurated in this meeting. Planning is in top gear for the success of this meeting.

Ministry Update by Rev. Friday Udofia

FOR MAY 2010

The Lord is truly helping us. We are moving forward in the right direction.  The month of May was great.

LAGOS:  Dr. Russ Lovett was our guest in May.  He came to teach for the fifth time in WATS.  We truly gained from his visit.  He was with us each Sunday for the three weeks.  He preached at First Church the first week.  I took him to Ogun state to see the new Church and new mission area and to preach the second week; while he preach at Amazing grace group the last week.  What a tremendous blessing that was!  We have series of testimonies on this visit.  His messages have a positive impact on our people.  Our Church is greatly strengthened.

ABUJA:  God will help us.  We shall not give up.  Abuja is so strategic to our ministry in Nigeria. Rev. Okon visited the area last month.  Some places have been shown to him for possible start up facility. We do not have the needed funds for rent.  Okon will also need accommodation.  We trust God to do something. If this is what he would like us to do this time; we shall have funds and the needed support.  Okon may need to move down there to oversee the area since it is very far away from the rest of us. 

KOGI STATE:  Dr. Oziri has made some contacts with some people in Kogi who have been interested to become part of our Church. The new group would like to meet with me this month end.  By His’ grace Dr Oziri and I will be there with some introductory, Bible study and discipleship materials to help them learn more about Christ. By his’ grace, I shall also offer orientation to ministry NTI course to the key leaders within my three days there.

Kogi is a neighboring state to Abuja; not too far away; about 2 hrs plus from where Okon is looking for housing. Our thinking and prayer is that Okon David may be able to oversee the work in these two northern areas from Abuja. Some of the group members there are warming up for ministerial training.  A centre will be opened for them as soon as Okon moves into the zone. Let us keep praying that the Lord will provide the needed resources for this ministry.

OYO STATE: Rev. Emmanuel was in Oyo state capital, Ibadan last Sunday.  He is directly responsible for this new group.  He worshipped with them and had some training with them.  They are so happy to be Nazarenes. Ibadan is about four hours plus drive from Lagos. It is hoped that, they will send delegates to the national conference.  I hope to visit the group after the conference.

NATIONAL CONFERENCE: Preparation is in top gear for the 2010 national conference, this time in Lagos. The central working committee is sending updates to all participants.  I am told of Port Harcourt delegates planning to come together as a team.  Some South East delegates met with me last two week on my return from Abia state.  The story is that they are ready to come to Lagos. Rev. Eshiet is planning to use Akwa Ibom buses.  He told me that delegates from there may be more than one bus. Over 90% have never visited Lagos before this time. You can imagine the excitement.

It is arranged that five days prior to July 29 two NTI courses will be taught.  Orientation to ministry will be taught in the mornings while Spiritual Formation go in the evenings.  We are looking at a possibility of some the leaders in new areas using one stone to kill two birds.  This will truly help them.

We sincerely need your prayers. Please pray that this is going to be like the day of Pentecost where each participant will be so filled with His presence resulting in transformation of lives and the long awaited revival. It is revival we need in Nigeria

Humbly Submitted,

Rev. Friday Udofia

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Update: October 2009

Rev. Friday Udofia

Ministries Coordinator Nigeria

This year we have been blessed with a youth in mission team and also the first work and witness team.  The YIM team traveled through out the whole nation and was an encouragement to the church.

The work and witness team has developed the district center to host teams and expanding the guest house to include the classroom.  It was a great event and with the local team and the district contributing up to about $1,000 USD the main training building.

The national leadership meeting was well attended with 134 leaders and the whole country is moving to a national level.  Things like pastors pensions and  church planting initiatives were the focus of these meetings as well.

The church Is now in eight states

Nigeria Southeast

The high light of this district was a women’s event at the district center.  They had about 1,000 in attendance for 4 days.  The special speakers emphasized details on women in ministry, women’s health, bible studies, children abuse and a march. 

Many went to the altar for prayers after the DS preached a holiness message with the theme “Passport to a better country”

They also had a Sunday school convention where they did training on bible studies.  They took supplies to those in the hospital.  The youth also had a week of youth activities.

A leadership meeting of the nine zones leaders completed the Equip training with lay leaders as well. The 21 laws of leadership were also reviewed.

The National Convention was where groups were set up for teaching and discussion.  It was a great week of exchanging ideas and learning more about compassionate ministries through the teaching of Rev. Obina Robinson.  Rev. Friday Udofia taught about evangelism and church planting.  The people contributed to the world evangelism offering and were challenged that each member give the equivalent of $1.

10 Students graduated from the ITN program

Update Mar 2009:

Rev. Tim Eby

This past year the leaders of Nigeria held the first ever National Conference in Nigeria.  At this historic event they established a national church planting strategy that is focusing on starting churches in cities in the major states of Nigeria.  They have established 3 zones and are focusing on reviving churches that are struggling. 

    to training leaders.  The first Leaders Training seminar was held in Lagos with 16 leaders in attendance where they learned critical skills from the Equip leadership manuals.  The first graduation from the Bible Institute was held in Lagos with 10 students completing their course work in biblical studies in December 2007.

Lagos now has a district property and the site is already developing with an initial worship structure that was built over the past two months and a small guest house that is being renovated to be used for pastoral training.  Plans are underway to launch the main district training center with the promise of work and witness teams to help with the major construction.

God is doing great things in Nigeria and we look forward to a maturing growing church in the next few years.

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