Blessing in south-east Nigeria
This November’s Reformed Bible conferences in Lagos and Port Harcourt were the sixth annual conferences for church leaders and the only one in this area for churches espousing the doctrines of grace.
The theme this year of ‘Understanding the times’ addressed biblical principles for the churches’ worship, life and service. We need the same wisdom as the men of Issachar, who ‘understood the times and knew what Israel ought to do’ (1 Chronicles 12:32).
The speakers were drawn from the continents of Europe, America and Africa. They included Joseph Jacowitz, Stanford Murrell, Ani Ekpo, Chris Buss, Paul Cook (Nigeria), Charles Achonwa, Dr Babbs Umoetuk, A. Longe and Tony Okoroh.
Conference attendances were encouraging – over 250 people, many of whom were pastors. There were gifts of free literature from Chapel Library and Christ Bible Church, USA. Chris Buss, assistant pastor of Metropolitan Tabernacle, London, took part in a radio programme aired to listeners across eight eastern states of Nigeria and reaching up to ten million listeners.
The third day of the Port Harcourt conference was marked by the inauguration of the Reformed Theological and Christ Pastor’s seminaries. Some of the conference speakers are on Reformed Theological’s faculty. The curriculum of Christ Pastor’s is designed as a correspondence course and is in CD format.
Recently the Reformed Tabernacle (hosting church at Port Harcourt) started a Christian school. It has 67 nursery and primary pupils and is staffed by nine teachers and three other workers.
This church continues to see growth, with conversions and baptisms during 2007. The membership stands at 150 and the congregation numbers 300. Sunday school work is also very encouraging, with a regular attendance of 300 children. An outreach Sunday school has been planted in the city centre and it currently has 30 children.
Ani Ekpo
