Training School:
We have completed the cosmetic upgrade and the renovation of our present facility. Gladly, I will say that Issacar Missionary Training School (IMTS) will officially commence studies with fifteen to twenty students, September 6, 2004 in Umuahia, Nigeria. There are two tracks Missions track and Church Planters track. Each track is a year certificate program. Should there be any prospective student interested in the two tracks, such person will enroll for a two year diploma in Missions. Some of the lecturers where trained at Fuller Theological Seminary, U. S. A., Assemblies of God Divinity School, Nigeria and from other accredited Bible Colleges in North America. We are also discussing collaboration of resources with some North America Accredited Bible Colleges and Seminaries and some Nigerian Universities. Establishing such collaboration will enhance our program and our courses transferable.
Presently, we are only taking students from Nigeria especially from within Abia State and this is due to space and accommodation. We still have an urgent need for one or two teachers that are willing to sacrifice a year in Nigeria to teach on Cross-Cultural communication among the Indian and the Chinese People groups. These teachers must be sent from their own local churches. Should you be interested or know any who might be interested, please contact us immediately through our office in Vancouver 1-604-707-0222.
Community Outreach For 600 Secondary Schools In Abia State Of Nigeria:
Sometimes in the month of June 2004, the Abia State Honorable Commissioner for Education sent us a letter requesting the reproduction of HIV/AIDS teaching kits on flip charts for a total of six hundred (600) public and private secondary schools in Abia State of Nigeria. In his words, “The materials will go a long way in actualizing our dream of eradicating the HIV scourge in our State”.
Following serials of discussions with them on the need to train the trainers for the effective use of the flip charts, and for us to carryout a sensitization program for the frontline stakeholders, the Permanent Secretary of the Abia State Ministry of Education sent us an official letter indicating that the Ministry had approved that we provide them with the HIV/AIDS teaching kits on flip charts for the State. The Ministry had also approved our running a sensitization program and the training of about 1,200 (one thousand two hundred) trainers drawn from the Ministry Schools, frontline stakeholders (Principals, Officers of Youth & Culture Ministry, Women Affairs Ministry, service providers such as Guidance Counselors and a student to represent each School) from all the local government areas within the State.
This program will commence toward the end of November 2004 and would warrant my returning back to Nigeria to do the training. Friends, I am excited about this project as it would help thousands of young people in developing a positive view about their sexuality and the fact that it will go a long way in the reduction and possible eradication of HIV/AIDS scourge in Nigeria.
Workers From North America, Europe & Asia Urgently Needed:
For the past 5 years, we have been praying that the Lord of the harvest would provide the ministry in Nigeria musical and theatrical equipment that could be used for evangelistic outreaches across Nigeria. We were aware of the fact that such a ministry will dispel many misgivings about the Christian faith.
On April 20, the Lord surprised us. A whole set of musical equipment was donated for such outreach in Nigeria. The goal is to have a group of young people drawn from across Nigeria that will through music, drama, mime and other theatrical performance describe the Christian faith in ways which are clearly relevant to today’s circumstances and tensions, but without minimizing the hard truths that Jesus taught and demands of us.
I believe in a society where the recognition of absolutes is becoming of no relevancy, we must make absolutes seem not only relevant but natural and appealing. We must convey our perception that the difference we make in the world is personally fulfilling, but achieved for the benefit of others, not ourselves.
We are presently putting together a team of men and women with music and theater skills and are willing to serve on a short-term mission work in Nigeria for a year. We are asking for applications from those interested.
We need puppeteers, creative/acting teacher, wind instrumentalists, string instrumentalists, percussionists, sound technician, chalk artists, a juggler who could also mime and who is very theatrical. We also need a children/youth coordinator, a secretary and community nurse that will travel with the team. The main two focus of the team, is reaching the children and the young people with the gospel, and the developing of their skills to the Nigerian youth. Any volunteers must raise their own financial support and be available to leave for Nigeria by the fall of 2005. Anyone interested should contact our Vancouver office immediately.
Report by Paul Ndukwe
