Dispatch Magazine | Spring 2024

EDITORIAL

Paul Wright, CEO

As you read this edition of Dispatch, you will be struck by how God has called ordinary people and used them in ways that they would never have expected for His own glory. This is true for Ashleigh, who has just joined the office team; Council members, medical electives, short term team members, missionaries and mission partners as well as you, our supporters.

God will remind you as you turn these pages that He is working through people like you and I to transform us into His own likeness, be His witnesses and bring people from many nations to glory! His work in us begins at salvation and as we listen to His voice, He shapes our minds, motives, values, character and actions. When we die to self and surrender to His will, He leads and guides in ways that we would never have naturally sought apart from Him.

Founder, Samuel Bill, was asked to speak unexpectedly at the Portstewart Keswick Convention to mark the 50th Anniversary of the Qua Iboe Fellowship (Mission Africa). He felt unworthy to take any glory for himself and said the following, “I only did ordinary things, like teaching a few children to read, helping a few sick folk and keeping engines running, it was God who did it all.”

The Lord God Almighty has not changed since

then and we continue to see Him move through the ministry of Mission Africa.

Notice how Jeremy Nash obeyed a simple prompt to teach children the Word of God. The Association Gamaliel now reaches thousands of children in Burkina Faso. God did this.

Why would David Onuche spend his life reaching a hostile people group and face many difficulties? God did this.

See how God has led Ana Van Brakel through some difficult years in different places to bring her to where she had never considered serving. God did this.

We have all been brought together from various parts of the world and walks of life to function as the Body of Christ on earth in subjection to our Head, the Lord Jesus, ready to do His will and work on earth. At the end of our lives, no matter what part each of us have played, we will be able to say, “I only did ordinary things, it was God who did it all.”

FOR IT IS GOD WHO WORKS IN YOU TO WILL AND TO ACT IN ORDER TO FULFIL HIS GOOD PURPOSE. Phil 3:13

‘I only did ordinary things, like teaching a few children to read, helping a few sick folk, keeping engines running.

IT WAS GOD WHO DID IT ALL

ASHLEIGH KELLY Finance & Child Sponsorship

Hi, I’m Ashleigh. I’m married to David and mum to Faith; age 9. I am a member of Scrabo Hall and I’m blessed to be able to lead the Women’s Precept Bible study there. Any spare time will see me playing a board game, sewing or reading. After 16 years working in the Civil

Service, I felt it was time for a new challenge. God graciously directed me to the work of Mission Africa and I’m excited to see what He has called me to. I started on 8th April so pray that I will quickly settle into the team and enjoy a new routine at Mission Africa.

NAOMI BARFOOT

How did you originally become involved in Mission Africa?

I got involved with Mission Africa as a ‘blow in’ - I’d never been to any meetings or been

on any teams. I was aware of Mission Africa through my parents and through my good friend Pamela Gaiya. My initial contact was when a work colleague was approached to join Council as someone with a legal background given the

need to have a range of skills involved on the board. My colleague did not take up the role, and forwarded the enquiry to me. I was at that time getting ready to go on a Tear Fund trip to Uganda and Rwanda as I had always had an interest in mission. I had been searching for a way to serve God that suited my skills, which didn’t seem to fit the normal roles that people take up. I wasn’t gifted in music or anything ‘up front’ so I was at a bit of a loss to know what I could do. This role just jumped out at me as the thing that I had been searching for. I replied to the email from Simon Johnston (ex Council member) to confirm my interest. I then met with Paul Bailie to discuss it all, the invitation was confirmed and I was delighted to accept. It’s been a real privilege and joy to be involved for 12 years now.

What is your role on council?

My role in Council is primarily to be the legal brain in the room! I am also a council buddy to David and Lucy Morrison, and Pamela Gaiya. I was also heavily involved in the organising of the Gala Dinner in 2018 at Titanic Belfast.

What has been your highlight as a council Member?

It’s difficult to pick just one highlight as there are many. Having the privilege to get to know and work with Paul Bailie was one highlight - Paul ended up conducting my wedding ceremony in 2021! My trips to Nigeria and Chad were two other major highlights. It great to see the work on the ground, to see Pamela’s world having heard about it for so many years, and also to experience Chad and the very challenging but valuable ministry of the Acacia Centre. And the Gala Dinner was another highlight too - stressful to organise, but great fun on the night, and a great way to make and renew contacts of Mission Africa.

Describe Mission Africa in one word or phrase

Mission Africa for me in one word is ‘courageous’. Our countries of service are not easy, our missionaries show courage in their service of God every day. It’s very challenging

to reflect on when you consider the ease of our circumstances, relatively speaking, here in Northern Ireland. My trips out to Nigeria and Chad showed me the reality of trusting God every day to meet all our needs in a way I have not encountered at home.

GLORIA KEARNEY

How did you originally become involved in Mission Africa?

I was introduced to Mission Africa (or Qua Iboe Fellowship, as it was known then) in the late 60s by my husband Robert, who invited me to attend one of the meetings of the QIF Youth Fellowship when we were students at the University of Ulster. His parents had served with the mission for many years in Nigeria and Robert had been born there so he had a lifelong interest.

We served as missionary teachers for about 4 years in Nigeria, years that we look back on with affection.

How did you become a Council Member?

I was invited to join Council during the period when John Cardoo was the General Secretary. I remember being shocked at the invitation as I didn’t consider myself to be ‘council material’. My memory of the council who had sent us out was of a group of capable, serious men in dark suits! After a meeting with John where he addressed some of my concerns, I agreed to join and duly attended my first meeting, determined to keep very quiet and just listen. I was soon encouraged to ask questions and express my opinions and have really enjoyed my years of service on Council.

What is your role on Council?

During the years when Trevor McIlroy served as Chair of Council, I served as his Vice Chair and then became Chair of Council. It was a great privilege to meet regularly with the CEO, who was at that time Revd Dr Paul Bailie, to pray with him, encourage him and discuss Council business with him. I spent five busy and sometimes challenging years in that position. At the moment, for what will be my last year on Council, I am acting as a co-chair with Caz Bustard, trying to help out where I can.

What has been your highlight as a council member?

Although I served in Nigeria as a missionary, the highlight of these years has been visiting Burkina Faso. I was asked to write the story of the work of the Beningtons and the Nashes and visited the Nashes at their home in Legmoin to do research. A Place

Prepared was subsequently published in 2002.

Ten years later, I visited again, to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Eglise Protestante Evangélique (EPE) Church, establishing links that are ongoing today. Ana van Brakel was my guide and interpreter on that visit to Gaoua and also on a visit four years later to renew the MOU, when I also had the privilege of revisiting the compound at Legmoin. I loved everything about Burkina Faso - the beautiful country, the friendly people and the thriving churches even though my visits tested my schoolgirl French to its limit!

Describe Mission Africa in one word or phrase:

‘A Christian community called to love and serve people in Africa.’

Perfect Casts Out

Be a missionary? Not me! Lord, that’s impossible you see.

I’m not the strong and fearless type to set off for some distant land. Why Lord, I run away from wasps and bees - the hordes of insects I just couldn’t stand!

You know I like my comforts, Lord; My lovely home, good food to eat. I couldn’t cope with hardship and privation, drink powdered milk and use tinned meat. My list of fears grows longer every day - Darkness, being on my own at night, I panic at the thought of being sick, or flying, even on the shortest flight.

And what about my children, Lord? No! No! It’s just too much to ask That I should risk their health and happiness - too great the sacrifice, too hard the task.

Well, I’m a missionary. Yes! Me! All things are possible you see.

God doesn’t need the strong and fearless type to set off for His chosen land. He only asks the weak but willing ones to put their life and future in His hand.

I came here, filled with fear and apprehension, but found, to my amazement and delight,

That all my fears He conquered one by one, as utterly as daybreak conquers night. I wasn’t spared the insects or the sickness, or loneliness, or lack of food to eat,

But when I faced these things, the fear was goneI learnt to cope without fresh milk or meat.

So, Lord, Your call was right, my fears were wrong! I cannot say ‘the sacrifice was too great’ For with the task came strength and confidence And love that makes the strongest fear abate. - written by Gloria Kearney.

A NEW LIFE IN ENUGU

A WHOLE NEW CULTURE

Samantha Ibia

As I write this article its hard to believe we have been in Enugu for seven months. It hasn’t been the easiest of adjustments; our kids have never known anywhere other than their life in Abuja and neither Godfrey nor myself have ever lived in the south-east of Nigeria before.

The south-east of Nigeria is mostly Igbo tribes and is a completely different culture to where we have been used to living, which is mostly in the north of the country. Many people have asked me what are the differences and all I can say is that it feels totally different even from when we lived in Calabar which is in the south. I am finding that people tend to keep to themselves a lot; they are very proud of their language and culture which makes us ‘outsiders’ having to work harder to make it our home.

FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN STUDENTS (FCS)

Beginning to set up FCS in Enugu has been hard. We still feel like we have made little progress seven months on but we know that God is working and His time is perfect even if it is not at our pace. When we arrived, work in schools was almost non-existent and very few

people had even heard the name ‘Fellowship of Christian Students.’ We really felt like we were starting from scratch, and with Scripture Union (SU) being the known ministry for schools work here, the burden was heavy. Initially, we were told that we would be running Bible Clubs for children in the local community, which was a very different ministry to what we are used to, which is working with students.

Over time, we have seen God’s faithfulness as we have been able to meet with and gain access to two secondary schools, and a primary school. We are able to meet with the students every week and have fellowship

with them. This was a real answer to prayer. Join with us as continue to pray for access into more secondary schools. Our heart is for students to hear the Gospel, give their lives to Christ and to be discipled in their faith as they grow.

One of the things currently holding us back from going forward is the need for more volunteers or as we call them, Associates. These are people who come along side FCS in visiting schools, but also giving financially so the work can continue and develop. We have been able to find a few willing volunteers here but many of them have a lot of commitments and the Bible clubs are what brought them on board initially, so schools work is new to them. Trying to find those who are willing to

visit schools is proving challenging as many churches are sceptical as they don’t know anything about FCS and some feel we may be trying to either steal members or funds. Once again, God continues to be faithful and has reminded us that nothing is impossible.

SUMMER IN NORTHERN IRELAND

We are planning as a family to be home in Northern Ireland for the month of August. I know that most church groups will be finished for the summer, but if your church or prayer group would like us to come and share about the work of FCS, please contact the Mission Africa Office and we will do our best to fit you in.

I would ask that you pray for us as we take these steps in developing the work of FCS in Enugu. Pray that God would help both Godfrey and I to not get tired and frustrated with the slow progress but to be reminded daily of His faithfulness. Pray that God would bring people who will encourage us, come alongside us and work together with us to move this ministry forward.

It is our prayer that students will not just come to know Christ as their Lord, but will have the heart and desire to grow in their faith and to become young men and women who will show Jesus in every area of their life.

How can you be praying for Samantha, her family and the work of FCS in Enugu?

MEET ELEANOR

Eleanor Ingram has just recently retired from Mission Africa’s Council after serving for almost 30 years. Before this, Eleanor served as a teacher in Ochaja Girls School in Kogi State, Nigeria. We give thanks for her faithful service and look forward to her still being part of our Portadown Prayer Group and attending Mission Africa events!

Eleanor writes;

My initial contact with Mission Africa was through Miss Jean Corbett, the first lady Council member on what was then called the Qua Iboe Mission. In the late 1970s she arranged annual summer meetings

where teachers from Ochaja Boys’ Secondary School in Nigeria came to Northern Ireland for their annual leave. This coincided with the Northern Ireland school’s long summer holiday. As Dorothy Martin and Jean McDonald; two missionary teachers, spoke of their work in the school, and being qualified myself, I wondered if I too could work there for a few years as I was a teacher. Praying about this, then led to an application to the Mission, an interview with Council and acceptance in 1980

I was posted to Ochaja Girls’ School, in what is now known as Kogi State in Nigeria. The school consisted of boarding and day students. Both the Nigerian and ex-pat staff were welcoming and the pupils were always keen to learn. This made it easy to be ready for a cool 7.20am start to the school day. The day’s teaching finished at 1.30pm as the temperature increased during the afternoon. Alongside teaching, I would attend Fellowship of Christian Students (FCS) and Sunday services which were well attended by students too, with many visiting speakers. The eight years that I spent in Nigeria, combined with refreshing visits home annually, flew by. God was so faithful.

On returning to life in Northern Ireland, I started to attend the Portadown Prayer group, faithfully led by Miss Corbett, then Dr Esther Davis. I was able to keep in touch with the work of the Mission. It was always a joy to hear a missionary speaker at a meeting and to catch up with friends at the Mission Africa annual events.

Northern Ireland, I was asked if I would be willing to serve on the Mission Africa Council. This was an awesome responsibility and a great privilege. In 2010 my husband, Alan, and I travelled to Ochaja Girls School for their Golden Jubilee - a happy celebration with many former students who had gone on to careers across the country returning to the school to meet friends and reminisce.

Now in 2024, gone are the days when a phone call from Jos at Christmas and airmail letters the rest of the year was the extent of contact with family when serving in Nigeria. Now, Zoom calls and prayer meetings monthly allow supporters of Mission Africa to get up-to-date prayer points from missionaries.

As well as Zoom meetings, in person prayer at the Portadown prayer group continues the first Tuesday of the month. We are grateful for the prayer monthlies which arrive promptly bringing pointers for prayer and praise.

Mission Africa now has personnel serving in Chad, Kenya and Ivory Coast as well as Nigeria and visiting them has become much easier. Young people have the opportunity to go on summer teams to experience God’s care in an African environment. Whether long-term or short, the God who calls, also equips His children for whatever role He wants them to fulfil.

How great is His faithfullness!

In the mid 1990s, now teaching locally in

What is the purpose behind a short-term mission trip?

What is the biblical basis for mission?

What stops us from sharing the gospel?

How do we share the gospel in a culture completely different to our own?

This year we have been running our new Short Term programme called ‘Come See Go Tell’ which anyone going on a short term team or elective is part of. This year, we have almost 40 people volunteering across 4 teams and medical electives. Our hope and prayer for every person who decides to serve with Mission Africa is that their lives will be transformed by coming and seeing what the Lord is doing in Africa, so that they can go and tell others of all they have seen and learnt, using this growth to serve God wherever He calls them to next.

So far, we have had three sessions exploring, ‘What is the goal of mission?’ and ‘Why do culture and worldview matter for mission?’. In every session we are studying the letter which the apostle Paul wrote to the church in Rome, a letter that was all about the Gospel. As we read in Romans 1, Paul understood that it was not for his name’s sake that he shared the gospel, but it was for Jesus Christ. It was not Paul’s mission; it was God’s, and he was called to play a small part in it. We have used these first two sessions to lay the biblical

foundation for mission, aligning the hearts of each of our volunteers with God’s Word. In light of this biblical basis for mission, over the next few weeks we will be looking at serving with humility, how to work in partnership, and how to use the gifts and abilities we have been given to serve each other well.

Please pray for every person involved in this year’s programme, that they would not become complacent in sharing the gospel but would see the urgency in sharing it for Jesus Christ’s sake, with the same zeal as the apostle Paul.

“Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

Matthew 28 v5-7

YOUTH & EVANGELISM

TEAM

Kenya 23 JULY - 13 august

Iona McIldoon, Emily Kane, Georgia Neill, Joel Parker, Hannah Jenkins (pictured).

Sarah Fulton & Lucy Stewart (not pictured).

HIGH KIRK PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

KENYA 06 july - 21 july

Mark McKibben,

Kenya 06 JULY - 19 JULY

Isabel Hamill & Sarah Maxwell (pictured). Rachel Boyle, Hannah Finlay & Kathryn Lindsay(not pictured).

KENYA june - sept

MEDICAL & NURSING ELECTIVES

Luke Clarke, Ellen Gilmour, Ellen Hamilton, Jayne Liggett, Leah Spiers, Rebekah Francey, Naomi Hanna (pictured). Ruth Carson & Sarah McClean (not pictured).

Clifford White, Nina Moles, Olivia Drain, Emily Stewart, Rebekah Calderwood, Joel McKibben, Jill MacCorkell, Lucy McAllister, Luke McLaughlin, Dan Patterson, Connor McKenna, Rachel Cochrane, Sophie McCluney.

JUNE CELEBRATION

& COMMISSIONING

We would love for you to join us and celebrate how God has been at work in Nigeria, Kenya, Chad, Burkina Faso and the Ivory Coast over this past year. The evening will be full of praise, prayer and stories from various members of Mission Africa. Our short-term team members will also be introduced and commissioned too.

SATURDAY

8th

JUNE

Newtownbreda

Baptist Church

43 Newtownbreda Road, Belfast, BT8 7BQ

Dinner served at 5:30PM Conference begins at 7PM

Join us for a meal together before the evening celebration. For catering purposes, please confirm your attendance by Tuesday 4th June. You can email operations@missionafrica.org.uk or call 02890402850

*Please note we are unable to cater for any special dietary requirements.

LOUISE BOYD

SHORT TERM, KENYA

I arrived in Kenya on 3rd January this year to take part in short term mission with Mission Africa. Up until now, my experience can only be described as a ‘roller-coaster experience.’ This is my first time in Africa, and there have been lots of new experiences and challenges.

I spent my first few weeks here joining in the various different ministries that Kathryn Lindsay is involved in. This included Karai Childrens Home, The Rescue Centre and Comet School. However, I was really looking for something consistent to get involved with and began praying as to what this was to be.

On 6th February, I attended a ministry called i-Serve Africa to help lead a group of 18–22 year olds through a discipleship programme

student called Dorcas. The programme will end on 1st June with a Thanksgiving Service which I will unfortunately miss due to returning home, but God has been faithful in answering my prayer and provided this opportunity to serve Him in this way whilst in Kenya.

I have been attending Gracepoint Church on Sunday’s which is also connected to i-Serve and I am really enjoying the worship here and the spiritual nourishment has really helped me.

It has been so good to be involved in this programme and get to know the young people. I am involved in the Bible groups which are held three times per week and I also mentor a

I had the opportunity to speak at a Scripture Union in PCEA Kikuyu High School. This is an ‘all boys’ school and it was so lovely to see these young boys worship God with sincerity and joy. It felt like a real privilege to share God’s word with them and I believe there will be more opportunities to get involved in Scripture Unions here.

I am learning something new every day and

and I’m really depending on God for His help too. I am so glad of this experience and I know it will have a life-long impact on me and for whatever God has for me in the future.

KATIE MCCULLOUGH

Medical Elective, Kenya

My name is Katie McCullough and in January 2024, along with Lucy Sydserff, I travelled to Kenya to spend my five-week Medical Elective placement with Mission Africa. We split our time between the two hospitals; Kikuyu which is close to Nairobi, and Chogoria which is in the foothills of Mount Kenya. During this time, we got to rotate through a number of different departments including Medicine, Surgery, Paediatrics, Emergency and Obstetrics and Gynaecology where we worked alongside the Kenyan nurses and doctors.

We saw firsthand the challenges of working with limited resources and the financial difficulties faced by patients which meant they had to make tough decisions about their medical care. It was so encouraging to work in an environment where faith in Jesus was openly discussed, from morning chaplaincy services to prayers before ward rounds and surgeries. Joining the chaplaincy team for ‘prayer rounds’ was a highlight as I was so encouraged to see the faith of some of the patients even

when they were going through suffering and hardship. It was also great to see how God was at work in the local community and church as we were able to join Kathryn Lindsay, getting a glimpse of the different ministries that she is involved in.

Through this time, God reminded me of the importance of relying on Him and remembering He is with me even in the unknown and uncertain situations. From this Elective, I have been challenged to pray for and seek out opportunities to share the Gospel with people who God has placed in my life, and I also want to be open to serve him wherever He leads me in the future – whether this be in the UK or further abroad.

Thank you for your prayers and support during my time away – it has been so appreciated!

PAUL BAILIE MEMORIAL LIBRARY

LIBRARY RENOVATION PROJECT AT PACT

Revd Brian Wilson

Before I travelled to Nigeria back in October 2021, I was told that there would be a brand new library waiting for me. Plans had already been made and work had already begun, or so I was told...When I arrived at Peter Achimugu College of Theology (PACT), work had begun, but had stopped and truthfully, the work hadn’t got very far. A temporary library was set up in an old classroom at the back of the college. This was where I would spend my time until the new one was completed.

You can see the size of the library from the photo above. The work had stalled mainly due to lack of funding for materials. So we began praying that God would provide a way for the library renovation to be completed and it was a definite answer to prayer that Council determined that Mission Africa’s 60th anniversary gift to the College should be money to complete the renovation. I praise God for that.

Work then restarted in September 2023 and was finished just before the college was due to celebrate it’s anniversay.

The library is now complete as you can see on the next page. It’s bigger, fresh and bright. Its importance is shown by the artwork outside; showing the College’s age and also Paul’s reminder to Timothy that the Christian servant should be a good student of God’s Word, able and unashamed to handle that Word of Truth.

We were pleased to welcome Paul Wright and Caroline Bustard to join us for the opening ceremony in January 2024. It is a fitting tribute to my late friend and past CEO, Revd Dr Paul Baillie that the library was also named the ‘Paul Bailie Memorial Library.’

Joseph Shaibu, Academic Dean

I want to express our profound gratitude to the Lord for the successful renovation of the College Library. This is a massive project that has been the yearning and desire of both staff and students for many years. It is one of the latest structures at the college which will provide an environment for research and growth in knowledge for both staff and students. Our prayer is that this new library will be used to glorify God and to further His kingdom.

Emmanuel,

A Post Graduate Student:

The new library; both the interior and the exterior view gives me a lot of motivation. Anytime I see it, it drives me to want to take time to study there. And it has a lot of space where I can sit comfortable to do my research work.

It also has a lot of ventilation which is a necessity for a good concentration. This new library can host more books, all our materials that were scattered all over are now gathered in one room which is much better and gives us quick access to materials that are present in the library.

WHERE GOD GUIDES, HE PROVIDES Pamela

Gaiya

‘Where God guides, He provides’ has certainly been Pamela Gaiya’s testimony during her Christian walk as well as during her 30 years with Mission Africa. Before Christmas (December 2023) Pamela had a growing sense of needing to refocus on certain tasks and at its January Council meeting, Mission Africa gave Pamela permission to commence a 6-month sabbatical. This period of ‘away-time’ particularly from her primary role at Africa Christian Textbooks (ACTS) will be occupied mainly with the following projects:

Field Facilitator Duties with particular attention being spent on some Field Standard Operating Procedures. Pray for wisdom on this matter.

Carrying out Pamela’s 30th Anniversary Project. The response and generous donations to this have been absolutely astounding. Praise God! The latest figure reached was £9,500. Pray for wisdom when dealing with this project as core/essential library titles are sourced via ACTS and provided for the Revd Adrian Adger Memorial Library at William Wheatley Theological College. Pray too that this new library will help equip the student body in their studies and training; remember that after 4 years of hard study these students will go

out and serve the Church, so having good resources in the library while they study at WWTC can help to properly prepare them for ministry. A heart-felt THANK YOU to all who so generously contributed.

A pastoral visit from Pamela’s sending denomination is being planned (29 April – 8 May). This will consist of Pamela’s minister, Revd Andrew Lucas (Omagh Evangelical Presbyterian) and Pamela’s middle brother, Revd Robert Johnston (Knock Evangelical Presbyterian). Pray that this visit will be an encouragement and a blessing to Pamela, Musa and Gracie as well as their wider family.

Preparing for Home Assignment in June & July. If you would like the Gaiya family to share in your church or meeting, please get in touch with the Mission Africa Office to arrange this. Pray that this time of Home Assignment will be a time to be physically and spiritually recharged, renewed and refreshed.

LIFE ON CAMPUS

Ana

van Brakel

How are you settling into life in the Ivory Coast?

I have been in the Ivory Coast since 3rd January, and truthfully, it has taken me until now to feel fully settled. Although it isn’t Burkina Faso, it is good be back in West-Africa.

I always take a little while to get myself oriented and this time was no different. When I arrived in Bouafle, a city in central Ivory Coast, I was introduced to ‘my house’ which had been used as a guest house up to that point. What that meant was that it had some basic furniture - although I don’t think they realised

how basic it actually was. I have taken the freedom to add items such as shelving units, kitchen utentils, replace the cooker, fridge and mattress along with some maintenance work which has been done on the windows.

In March I travelled to Burkina Faso for a short trip where I was able to bring a few personal items back with me from my time living there. It’s nice to have them sitting around as it helps me in finding my feet. I now enjoy spending more time in my kitchen!

How has it been different adjusting from life in Burkina Faso to life in the Ivory Coast?

For the last few years I’ve been used to the busy city life in England and now I am currently adjusting to life on a confined campus rather than in a rural town. The Bible Institute is situated on a large plot of land close to the town but not ‘in town’ so I have noticed that many don’t actually leave the campus to go into the town. Everything that the students and staff need is on the campus. Students come from all over the country as well as the surrounding countries which means that there are very few natural connections with the local people.

For me, the campus is kind of like my village. That is one big difference that I’ve had to adjust to. In Burkina the village was my immediate surroundings and I was able to walk around it freely. Now, the setting is very much the life of the Institute.

The interactions with the people living around me are different – with the varying cultres within the Institute and living on campus means

that my interactions are more teacher-student focused, rather than on friendships. My mind hasn’t found a balance yet, but I’m slowly beginning to adjust.

The accommodation for the students is set out as a road with houses and apartments on both

sides, while the accommodation for the staff is in one group. It does feel a bit ‘shut off’ from the other people sometimes and I enjoy the weekends where I am able to join with some friends for an evening meal. It’s lovely to be able to sit with them, share a meal, chat or play games with the children.

What do the next few months look like for you?

The teaching started almost immediately after I arrived and as expected, it was quite a challenge. As it is my first time teaching in a college, I have had to prepare most of the courses from scratch. Most women seem keen; the difficulty is that there is a group of women who have just this year arrived with their husbands and those who already completed 3 years of the program. This causes a big knowledge gap along with varying levels of literacy within the group. Some of the women who have just started their literacy course can

hardly read while others have nearly finished the programme and are comfortable reading and writing.

My plans for the next few months will be spent trying to set up the courses I will be asked to do in advance. At the end of this academic year, I understand that I will be having a meeting with the Dean to see what subjects I will be taking next year so that it will hopefully give me additional time to prepare for next year.

Pray that Ana will continue to feel settled in both life on campus and in the surrounding area of Boufale. Give thanks that her house if beginning to feel more like a home.

Pray for clarity around the subjects that she will be teaching over the coming months and that God would fill her with wisdom as she prepares the material to teach. Pray also for the hearts of the women who are part of the class; especially for the gap in knowledge between some of them.

How can you be praying for Ana while she serves here?

During March, I travelled to Legmoin which came around sooner than I expected. I’d got the dates crossed with Easter so I hurried the poor women in the college through the book of Deuteronomy to make sure they would have their exam completed before the holidays. It turned out that I would still have had a week after my return from Burkina!

My trip was supposed to be 5-6 days which then turned into 11. I spent time chasing up the bank to get my account sorted. They thought the new card would be through by Friday but when we turned up on Friday, there was a lack of cards in the region, so they had to apply to Ouagadougou (which obviously takes longer!)

As I was about to leave to return to the Ivory Coast, I had to sign an authorisation. This is to verify that I had been to the police to get ‘stamps’ (not postal ones, government stamps). It turned out that these stamps had also been very scarce for the last 6 months too. We managed to find a way around it, but it was a reminder that Burkina Faso is still very much still

a country at war. I’d kind of forgotten this.

During my stay I did ‘bump’ into a few friends. Though that was more by coincidence than design. I hadn’t made it known that I was around as I knew I’d have too many things to do which I wouldn’t be able to get finished if I also had to receive lots of visitors. My days were long; I started at 6am, coffee break at 10am, lunch at 1pm and then straight through until nightfall. There was no electricity at the mission, so we took dinner once dark had come.

Now that I am back, we have completed a review of the exam with the women - and now we’ve made a start on the Apocalypse. As they’ll be having 2 weeks off for Easter break, they wondered whether it was worthwhile starting as many of them wanted time off so they could get ready for their trip back to family or church. I promised we would do a review of our first lesson - but as the internet was back this morning we watched the film of Perpetua (in French) as background information for Revelation. There were no complaints!

AN INTRODUCTION TO DAVID ONOUCHE

Paul Wright

After a long day travelling through what seemed like countless checkpoints and potholes, we arrived back in Abuja feeling tired and questioning why we scheduled another appointment that evening. David Onuche, who I had heard about was due to arrive and spend time with us.

Soon, we were met with a warm smile and gentle greetings from David, who himself had travelled to meet us. Taking only water, and the occasional biscuit, David then shared how God, through the Gospel, had transformed his life.

The tiredness from earlier was now forgotten as this humble and passionate man spoke about the Lord and the mission entrusted to him. Now and again, when emphasis was needed, David would stand to his feet and add gestures to make sure we were listening.

It was one of the most encouraging and challenging experiences of my trip in January. It was a privilege to listen to how the Lord opened the blind eyes of someone born into an animistic idolatrous family and transformed him from glory to glory.

David was punished for attending the church in his village as a boy, but once he believed the Gospel, he began to tell to others in neighbouring villages, it seemed like a reasonable thing to do with Good News like that!

Missionaries who could see his zeal and the Spirit’s work in his life encouraged him to go to Samuel Bill Theological College. While studying, he was challenged about mission through people like Graeme Cheesman and vividly remembers Sid Garland challenging students about taking the Gospel to the Fulani.

The Fulani are an Islamic nomadic people group that stretch across West Africa. David felt a burden and responded to what he believes was the call of God on his life to reach this people who are regarded as fierce, violent and closed to outsiders.

He has now spent decades reaching the Fulani, an extremely difficult task. There have been times when he didn’t know if he would be received or attacked when approaching a Fulani settlement, but persisted because he knows that they are lost and without hope apart from Christ.

He shared stories about those he calls ‘secret disciples’ whom he would meet, when safe to do so in their homes and under trees. Often,

people would follow him and investigate why he has been in someone’s home and what he was teaching.

In recent years, through your support, Mission Africa was able to provide David with a people carrier to bring some of these believers out for fellowship. The windows are blacked out so others cannot see who they are for everyone’s safety.

He has walked, cycled, motorcycled and driven over the years to reach the Fulani. Many of you have prayed and supported the outreach for many years and David wanted to sincerely pass on his gratitude to all of you whom he will likely never meet this side of glory.

How can you be praying for David and his ministry to the Fulani?

David and his wife continue to be faithful but recognise that he is not as young as he was. He asked that we would all pray for others to join in God’s mission to reach the Fulani. His desire is that Fulani disciples would make Fulani disciples. Let’s uphold David, his family and the secret believers in prayer and join him in asking the Father to send forth labourers into the harvest.

MEET THE FLECK FAMILY

Leslie Fleck

In July 1967, civil war (known as the Biafran War) erupted across Nigeria. This war raged until January 1970 and as a result, up to two million Biafrans died, mostly of starvation.

During this time most of the Qua Iboe Mission (Mission Africa’s original name) workers had to leave Nigeria. One of those who came home was Miss Vera Kerr. During her furlough, she was led by God to start several young people’s monthly missionary information, prayer and

support meetings. There were around five of these set up in towns throughout Northern Ireland. Georgina and I became involved with the meetings in Coleraine and Ballymena.

From those meetings a number went on to serve in Nigeria. Several of the past and present Council members had also been involved in those meetings.

In the early eighties a couple from our church

Colette Hanna, Leslie Fleck, Liam Hanna, David & Ruth Abbah, Godwin & Gail Ekanem, Georgina Fleck, Gillian Fleck

in Newtownabbey joined Qua Iboe Mission and went to Nigeria to teach. My brother Ian and wife Sandra had gone out in 1975 to Nigeria and was involved in helping the church with Theological Education. We felt led to start a monthly prayer meeting in our home to support them and others in prayer.

In February 1991, the then General Secretary, Rev Bill Leach invited me to join the Qua Iboe Fellowship Home Council. The late Margaret Ussher and I were both welcomed to the council at their meeting in March of that year. It was a privilege to meet up to pray and discuss the business of the mission, helping and giving support to the Chief Executive in decisions that needed to be taken. I stayed on Council until I had exceeded the age at which the Charities Commission expect Trustees to retire.

In 2001, our daughter Gillian went out for two months to Samuel Bill Theological College. She was involved in helping move the books into the newly built Rev William Leach Memorial Library. She, along with the help of her brother Philip, put together a computer database enabling a record to be kept of all the books in the library, assisting students in their search for help in different subjects. It was not possible to get it all processed in the 2 months she had gone for, so she went back for a further 2 months the same year to complete it. Having got Africa under her skin and into her blood, she returned to Nigeria in 2003, to take part in a STEP team in Jos. In 2008 Gillian returned to Nigeria, this time to the Peter Achimugu

College of Theology (PACT). Again, she was involved in organising and computerising the college library.

While Gillian was there, Georgina and I decided to take the opportunity to have a once in lifetime experience of visiting Nigeria. After hearing about it from the missionaries and praying for it for 30 years we decided we needed to experience it for ourselves. We were able to stay with Pamela Johnston (now Gaiya) and she took us to visit different ministries round Jos and was able to give us an informed tour of ACTS headquarters where she works. After our stay in Jos with Pamela we were safely driven to Ankpa by Zongo the driver, where we met up with Gillian.

At Ankpa I was able to do some electrical work in the new computer room and help to repair the rickety, unstable library shelves. Gail and Godwin Ekanem and Liam and Colette Hanna took us on trips to see the Bassa Bible School, Joyce Hyslop’s house in Odenyi and Robert Hyslop’s grave, Holley Memorial Hospital, and the Donegore Centre at Ogugu.

We thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Nigeria and would recommend anyone to go. When you have seen the places, you can pray more intelligently for them. Over the years it has been a pleasure having the different serving missionaries to our home to share about their work. Our prayer group meets in Newtownabbey each month and we would love to invite anyone new along.

ASSOCIATION GAMALIEL

Jeremy Nash

At present, Mission Africa has no personel serving on a permanent basis in Burkina Faso. While there isn’t a missionary there, the work and ministries are still very much continuing. One ministry is the Association Gamaliel; a School’s Ministry Project set up by Jeremy Nash.

Association Gamaliel is an After School’s Bible Club ministry that I started near the village of Legmoin, Burkina Faso, in 2003. When I look back, I am grateful to the Lord for the way He has guided this ministry and the way that the seed which was planted in so

It started as part of an evangelistic outreach to the Dagari people. We started to run two after-school clubs with primary school aged children with the aim that more children would have the opportunity to study God’s Word.

Ephesians 4:11 ‘Preparing God’s people for works of service’. My desire was simply to get

schools using a course called The Explorers Club. I spoke informally to pastors and Christian teachers in the Gaoua area, where I used to live. Without consciously realising it, I was putting into practice Eph 4:11. ‘He gave ... some to be evangelists … to prepare God’s people for works of service.’ I was putting this verse into practice, mobilising the people of God for works of service.

Matt 9:37 ‘The harvest is plentiful but the labourers are few’. Initially, I discovered that it was hard to find people willing to engage in this ministry and often when I did, and we got a good relationship going with the local schools, the pastor or teacher would be moved on and so often the ministry would then stop.

Luke 10:2 ‘Jesus sent them out two by two.’ I realised that I hadn’t put enough emphasis on teamwork in the same way that Jesus had in getting his disciples to do ministry in pairs. From this, I was able to train people to be involved, who would then begin mentoring and training others also. This had positive effects, such as greater continuity in the weekly course. Additionally, should the main person move away, there was already someone trained to take over.

Extending the ministry further to reach the

lost. As I prayed in 2011 about extending this ministry to the whole of Burkina Faso, God gave me a clear vision that there was still more to be done. I had two schools lined up with teams willing to run the courses, but I needed the permission of the School Inspector. I was able to meet with him and talked in terms of education; the need to read and comprehend and then answer questions. This man was not a Christian and could clearly see it was a Christian course. His reply caught me off guard. He said he would like all the schools in his area to do this course. I was blown away! I thanked him and explained that we didn’t currently have enough lessons prepared or indeed teams of people lined up to run the course that extensively, but we would be thrilled to start in two of the schools. I took this reply as a sign from God that I should indeed seek to reach out further.

A letter of Introduction from the ‘Evangelical Alliance’. Contacting pastors in new towns met with questions such as ‘who was I?’ ‘Did their church denominational leadership know about me?’ I asked to meet the president of the FEME (equivalent of the Evangelical Alliance) and explained to him what I was doing. He responded by offering to write a letter of recommendation. Since that time, it has been much easier to organise a meeting with pastors that don’t know me, because the letter showed that I work under the FEME.

too great for me to visit each one. At the same time, the security situation was deteriorating rapidly in Burkina Faso, making it too dangerous for me to even visit some of these centres. That is when I decided to instigate holding an annual conference. Two members from each committee were invited to come to the capital city. This gave me the opportunity to meet members from every place where we ran our courses. It was also an opportunity for them to meet each other, learn from one another and start to take decisions together as to how the ministry should continue to develop. The delight for me that first conference was that they suddenly had a far larger vision of what God was doing, he was at work in so many other towns of Burkina as well as their own.

Our first National conference in 2019. As the ministry began to grow, I realised that it was

Regional Coordinators. As the number of schools continued to grow, I decided to divide them into regions. I chose 7 regions and then let the representatives at conference that year appoint a Regional Coordinator. They were then responsible for communication so that everyone in the region heard or responded to information and requests from me.

The final step. Finally, in 2023, they decided that we should form an Association, so that when dealing with educational authorities, it would help in obtaining permission to do the ministry in the schools, as Burkina Faso has a secular constitution. The regional coordinators and a few invited participants met together and we decided on an executive committee for the association which they decided to name Gamaliel.

It was as I was preparing to hand over the ‘baton’ of leadership that I realised afresh what God had done and how far he had brought us.

My visit in 2023 was a time of handing over responsibilities. The new committee organised the conference program and I listened as decisions were taken.

Challenged by a book I was reading at that time, I was particularly struck by the following question: if you had all the resources required what 3 things would you like to do for God over the next 5 years? My answer was simple; to reach all the school children of Burkina Faso with God’s Word. I left this challenge with the committee. I encouraged the leaders that who they are, their character, is their strength and

they must focus on being the right people as much as doing the right things. The vision that God gave me, I trust they may fulfil, by reaching all the school children in Burkina Faso.

My future involvement. My undertaking to them is that through you; my supporters, I might enable them to have the same financial resources as I have enjoyed. As the ministry reaches more and more schools, I hope to keep the per-school support the same. Please do continue with me in your prayer and financial support as ‘Gamaliel’ continues ministry.

People ask me, ‘am I sad?’ In some ways I am. I loved my years of ministry in Burkina Faso. On the other hand, I am so thankful to the Lord for his faithfulness in ways too numerous to write them all down, but I can testify to that amazing promise: he was always with me. Thank you, Lord.

TO SERVE IN OGUGU, NIGERIA

Are you passionate about serving overseas?

Are you passionate about sharing Jesus with children and young people? We are looking for someone to work with Mission Africa’s Child Sponsorship Programme as the youth and children’s worker in rural Ogugu.

Could this be you?

To find out more information, email info@missionafrica.org.uk or call 02890402850

ENGLAND REGIONAL MOBILISERS

Do you have a passion for the work of Mission Africa? Why not consider working for us as representatives at Mission Events, Churches, and Youth Groups across England to share what God is doing in Africa.

We are seeking to employ enthusiastic individuals for 3 days per week to be proactive in seeking out new ways of promoting the work of Mission Africa across England and encouraging people to get involved in our work.

For more details, contact: opportunities@missionafrica.org.uk | www.missionafrica.org.uk

Katie has been working in the Mission Africa Office since January 2024, assisting with financial matters. We are extremely grateful for Katie’s willingness to help in this way. Pray for her as she spends the next few weeks handing over to Ashleigh.

Katie is planning to return to Nigeria in July for 9 months. Pray that all her plans and preparations for going will go smoothly. Pray that she will adjust well to life in Nigeria again.

MARK NIXON

Mark asks that you join him in praying for the Summer School that starts for students in midMay. Mark will also be attending a conference in Makurdi in May, pray for safety as he travels to and from this.

Over the coming months, Mark plans to carry out weekly village outreaches including in places such as Ankpa, Opulega, Inye, Emamgaba, Anyimba and Ochiata. Pray for the planning and preparations that will be going into these and for the people who will attend, that they will have open hearts and minds.

KATHRYN LINDSAY

Give thanks that Kathryn was able to have a short trip back to Northern Ireland over Easter. She is thankful for the rest and time to think and pray over things.

Pray for Kathryn as prepares to lead our newest summer team this year - Women’s Leadership Team. May and June can be an extremely busy time of the year where she begins to make plans for all those who will be coming to Kenya in the summer. Pray that all plans and preparations will be for His glory.

BRIAN WILSON

Brian is home on furlough and is available to speak at church meetings and prayer groups. If you would like him to speak at your event, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.

Remember Brian as he seeks God’s will for his furture. Pray that God will some upcoming decisions clear to him.

MORRISON FAMILY

Pray for David & Lucy. They have recently moved into the TEAM Compound, which is very different from their house in the local village. Pray for this adjustment, especially for their daughters; Sophie and Olivia.

They will also be returning to the UK for a short

home assignment over the summer. David & Lucy would love to come and share about their work in Chad with your church, youth group, prayer group etc.

They will be available from 9th - 30th July in Northern Ireland and 3rd - 23rd August in England. Pray that this will be a time of rest for their family, but also an opportunity to share about how God is working through the lives of these vulnerable women in Chad

EKANEM FAMILY

Pray for the Ekanems over the next few months as they balance the business of family life with working. Gail will be visiting her parents in Ireland during July, pray that this will be a time of rest and refreshment for Gail. Pray for Godwin and Angel as they remain in Nigeria.

Angel completes her final term of Grade 5 over the coming month. She has one more year left in primary school. Akaninyene is completing his WAEC and NECO exams in May, while Ekaette is searching for better employment. Pray for these three, that they will really feel God’s presence with them.

Aniedi and Esther will be getting married in June. Pray God’s blessing over them as they start their married life together.

VICTOR AKOH

Victor will finish his final stage of his Medicine Degree in May 2024. He is extremely thankful to everyone who has supported, encouraged and prayed for him over the last 7 years.

He sits his final exams over the next few weeks and providing he passes these, he will graduate at the beginning of June. Pray for Victor over the next few weeks as he studies and prepares for his exams.

Over the next two years he has to complete a compulsory year as a ‘House Officer’ working full-time as a doctor after which he will be given his full medical license. Following that, he has to complete one year as a Corp Member of the Nigerian Youth Service Corp where he could be placed in a hospital anywhere in Nigeria.

Continue to pray for Victor as although he will be finished his studies, he still has a tough couple of years ahead of him to finally be able to practice medicine.

ZOOM PRAYER MEETING

Mission Africa’s Zoom Central Prayer meets each month and alternates between the 3rd Wednesday (7PM) and Thursday (8PM) evenings of each month.

The evening is short, lasting around one hour, where supporters, missionaries, staff and council come together to hear updates, share news and pray together. If you would be interested in joining over the coming months, please use the details below. (note, the zoom log-in details will be the same for each month).

Meeting ID: 883 6792 1982

Passcode: 848070

MAY: Thursday 16th May | 8PM

JUNE/JULY & AUGUST: June’s meeting will be replaced with our June Celebration on 8th June along with a break over July and August.

PRAYER GROUPS

Mission Africa have several Prayer Groups across the United Kingdom who meet both in person and online. If you would be interested in joining a smaller prayer group, please email news@missionafrica.org.uk. These groups are in addition to the Central Prayer Meeting and will be supporter-led and are open to all supporters.

MISSION AFRICA COUNCIL

Caroline Bustard, Chair

Naomi Barfoot, Vice Chair, Gloria Kearney

Trevor McIlroy

Revd William Henry

Paul McAuley

Dr Lauren Johnston

LEAVE A LASTING LEGACY

Planning your legacy today will help ensure that lives continue to be transformed tomorrow.

By leaving a gift to Mission Africa, you will ensure that your money will be making a lasting impact on the lives of many African men, women and children who are spiritually and physically impoverished.

To find out more, contact us on 02890 402850 or info@missionafrica.org.uk

GET THE RIGHT PERSON

Head Office:

14 Glencregagh Court, Belfast

BT6 0PA

02890 402850

info@missionafrica.org.uk

Chief Executive

Paul Wright ceo@missionafrica.org.uk

Communications & Operations

Lauren Mornin operations@missionafrica.org.uk

Short Term

Catherine Pope shortterm@missionafrica.org.uk

Finance & Child Sponsorship

Ashleigh Kelly accounts@missionafrica.org.uk

childsponsorship@missionafrica .org.uk

Scotland Rep: Robbie Toop robbie.toop@missionafrica.org.uk

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