The Warari Bible School Connection Jan. 2013.

Case and Gremar Van Wyk ,   CRWM. You may support us at crwm@crcna.org

We do not often experience joy and grief together but this time we grieve Samuel’s death and we rejoice that he is with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

We were busy with Christmas preparations and thinking about New Year. We heard that Samuel was ill but were not terribly concerned about him. When Gremar went to see him his liver appeared to be affected by the traditional medicine he had been drinking, now his only option was the hospital. He was there for a day and returned somewhat improved. How and with what they treated him is not clear. Two days after Christmas he died. Before he died he called his wife and one of his fellow Christians and prayed to Jesus for healing but also confirmed his faith. He passed away peacefully, quiet and content. The others around him were amazed at how peacefully he passed on.

When we arrived that morning no preparation was made. Traditionally special people are appointed and paid to dig the grave. Sacrifices are made so that Samuel ‘s spirit would be received by his ancestors and not be turned away to go back to bother (haunt) his former compound.  Samuel’s father wanted to consult with the Christians before anything was done.  We had a lot of explaining to do because Samuel and his wife who were converted one year ago are the only Christians in this compound.

The Christians dug the grave but even then only a few actually got into the grave to dig. After, several hours of preparing the grave we had a traditional Christian funeral service.  The only disruption was when his wife tried to get in the grave with him. She was restrained and literally carried away. Traditionally, that is not an unusual action on her part.

The next morning when we went to greet we had our hands full with questions. Wasn’t there something more they had to do? Did they not have to make a lot of food for us? Did they not have to buy a cow to sacrifice?  We told them that the sacrifice was taken care of through Jesus Christ. There was nothing more or anything else necessary because Jesus is the sacrifice that God accepts. The next morning, Sunday we held a service there and again explained how God’s people in the past sacrificed but now we are set free in Jesus if we but believe. Sam’s wife will grieve for 30 days, after that she is free from mourning. This week we saw her at the chapel service. Traditionally, there is a levirate marriage system but as a Christian we are asking that she will be allowed to choose an unmarried Christian man. traditionally widows have very few rights not even over her children. Please pray for Ester and her two children and for us as we work with Christians and Traditional Africans. May Jesus be glorified!

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.

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.

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.

Everyone was having a good time singing during the service.

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.

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!

A PRAYER LETTER FROM REV. CASE AND GREMAR VAN WYK

Associate Missionaries with Christian Reformed World Missions.

Po Box 748, Newaygo, MI. 49337                                                                                                                                                                        cgvanwyk5@gmail.com                                                                                                                                                                                               http://www.heavenhigh.org

You may support us at crwm@crcna.org

Pray:

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!

Lunch time for the TLT class

God is good all of the time. Amen?

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