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It has been a long three weeks with three weeks to go. That is how long it takes to recover from prostate surgery. It may take a lot longer if the cancer has spread. By God’s Grace it has not spread and is now removed from me. The first step to healing is to acknowledge God’s providence. Satan is the source of all disease and brokenness in the world. God allows these things to happen but only to build up our faith and the faith of those around us. “In all things God works for the good of those who love God (Rom. 8: 28)”. God’s permission is a difficult truth to come to grips with initially but for Gremar and I God’s sovereignty comes to mind here. Secondly, we pray but often in these circumstances “ we do not know what we ought to pray But the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express Rom.8:27. “
Thirdly, the prayer of friends and supporters, when praying for others the Spirit guides us and we become part of God’s healing for that person. Thank you for participating in my healing. Fourthly, We need to trust our doctors, they are God’s gift to us, particularly the Christian doctors in my case. We must not take our health care and health insurance for granted. We are blessed in America.
Fifthly, whatever is the final outcome of our treatment we give God the glory. That is the point, Jesus says more than once to his disciples when questioned why something has happened “ this has happened that God is glorified”. Jesus says that to us as well. I glorify God for the love and care of my wife.
By God’s Grace we hope to return to the school in Jan. 2014. That means we will teach for all of the 2nd and 3rd terms instead of half of the 1st, all of the 2nd and half of the 3rd. Our work is to train indigenous leaders for the Christian Reformed Church in Classis Niger in Nigeria. Please continue to pray for us and for the School and the Church in Niger State, Nigeria. Most of the Christians are fist generation and are under persecution from family and friends. Pray for God’s protection. Thank you for your support. To God be the glory!
It has been a busy summer so far and it is not letting up. What a blessing to be able to spend time with family and friends. Gremar and I really had to stop and reflect on what missionaries give up when they and their families spend years away from their home country with short visits home. For a long time two and a half years was the length of the average tour on the mission field. Often, there was not a suitable school near-by for the children. In our early years in Nigeria we had two choices: home schooling or boarding school. We chose boarding school even though the school was far away in Jos. Our work in remote areas of Nigeria was not our children’s choice but they supported us in our efforts. We made our work on the mission field a family affair. One reason we chose boarding school is that the Nigerian village culture was great when our children were young but was not a healthy place when they became older. Second, Gremar had the opportunity to treat people and deliver babies as part of our overall outreach to the community. Our children speak positively about the boarding school experience for which we thank God. The other side of the story is that families on the home front also make sacrifices. At the time we did not think much about it but our parents were deprived of much interaction with the grand children. A reality brought home to us now that we have our own grandkids. So why are we still doing missions? Well, we are in a unique place of service right now. We know the trade language well, we have the experience to deal with remote situations, and we are able to befriend, love, and interact with the people we serve. However the bottom line is that God calls us to do the work of teaching, preaching and treating the ill in the name of Jesus while we have the strength to do so. The blessings far outweigh the sacrifices and we pray that is true for our state side family as well. We however are not able to do this work without you; we need your support and prayers.
Talking about strength for service, God is calling on us to dig deep right now. We know that disease, setbacks and problems in life are caused by Satan but God allows them and uses them; turning them into good and building us up and moving us to depend more on Jesus. Rom. 8:28-32. We ask you to pray for us that by God’s grace we are built up and encouraged as we go through prostate cancer and the treatment supporting each other. Surgery is set for Sept. 19. We had hoped to return to Nigeria in Nov. but now we set our sights on the middle of Jan. 2014.
That will still give us two full terms at the Warari Bible School. We step out in faith trusting God for healing and strength and trusting Him for the continued support and prayers from you. Please continue to pray for the School, staff, and students, and for the people of Niger State, Nigeria, where many still do not know Jesus. Thank you for all the things you do for the Kingdom. Praise Him! Rev. Case and Gremar Van Wyk.
The one constant in missions is change. Fellow missionaries come and go, mostly leaving the field and many not returning to Nigeria. Mission methods change, reporting changes, fund raising methods change, it all adds up to a lot of changes. Change can be good, mostly, but also may raise our anxiety and fear. Fear is an evil spirit and minimizes our faith (Mt. 6:25-34). We also are in transition, leaving the Warari Bible School in Niger State, Nigeria after a six-month stay. It is hard to leave, we leave behind people we have come to love and who love us, people who want and need more teaching in God’s Word, more study methods, more evangelism methods, and stronger Spiritual development. Not to mention the thousands of our neighbors who have not yet responded to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
It is also hard to leave our home in Michigan, our children, our grand children and friends. We live in two worlds very different one from the other. Both worlds have their challenges, anxieties, and changes but by God’s grace our faith is strengthened. Our trip from Abuja to G.R. Michigan was uneventful except for something that has not happened to us in twenty trips from Nigeria. We arrived early at the airport, check in was smooth, no checking of our luggage except for our carry on. We were leaving at 10:00 PM and with boarding pass in hand had plenty of time to order food at the restaurant. We were enjoying our meal when someone came over to tell us our Lufthansa flight was canceled due to mechanical problems. What? No! That was not what we wanted to hear! It turned out we had the option of coming back the next evening for the next Lufthansa flight or try to get on Air France leaving at midnight that day. We had scheduled one day at home and then fly out to California to see our daughters and our new grand child, Kaia Grace. For us there was only one choice, Air France. We were doubtful but we were amazed at the young Nigerian lady at the computer under considerable pressure from people wanting to get on Air France, she booked us: Paris, Detroit, Grand Rapids. Amazing, there was no extra cost and we were only a half hour later than our original time of arrival. The next day we went on to Cal. had a great time with our daughters, their husbands, and baby Kaia.
We left LAX for GR no problem but that was the only time flights were on time. We arrived Oklahoma City the day after the tornado. Flight delayed and flights out of Dallas canceled. Finally, we got to Dallas late spent the night at the Airport. American Airlines booked us on Delta, Dallas, Minneapolis, GR arrived 12:00 the next day instead of 12:00 midnight but we arrived safe and sound, even our luggage arrived and not one penny more for changing flights. Wonder of wonders. God says to us and to you: O you of little faith! I am in control of both worlds you live in! Praise the Lord!
Please pray for the Warari Bible School, for the staff, students, and for our neighbors around the school. Pray for us as we transition and adjust to MI, meet with and/or contact our supporters and prepare to return to Niger State in Nov.
Between the second and third terms we had a two-week break and many of our students went home for Easter. The students who stayed had the opportunity to work. We needed almost 600-mud blocks for two outside kitchens for two staff members.They are outside kitchens because everyone here uses wood for cooking; the price of kerosene and or gas is prohibitive.There was a large anthill between the chapel and the school building and we wanted to reduce that as well.Making the block took about half of the hill.The other big project was re-grading the space around the student’s quarters. Nine years of rain and constant sweeping had exposed much of the foundations.Twenty-two pick up loads later we had the foundations covered up.
The students laying block for the kitchensThe kitchen will be 10ft x 10ft
In the meantime we had a visit from Chuck Powell the Director of Timothy Leadership Training Institute. We had a great time visiting one of our evangelists who is doing a TLT course in his area.The idea was for me to teach the pastors and the evangelists and they in turn would teach a course in their area with the manuals I provided for each student.We were pleasantly surprised to find a church full of young people. After some introduction they proceeded with songs, drumming and dancing. Then Chuck gave a short presentation. After the program we were served lunch. That afternoon we met with the pastors and the evangelists we did not see in the morning. We now are teaching the TLT course Sustainable Development at the Bible School in both English and Hausa. All and all a very encouraging visit.
In our class there is a lot of discussion
The next day I had promised to move two evangelists to their new stations; Barki and Tudan Kura.Pastor James the evangelist’s supervisor and I started at about 9:00 am and picked up Samson and his family, they have 5 children.We loaded up their belongings and headed out for Barki. The problem was that not a one of us knew the way since all other visits were made by motorbike that follows a bush path. After some time we found the right road that took us into the bush. Most of you would not call it a road but if a four-wheeled vehicle can go down it, it is considered a road. There were several turns that we missed, you simply keep a look out for the two tracks. We finally got to the place and people soon surrounded us to welcome the new evangelist. These are new Christians. The church was built and they had built a house for the evangelist but the roof still had to go on.The way back was easy.
These children have a God given oppertunity to improve their livesThe church building at Barki
We then picked up Ayuba and his family also five kids, a dozen chickens and a dog. Since now we knew which path to follow we found Tudan Kura with ease. The people were waiting for us since we had gone by there on the way to Barki. These two places are about five miles apart, not too far for the evangelist’s families to keep in contact. This is a remote place and I give these families a lot of credit for coming out and starting a new life among these people. We prayed with each group committing them to God and asked for a blessing on their work and their new place of residence.
Their lives are about to change for the better.
The next day, Friday, Gremar and I went to Jos for the Memorial Service for Rachel Horlings Magri.It was a comforting and uplifting service.We drove back to Warari on Monday and by Monday night I became very ill. I need to take my own advice; pace yourself. I am now feeling better and we are thankful to participate in these events. Our God is a good, merciful, loving God; we are privileged to serve him at the Bible School. Next week we pack up and head home for six months and God willing hope to return in Nov. 2013.We hope you have enjoyed this experience with us and continue to pray for the Church and for the people of Classis Niger. Also, Praise God! We all have much to be thankful for!
Recently, the week before exams, the school set aside a day for fasting and praying. We began at 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM and from 4:00 PM- 6:00 pm. We spent the day singing, dancing, praying, and listening to short messages.
The principal kicked off the day with a message from Ezra 5: 1-5 The returning exiles from Babylon started to build the temple again at the prophecies (preaching) of Haggai and would not stop, “The eye of their God was watching over the elders of the Jews…” The message: God watches over those who listen to the Lord their God and put their trust in him. Those who attend this school have plenty of opposition from their traditional African relatives. At times even their Christian relatives oppose them as well for perusing something as frivolous as education at the expense of their farming and I suppose the help they are lacking on the farm. Life for many Ava’adi revolves around making money farming.
Students were designated to pray for the school, for the new Primary/Nursery School, for schools in general, for the students and the upcoming exams. For people in this area to see the importance of education. Please join us in praying these prayers.
The next message was on Daniel in the lion’s den. Daniel’s fearless faithfulness in serving God in spite of the consequences. That is a powerful message for this place and at this time. A message that people need and understand in this environment of oppression. Students have a hard time getting land to farm even with a lot of it left fallow. The monopoly of produce dealers locally prevent people from getting a fair price for their crops and makes it more difficult for students paying school fees. The uncertainty of indiscriminate bombings and killings that go on in the North and are spreading into other parts of the country brings on fear and discouragement.
We spent the day fasting, praying, singing, dancing, and preaching.
More students were assigned to pray for the country, for the leaders and for the safety of all of us here in this area. For the local leaders. We thanked God for the calm we have enjoyed, thanked Him for a very good 2nd terms full of blessings and we thanked Him for healing those who were ill. Please join us in praying these prayers.
Margaret one of our fellow teachers preached on the Armor of God Eph. 6: 7- 17, 18 “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.” That God would prepare us spiritually and that we would prepare ourselves as well by putting on the whole armor of God in our daily lives and in our work at this school. A timely message for this small emerging church and this barely established Bible School under persecution at every turn.
More students prayed: For the evangelism going on and for the Youth for Christ (KYK) planning to reach out to a village this Saturday. For the leaders of the church and for the evangelists, for other outreach programs like Water Wins. Please join us in praying these prayers.
After the break we started again at 4:00 PM. Hezron, one of our fellow teachers preached on Matt. 21:18-21, “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer”. The secret of prayer is as Jesus tells us: “if you believe and do not doubt,” you will move mountains! The question posed to us: “do you believe Jesus”?
Students prayed for fellow students especially for the pregnant wives and for the new babies on the compound. They prayed for protection from evil powers and principalities and for assurance of Christ’s presence. Please join us in praying these prayers.
I presented the last message, Jeremiah 1:4-9 How often do we think about what God says to Jeremiah and what he says to every Christian? “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart, I appointed you as a…” whatever it is God calls you to do! How many excuses have we brought to our calling? Jeremiah: “I am only a child.” Us: “I am not able, I am not suited, I am not educated, I don’t have the desire, I am afraid”, and you could go on and on. God counters every excuse and meets us in our doubt as he did with Jeremiah. “ I have put my words in your mouth and I appoint you…” Yes! God appoints you and God equips you! That is a message we all need.
Again students prayed. They prayed for protection from harm, protection from persecution, and for power to live fearless Christian lives. They prayed that the country would be more stable, and kidnappings would stop. That God by the power of His Spirit would not only protect us but also change the hearts of the perpetrators. They asked God to release us from the evil power of fear. They prayed for churches and leaders worldwide and that God would intervene into every broken place. Please join us in praying these prayers. Thank you joining with us by praying for us and by supporting us in the work of training leaders for the church. To God be the Glory!
The Armor of God and Spiritual Warfare. Eph. 6: 10-17
It started as a normal day of teaching. I had the Hausa class first thing in the morning. About halfway though the second period of the English class I became aware of a commotion near the building and at the same time one of the Hausa students came to call me. As I came upon the scene the principal and several students were restraining a student writhing on the ground. With my western thinking I said to myself: “O an epileptic seizure”, I said as much to the principal saying that there was not much we could do to help. I suggested we carry the student to the medical room but before we could move the person someone began to pray. The prayers started softly at first but with increasing volume and intensity. The Holy Spirit was directing that prayer!
Gremar and I quickly realized that this was no seizure, something that everyone else knew right away. Once in the medical room everyone was praying. Gremar was praying holding the person’s head and I was holding the persons hand we were praying to Jesus to release this person from Satan’s attack. Others were also praying and holding this person who continued writhing around on the mat on the floor. This went on for some time (close to an hour) we were beginning to fear for the life of our student.
Then someone began to sing and we all joined in. Later, I looked up the song in the Hausa Songbook. The title is: O Father in Heaven we Beseech Thee. The first Stanza: O father in heaven I beseech thee, based on your promises, hear this prayer! The second stanza: Father I stand before you as a sinner. If you do not accept me who will? The chorus: Jesus, Jesus, hear my prayer. I come before the Father in your Name! In all my years of ministry I have rarely felt Jesus’ presence with such intensity as I did during that song. Christ’s presence and peace overwhelmed us and the student was quiet.
After that we sang a song of praise and thanksgiving. It now was time for chapel. As God had arranged the student preaching had chosen Matt. 7: 7-12 Ask, Seek, and Knock.
Illness has physical symptoms but rooted in sin and in the brokenness of the world generally, but instigated by Satan. Often and in this case the question “Why!” There is no pat or easy answer, God knows our struggles and we know we suffer as Jesus suffered (II Cor. 1:5) Jesus suffers along with us now and comforts us as well. Jesus heals! We have always prayed that He will heal when we treat a person medically. We prayed for my brother who had MS for five years, God healed him the day he called him home. Christians are always healed! And by God’s mercy and love many others as well. Praise the Lord!
We have had a busy second term at the school but we are looking forward to a little break after exams. The first term started slowly with 7 full time students, but by Jan. 2013 we had 19 fulltime students and 10 dry season students (a three month literacy class). We also started an introductory computer course that is mandatory along with carpentry for the men and sewing/knitting for the women. All the wives go to classes everyday as well. With the increase of students the kids on the compound also increased. As a result we started a nursery/primary school. Along with students from the surrounding compounds we average about 40 students. We praise the Lord.
With all the changes the campus has become a very busy place. Classes are offered in Hausa and English and with the added computer course significantly increasing our work load. Gremar is serving as the school nurse; she has trained four first responder’s two men and two women who treat the students under her supervision. The surrounding community is also coming for treatment making her busier than she wants to be but it is hard to turn people down. It is also a great witness to the community for the school.
This term I have one day a week set aside for TLT courses, we are using the Sustainable Development manual. I will also teach that at the school. TLT is limited to Pastors and Evangelists of the CRCN (Christian Reformed Church of Nigeria). They are to teach their elders and others who are interested in their places of service. The manual is translated into Hausa so it contains both English and Hausa. I produced 160 manuals and have about 20 left, I trust that they will be put to good use. We ask you to pray for the school, for the students, for the staff. Pray for the people of Nigeria, for peace and harmony. We thank God for your partnership in training indigenous leaders for the emerging church in Niger State. To God is the Glory!
The English Class hard at work.The dry season class, three months, some will continue full time.The new computer class hard at work.The TLT class in the new chapel building, a nice airy place during this very hot season.The TLT class for the wives of pastors and evangelist.
The Primary/nursery school at WBS, held in the chapel a multipurpose building.
I need to tell this story! It is about God’s faithfulness and about the faith of the people involved in the past and those who are still involved today. Education in this area comes at a premium. There are few primary schools and little teaching in the ones that do operate. Schools are weak because traditionally people are not interested in educating their children in this way. They are well trained in herding and farming for boys, food processing and cooking for the girls but not a lot of interest in western education. We hope that is changing!
We have had Christian Primary Schools for a long time in Niger State. They are CRCN Schools now but started by former missionaries working here, Dave and Jan Dykgraaf, Larry and Rose Van Zee and Bill and Ali Hart building them. They were instrumental in starting these schools with the help of Christian Schools International. When the schools were handed over to the church the staff took a cut in pay but to their credit many are still teaching.
CRWM still supports these schools with monetary grants to the church. There are three Christian Primary Schools and one Jr. Secondary School. The mission is looking to discontinue this support. Is this premature?
More recently the Warari Bible School has started a Primary School for the student’s children and for children from surrounding compounds. There were 40 children there today and the teacher still needs to sort out who is capable of what and she is looking for a helper.
Water Wins also has a Primary school with 40 children. I heard recently that a Christian Primary School has been started in A’vadi, one of the areas that have an Evangelist and a church building for the Christians living there.
What seems to be happening is an increased interest in education not only by Christians but by the traditional people as well. There is nothing more effective for the development of this area and the church than Christian Education! It is time to keep supporting our schools!
Please Continue to pray for The Warari Bible School, the Primary Schools, for the church and for the people of Classis Niger. God is Good all of the time.
Kids are kids everywhere, there are 155 pupils attending this school.
Idaci School class roomsTeacher's housing, there are nine teachers working at the school.
Psalm one introduces and gives us insight into the five books of the Psalms. Wisdom is depicted as two ways: the way of the world and the way of God’s law.
Verse one: tells us what not to do. Sin is progressive if you walk in it you will stand in it and in the end sit (dwell) in it. Blessed is the man/woman who does not walk, stand, or sit in the way of the world.
Verse two: “But he/she delights in God’s law”. “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The statues of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes” (Ps. 19: 7,8). The law gets a bad rap at times but here we have the true picture depicting what is important in our lives: the law restores the searching soul, restores the broken heart with joy, restores the dull mind with wisdom, restores the unseeing eyes with spiritual light and insight. “He/she is blessed who meditates on Gods law day and night”.
Verse three is the result of God’s way: We will be like a tree by a stream, always green, producing fruit, and never losing leaves. That metaphor takes on a whole new meaning when one lives in the Sahel, where water is hard to come by, shade is at a premium, and fruit is scarce.
What way are you walking on parishioners? Pastor are you the shade where sinners find rest and forgiveness in Jesus? Do our churches provide cooling water for the soul, spiritual light for the blind, fruit for the spiritually hungry, and “leaves for the healing of the nations”? (Rev. 22:2). Missions, evangelism, outreach, and church plants come to mind here. Further, “everything we do will prosper” that is God’s promise to us. Praise the Lord!
Verses four and five: Are the results of walking the way of the world. Not a positive picture. “But the Lord watches over the way of the righteous”.
This was my message for the send off for Rev. Benjamin Likita where I was asked to be the guest speaker. Along with the message was a call to pray for Pastor Ben to be that fruitful tree in his new work as he was in Idaci and a call to prayer for the new pastor Rev. Marcus to be that fruitful tree as well. Along with the Church here please pray for Rev. Ben and Rev. Marcus as they take up their new ministries. After the service we all gathered in the shade of two large trees and the program went on with singing, dancing, and donating money to help with the move. Pastor Ben has been reassigned to serve as the principal of the Serti Bible School. Serti, Taraba State is about a thousand miles south east of Niger State.
Everyone wants to go to the send offJust a little tight down to the river.In the rainy season this becomes a raging torrentSome of the crowd at the send off.
