Nigeria - Equipped to reach out

"I met John under a large tree that shaded us from the hot afternoon sun. Sitting with us among the gnarled roots was Musa, a blind man. They told me their story,” says Bible League’s Director of African Ministry.

John is from another village. He had heard there were no believers in this isolated village and he eagerly brought the Gospel. But no one responded.

After receiving Bibles and training from Bible League, John returned to the village. This time he had a plan, he felt prepared and he had covered this project in a great deal of prayer.

"I was received by Musa and his family," remembers John. "Musa gave me a thatched hut and a sleeping mat." John began building relationships with this blind man and his family. "I worked in his fields; I learned about his wife, children and grandchildren; I learned about his food, language and customs."

"Musa was the first to believe," said John, pointing to the blind man. "That was the beginning of our small group." As John led the Bible studies, others came to faith. At the first baptism, 8 people were baptised. Four of these were then trained for ministry. The group studied God's Word and worshipped together. As their group grew in numbers, they built a church house.

This church has reached out to another neighbouring village. They have started a Bible study there with 10 people. It is normal for the people to walk 1½ hours to visit Musa's church. A pastor was found for this new church.

At this point, they have no Bibles for the new work.

John moved on to establish another church in another village. There he already has 20 people in a Bible study group. But he has only has 8 copies of the Bible to give them. They will have to share.

“Later that night,” says Bible League’s Director of African Ministry, “I slept on the church floor, available to any bug or animal that wanted to taste me. But after hearing the story of God's work in these villages, it was a good sleep.”