We had a Christmas Eve service; I preached on Isaiah 7:9;9:1,2,6,7; Matt. 4: 12-17; John 1:1-5. The themes were: How strong is your faith? And we have received the Light of our Savior Jesus Christ. That was King Ahaz’s problem. He refused to ask for a sign from God so that his fear and dread would be relieved if he but believed God. God says through his prophet: “If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.” Further, God says if you refuse to ask me for I sign I will give you a sign myself: “The virgin will be with child and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” God with us! The prophecy goes on Isa. 9: 1-2; We lived in darkness and in the shadow of death but we have seen a great light! verse 6,7: “for to us a child is born and to us a son is given … Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end…” A prophecy of much needed comfort and hope made seven hundred years before Christ’s birth. Matt. 4:12-17 understands Jesus’ ministry as the fulfillment of Isaiah’s 9:1-2 prophecy. We indeed have been given a great Light. John’s gospel 1: 1-5 tells us just how great that Light is: “In Him is life and that life was (and is ) the light of men” if we might only have faith and believe. Appropriately we were blessed to have a bright electric light in the chapel for the first time that night.
The next day was Christmas Day and the Bible School students spent a lot of time preparing the two goats and the rice and beans for the Christmas evening meal. We did not know what to expect but it turned out that the Chief and his elders came and about one hundred and fifty people from around the area. After the dancing and before the meal the principal gave an appropriate Christmas message. After the meal we showed the Jesus film in Hausa. All in all we had a great Christmas.
Some of the people at the Christmas celebrationEveryone is having a good time.
World Missions will be sending prayer cards, a thank you, and a prayer letter to all those who have contributed to our stay at the Warari Bible School. Our financial report is always a month behind so we are not able to thank people in a timely manner but we are very thankful for your generous gifts. We have been at work here for about a month and are extremely blessed to be teaching at the Bible School.
The bougainvillea are stunning this year.
We have chapel first thing in the morning because this week is final exam week for this term and we will have a month break before classes begin again. There will be plenty of work at the school some of it electrical and some construction.
Gremar returning from class with the help of one of the kids.No more laundry by hand, Gremar using her slightly used Speed Queen, what a difference it makes.Time to service the swamp cooler, we will be using it soon.
We plan to stay here for Christmas and New Year. Already two goats are purchased for a Christmas meal and we plan to get a pig for New Years. I will be starting a TLT class after the New Year as continuing ed. for pastors and evangelists and their wives that will last for about four months if we set aside one day a week. The students are busy gathering their crops. the rice is harvested, the guinea corn is being gathered.
Helping students to take home their rice.The grain is cut, put in rows and the end is propped up to allow air flow to speed up drying time. After drying in the row the heads are cut and stacked on top for a few more days they are then tied into bundles and taken home. Often camel owners are employed to carry the crop.
Although hot during most of the day it cools off at night, this morning it was 65 degrees on the porch. Gremar put on a sweat shirt, cool is relative here. We hope you have a wonderful Christmas and a blessed New Year with family and friends. Thank you for joining us on our journey and for supporting the work of training leaders for the evolving church in Niger State, Nigeria. God Bless
when you are having a good time and are busy at the same time. I have had the opportunity to preach three times and tomorrow I am asked to pray for the graduating students at the Lutheran Bible school graduation. Last Sunday we worshiped at Worro a small village where Evangelist Obediah is placed. They were having a send off for him since he has taken a position in a village near Abuja (Nigeria’s Capital). Obediah has served in Niger State among the Av’adi people for 15 years. He will be missed for his positive attitude and his energetic work. I include pictures and video from the send off.
The United Missionary Church Pastor preached at the send off
He preached from I Timothy 3 and parts of chapter 4 commending Obediah on his deligence in his work and the good example he set for the CRCN. Most people would agree that Obediah built up the church and Christians in Classis Niger.
Some of the crowd. People came from all over.
Everyone was having a good time singing during the service.
Everyone would rather that Obediah and family would stay!
At his new place Obediah will be only four hours from his home on the Plateau (near Jos) compared to 11 or 12 from here.
Obediah, Briskilla and family dressed for the occasion.Everyone is having a good time dancing.
We all enjoyed the worship, fellowship, and the food. I left home at 9:30 AM and arrived back at 4:00 PM, it was a full day! We were blessed and thankful to send this faithful evangelist on his way to his new position. Praise God!
PRAY for the school and the students. Since the change in the class schedule from beginning classes in Jan. to beginning in Sep. many students have not been able to start the new school year since they are harvesting their crops. Pray that they will be able to start in Jan. PRAY for the students’ children, many have a low grade malaria. PRAY for the church and for the pastors and leaders in Niger State, Nigeria. PRAY for the Christians in Nigeria and for the people of Nigeria. PRAY for safety and for peace. We praise God for his care and for the work he has given to us to do. God is Good!
Helping her dad.
Students participate in chapel everyday and it has been a blessing to worship with them.
Make a Joyfull Noise!
Right now I am teaching Old Test. Intro. and Bible Study Methods. Gremar is teaching Personal Hygiene. It all has been a lot of work to teach in English and Hausa. In Methods the final exam will be for the students to write an Inductive Bible Study on Joshua. Part of that is “what is God’s message to Joshua and the Israelites?” Chap. 1. “Be strong and courageous”. “On my law meditate day and night…”
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified: do not be discouraged. For the Lord your God will go with you where ever you go.” An excellent message for us in Nigeria and for Christians facing secular culture in the States.
It is a tradition with our family at this time of the year to say to each other the things we are thankful to God for. I am sure that giving thanks is the practice in many families, certainly I hope that it is. This year is a little different; for the first time in a long time we are not together with our family. Yet Gremar and I have so much to be thankful for. We are thankful for our children and grand children. We look forward to a new grand child in the spring. What a privilege it was to participate in the baptism of Jude our latest grand child and we are thankful for the faithfulness of his parents.
We thank God for the faithfulness of all of our children and their spouses. What are we thankful for here at the Warari Bible School? We are so blessed to have a nice little house with solar power and a good fridge a blessing from God through the Lansers. We are thankful for the students, they work so hard to get an education and still provide for their families. We are thankful we are able to help them in that endeavor. This week Gremar treated 13 patients, three of them being little kids from the Bible School with malaria and upper respiratory infections. We are thankful to be able to help people get their crops out of the field, and supply diesel for the school generator this month for a couple of hours of electricity a day in return for them cleaning up our house and the overgrown yard before we came. We thank God for the internet making it so easy to communicate with family, friends, and supporters in the US.
We did not have a special meal because it’s just another day here but Gremar actually had a can of wild Alaskan Salmon for me. It doesn’t get any better than that. Praise the Lord!
Click to enlarge picture
A nice restaurant in JosA pre Thanksgiving meal in JosGuinea corn in a field by the school, 12 ft high and standing thick.Red peppers in the field, guinea corn, and bananas by the well at MahulaWe bought supplies from the same people in the Warari market. It was nice to be remembered.The evangelist's house we started but did not finish last time.Evangelists Bulus and his wife Tabitha by their now finished house. Praise the Lord, we prayed for God's blessing on their home and on their work. Gov. workers came with polio vaccine for the Bible School kids.Gremar treating her kids at the School
We are thankful to be here, so much to be thankful for, so much to do, so much support from so many people our cup runs over. Please continue to pray for us for the school and for Nigeria. To God be the glory
The title of this post is our metaphor for traveling to Nigeria it has been a long six months of obstacles and set backs. Our trip also signifies God’s grace and call to work in Niger State, Nigeria. As you know this is our fourth trip to the Warari area, the Bible School and to Mahula. We are so thankful we are this far because for a while security issues in Nigeria made it doubtful that we would be able to return, but here we are. The last few days in Newaygo were hectic, last minute packing, preaching the day before we left and the commissioning service that Sunday.
Last minute items to pack
We were able to pack everything we needed, we are allowed four 50 pound boxes plus carry on but they made us check our carry on in Frankfort. Everything arrived in Abuja, praise the Lord.
We are thankful to all our supporting churches but New Community is our commissioning church. We had a meaningful service and a great send off.
The flights were uneventful this trip and we had beautiful weather. We were worried that our carry on would not arrive with the rest of our stuff but it all came.
Our flight took us over France, the Alps, the Mediterranean as well as the Sahara Desert.
The place is pure sand and rock, from 39000 ft it looks very desolate.
We left Grand Rapids Monday at 1:20 PM traveled on three different planes and through as many airports. We arrived Abuja at 4:30 PM the next day. We were ready to get to the guest house quickly but we were in gridlock traffic for three hours before we arrived at the Paniel Guest House. This place has all the amenities and we had a wonderful night. The next day on to Jos and Mission headquarters, a four hour trip. Right now we are at the Mountain View guest house. Here we have spent much time in the past visiting our children here when they boarded at the Mountain View Hostel.
Jos is a busy place.The 10 foot media is taken up with little shops. If you are in a hurry avoid this round about. These little buggies have replaced the motorcycle taxis now banned in Jos
Gremar and I spent a little time shopping today
Gremar buying the medicine she will need for the schoolMy favorite shop, everything you need and don't need.Gremar's favorite shop, well stocked I'd say.
We are thankful to God for bringing us this far. We hope to travel to Niger State this week. We thank you for your prayers and support. We attended the Hillcrest School Chapel on Sunday and we were challenged to keep Jesus in the center of our lives, and we were reminded again what a privilege it is to serve Him. Let us all Praise the Lord!
Pray for the Warari Bible School beginning a new class in Sept., one class for Hausa speakers and one in English. Pray for Jolly the Principal.
Pray that the political unrest is resolved. Pray for Christians and Muslims.
Pray for the Church, for her members and for the people of Nigeria.
The Bible School.
At the beginning of Nov. we will be leaving for Nigeria. We are scheduled for a six month stay to teach, encourage, provide continuing education and help people to acquire good medical treatment skills for their own families and for those in remote places. The school is starting a new four year Hausa class and is starting a class in English as well. We have been involved in continuing education for pastors, evangelists and for church leaders currently working in the field. Timothy Leadership Training materials are being used effectively to that end.
The students at the Bible School come from three different tribes, together they make up about five hundred thousand people. They come from many different backgrounds and different levels of education.
This is the first Prayer Letter we are sending out this year. We ask that you pray for us and for the people of Niger State. We ask that you take the opportunity to encourage us and as the Spirit moves and God gives the ability to support us financially. We will be serving for six months at a time for the next couple of years and longer as God opens doors. Along with teaching, preaching and medical work we will be helping the church to adjust to less mission and missionary involvement. We need you to partner with us, we are not able to do this without your help and prayers. Praise God!
We thank God for this opportunity to work in Niger State, Nigeria, We thank God for you! For your prayers! For your encouragement! For your financial support! As well prepared as we are we cannot accomplish this assignment without you! Thank you!
Missionaries have worked in Niger State, Nigeria for close to twenty five years. When the last missionaries, Matthew and Laura Lanser assigned to work in Classis CRCN Niger State were led to leave the field, Gremar and I proposed a two or three year transitionary period as CRWM phases out physical and financial support. We are motivated to help this struggling emerging church to continue meaningful development and ministry with reduced outside resources. We are privileged to be appointed as associate missionaries to that end.
God has uniquely prepared us for this important role and we continue to look to Him for guidance. We have retired and have volunteered in Niger State for four months for the last three years. We have planted a church (New Community Church Newaygo) with CRC Home Missions (5 yrs.). We have worked in the traditional CRC Church. in North America (6 yrs). We have worked in Nigeria for CRWM in a variety of positions from 1973 to 1997 (20 yrs.) with a four year break for Calvin Seminary. Gremar worked in Nigeria as a nurse / midwife until we were married in 1977 and still volunteers her medical skills. The Hausa language, used by the church in Niger State we know well and have worked with for many years. This part of Niger State is a remote and a difficult place to live but we have lived in remote places of Nigeria in the past. We look forward to developing more friendships and learning more about the culture. We have connected with the people of Niger State, and along with Paul we say: “we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well” I Thess. 2:8
We came home to Newaygo from Nigeria at the beginning of May. How sweet it is to sit on our deck at Heaven High. How difficult it is, the people we miss in Niger State! We came home on time, we did not know but I was told I had experienced a heart attack, I felt something was wrong. The cardiologist said “you are here on time and you are going to the hospital now!” The main artery to my left ventricle was 99% blocked. They repaired the blockage with two stints. Nothing short of a miracle: not only the repair but that I survived with that much blockage. It gives new meaning to the statement that life is short and we need to use the life God gives us for his honor and glory. That is what we do but now with much more thanksgiving! Did we feel welcome coming home? Yes! New Community Church was praying for us and thankful along with us, the medical care was excellent from Dr. Olivera to the doctors at the Grand Rapids Heart Center and at Spectrum Hospital. When we left the hospital the next day after the procedure our nurse prayed with us.
It felt like home when NCCN asked me to stand in for a guest pastor who became ill on the morning of Father’s Day. I picked “The Parable of the Lost Son” Luke 14: 11-31. Jesus tells this parable along with two others “The Parable of the lost Sheep” and “The Parable of the Lost Coin” in response to verses 1 and 2 of Chapter 15 in the gospel of Luke. 1.” Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus.” 2. “But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, ‘This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.
” The painting “The return of the Prodigal Son” 1669 by Rembrandt, he had sketched and painted this theme since 1636, ( See Wikipedia) is the culmination of his life’s work, he died two years later.
The painting tells the story of coming home
Look at the painting closely. The book: The Return of the Prodigal Son. A Story of Homecoming. by Henri Nouwen is his response after days of sitting in front of and studying this painting. His first response when seeing it: “It’s beautiful, more than beautiful . . . it makes me want to cry and laugh at the same time . . . I can’t tell you what I feel as I look at it. But it touches me deeply.” p. 4 prologue.
Lets look at the Father. His stance, one of humility and compassion and vulnerability. His masculine hand is on the son’s shoulder, a fathers touch, the famine hand on his back gentle, and affirming, a mother’s touch. The father is not alone. There is a woman standing behind him, most people think it is the mother and is supporting the father. The son is humble, submissive, on his knees but before the son can say a word the father excepts him, is hugging him and ordering his reinstatement. The son is raged, shoes worn out, his head looks wet like a new born child. It is a new birth for him yet he has held unto something of his former position he still has his sword. The other two figures are much different then those described so far. One is a servant, the man sitting. The other appears to be the older brother. Both have there hands tucked away obviously not willing to reach out. The Son stance is rigid, condemning and disapproving of the whole scene in front of him. Given the situation who should we identify with? Of course we identify with the son on his knees receiving forgiveness and acceptance from the Father even after his bad choices and subsequent sin. That is all of us, “for allhavesinned and fall short of the glory of God, ” Romans 3:22-24.
Once we are forgiven by the Father and accepted we are not only free but are to be like the Father. Is not the church the body of Jesus in the right here and now of our lives? Yes! Like the prodigal son forgiven, our transgressions remembered no more. We are called to be as the Father to forgive and accept each other and those like us, sinners, forgiven sinners. The older son is much like religion today hands tucked away obviously not willing to reach out. The Son stance is rigid, condemning and disapproving of the whole scene in front of him. He did not squander God’s blessings, he did not leave the church. he works hard and continues to do so, like so many church members, leaders and pastors but we are missing out on the celebration of new life! We want salvation our way but the Father is the example. Jesus tells this parable for the church today. God says to us 31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” Praise be to God!
Heavenhigh 