Off to NIGERIA

2013 A Year of Miracles for NIGERIA TEEN CHALLENGE

Nigeria 34 have died since Christmas eve

Nigeria is one-third larger than Texas. With a population over 152 million, it is the most populous country in Africa. Situated on the Gulf of Guinea in West Africa, it is critical to the TC Continent strategy for West Africa. As Nigeria is increasingly impacted by religiously-motivated militancy, terrorism, crime, and socio-economic unrest, the new Nigeria Teen Challenge is poised to impact at the "living edge" to minister truth, light, and hope.

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2013 SCHEDULE

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2012 REPORTS

	The Nigerian Assemblies of God is a visionary faith community. It is one of the 2 largest Protestant Fellowships in Nigeria, led by General Superintendent Rev. Prof. Paul Emeka, elected to the position at the 34th General Council in November, 2010. I look forward to ministering at their General Council in Enugu. In spite of reports of religious violence and unrest, the Nigerian AG remains at the forefront communicating the Gospel. I will arrive in Lagos hosted by Rev.Yacubu Pam along with Pastor David Omih, the director of Teen Challenge. After Council, I fly to Abuja and then we head north to commission the new Teen Challenge Men's Center in Jos.

The Assemblies of God and Teen Challenge in Nigeria minister the Love of God courageously in the face of extremist opposition from groups like Boko Haram. Human Rights Watch estimates that this radical Islamist group has killed more than 2,800 people in the last several years, including at least 34 since Christmas. Churches have been burned or bombed as pastors and members were gunned down by hooded gunmen.

American citizens have been affected, and the United Nations building in Abuja was attacked by these terrorists. The U.S. Congress has affirmed that Boko Haram is a threat to the US. With links to Al-Qaeda, they have carried out "incessant callous, brutal, and barbaric attacks in Nigeria.

NIGERIA- Challenging journey to Nigeria. The scheduled 19 hour trip ended up taking 52 hours. From fog, a fire in one of the engines when it was over-fueled. At one point, the flight was canceled, then reinstated and then delayed, and then canceled. After cancellation # 3 ....As they rebooked us, trying to route me through Europe, a plane arrived at the gate. A flight crew was conscripted, ready to take off. NO! We learned because of union rules we needed new flight attendants.

From the beginning this trip has encountered cultural and spiritual resistance. It began with the rejection of GTC Africa Regional Rep, Doug Wever's VISA application and manifested in my travel Praise God

I finally arrived in Nigeria to God be the GLORY! From Lagos to Enugu, Enugu to Abujah, Abujah to Jos and we are excited about what the Lord is doing here. At the ALL Africa Training in Kenya last year Doug Wever laid a tremendous road-map for Nigeria Teen Challenge with Pastor Yacubu Pam and David Omih who have followed though admirably. As Nigeria is increasingly impacted by religiously-motivated militancy, terrorism, crime, and socio-economic unrest, the new Nigeria Teen Challenge is poised to impact at the "living edge" ministering truth, light, and hope.

	The General Council of the Nigerian Assemblies of God was tremendous ministry. In addition to the attendees at the conference, it was televised on Evangel Television across the nation. General Superintendent Rev. Prof. Paul Emeka, has given us unprecedented access to the leadership a. Rev.Yacubu Pam, assigned by the A/G as National Liaison has done a tremendous job of putting the need before the church. David Omih, a TC Graduate personally trained by Brother Wilkerson and the team at Brooklyn Teen Challenge will be the director of the center. was blessed to meet with the Executive Presbytery and over 100 District Superintendents to share our vision.
	Many young men like Ubuntu came forward with a vision for Teen Challenge for their region.. Powerful to pray with them. I love this picture as over 100 District Superintendents, their wives, and district officials crowded into the altar to pray for Evangelism, for Teen Challenge ... for souls.

We have a 9 hour drive to Jos on dangerous roads today and tonight an ALL NIGHT prayer meeting. The situation in Mali and Algeria have pushed tensions high here with Boko Haram and other extremist groups. I am so glad God is in complete control. Thank you for your prayers. Critical meetings with tribal leaders and ministering is some drug areas.

NIGERIA: What an incredible time of ministry in Nigeria. Powering through military stops, police checkpoints, and Satanic opposition, God carried us in His grace and love. Even the situations in Mali and Algeria that pushed tensions high here with Boko Haram and other extremist groups could not hinder the move of God. I am so glad God is in complete control. Check points and interruptions were just a chance to declare His love.

The General Council of Nigeria Assemblies of God was an overwhelming success. With over 6-7 million adherents & 15,000 congregations, they have a burden to reach their nation. Over 40 District Superintendents met with us to express interest in launching a Teen Challenge Center in their district.
In Jos, where the new center is being launched, we were blessed by the incredible support of the churches. The Teen Challenge in Jos is on the contested border of the Christian and Muslim Neighborhood. Even the Imam has pledged his support that we might shared Jesus "the healer" with addicts.

On Friday night over 2,000 gathered for prayer from 8 pm to 6 am as we interceded for Teen Challenge and a season of "Crossing over" for the church. On Sunday I was honored to present diplomas at a TC discipleship graduation ceremony with David Omih, as 40 students who had completed Living Free and GSNC, prepare to serve.

Mohammed, once the leading striker in Nigerian Premier League soccer, lived in a 2 million dollar home. Now he walks the streets addicted to wine and Jobu. He prayed to receive Jesus Christ and is scheduled to come into the Teen Challenge program. He shared' "I am tired of running. I have lost everything. I am ready for a miracle. I want to be free."

On the street we encountered the entire cross-section of addicts, from local moonshine to snuff, grass, and codeine. There is smorgasbord of drugs available on the street and a sense of despair that drives them to escape. One Nigerian soldier confided that getting high was the only relief from the pressure of his daily duties confronting terrorists

On the street, home-made brew boasts a frothy history in African society. It is used to appease ancestors, loosen tongues during slippery dowry negotiations and to celebrate new seasons or victory in war, drinking sessions celebrate births, mend rifts between warring factions or simply while away the time. With names like "Kill me quick", "The dog that bites" and "Goodbye Mum", Nigerian moonshine can be bolstered, using anything from embalming fluid to stolen jet fuel. We had the unique opportunity to film the brewing process and pray for the people locked in its deadly grasp.

NIGERIA

Cathy and I are truly excited to be working with the Brooklyn TC mission team as they traveled to Africa to serve the emerging Teen Challenge strategy in Nigeria. For many years. It is been our heart to see Teen Challenge Ministry Institute students and graduates of the program take the miracle that God did in their lives and invest it in strategic worldwide mission of Teen Challenge, as centers are planted around the world

David Omih, founder and director is a graduate of Brooklyn Teen Challenge. A life of desperation and addiction led him to the program. Lost and hopeless he surrendered to Jesus, graduated, completed TCMI and was enjoying success as at TC staff when God called him back to Nigeria. He has given his life to serve God. Like Nehemiah, he returned to his native land and serve God as he serves his people.

The Teen Challenge Center in Jos has a wonderful 4 bedroom home, discipleship classes and a street evangelism outreach. The team of 11 from Brooklyn Teen Challenge leaves October 13th to help David evangelize, witness, reach and be a light to the lost in Jews, Nigeria.

Here David ministers to a man on the street. His name is . Mohamed, he was once one of the top players in the Nigerian Premier football league. At the top if the list, a prospect to go global until alcohol robbed his dream and his promise, now lost on the street because of booze. Please pray for their protection. Pray that hearts will be turned from sin, and lifted to Christ. Pray that Gods presence would draw people to Him

Pray for continued strength and encouragement for David Omih, his wife, A-G leaders and the TC team in Jos. For most of the Broolyn TC team members, this is their first time out of the country. We are in much prayer and intercession for this journey and are trusting God to provide all our needs, and especially the needs of the people we will encounter.


	The poster to the left may not be the most professional in our history, but it was definitely one of my favorites. Hundreds of these lovingly handwritten posters were plastered on poles and buildings across Alheri.I have been called fat, old and loud but this was the first time I was ever called "boney."

Alheri is a slum with 92% unemployment & poverty. Drugs and goscolo (a home-brewed hallucinogenic moonshine made with formaldehyde) rule the streets. Everyone has abandoned this ghetto, including the police, but David Omih and the TC team in Jos have adopted them for the gospel. Weekly outreach and teams walking the streets from local youth groups share a message of hope in a hopeless place.

Facing the radical rhetoric and violence of Al Qaeda terror cells like Boca Haram in Nigeria, the pressure of drug and alcohol addiction and the continuing scourge of poverty, only the gospel of Jesus Christ can make a difference in a community like Alheri. God is still calling ministries like Brooklyn Teen Challenge to continue the legacy of reaching the least and the last. Pray that God will continue to the light the fire of evangelism in Teen Challenge staff and students around the world.

MINISTERING TO REAL HEROES

We ministered to over 300 pastors in Jos, Nigeria. These pastors and their congregations face persecution and death every day, For them, the gospel is more than good feelings, it is a life-and-death choice for the kingdom of God. Pastors came from 19 Northern states of Nigeria and Abuja, the federal capital of Nigeria. Among them are the district superintendents of Kaduna, Mangu, Bauchi, Yola, Jalingo, Egede in Benue state, Jos and Jos Mainland. It was a tremendous honor to join Superintendent Yacubu Pam, Pastor Chris McMillan of Life House Church in Laurel, Maryland and the team of Brooklyn Teen Challenge to minister.

Pastor Pam shared that in a period of 2 days, 53 churches were burnt, 11 vandalized, and over one hundred Christians including 7 Pastors and church workers lost their lives. In the Christian and Muslim community in Jos, Teen Challenge is ministering a message of reconciliation.
Click for Supt Pam's FULL report.

The Brooklyn Teen Challenge team, along with Cathy and I were blessed to minister in the Word and testimony every day, communicating a fresh vision for Teen Challenge Nigeria as we saw God add 5 new students to the Center. Please pray for the team from Jacksonville Teen Challenge, which will continue this partnership with David Omih, for the launch of the Jos center with a two-week visit on November 9.

Hundreds of pastors from the northern states of Nigeria gathered in Jos as we visited to launch the new Teen Challenge Center. Following the Conference, Pastors from Yola, Jalingo, Kafanchan, Kaduna, and Bauchi expressed their desire to start Teen Challenge in their district. What an exciting follow-up to the superintendents who declared their excitement about Teen Challenge after I ministered at the General Council at Enugu In January. Please pray as we are still waiting for our certificate of approval from the Federal Office of Cooperative affairs Commission of Nigeria (CAC).

Theological Seminary of Northern Nigeria in Saminaka.

A real highlight of the mission was our trip to the Theological Seminary of Northern Nigeria in Saminaka. After a late-night ministering in an indigenous Ibu village church, departing at zero dark 30 for a grueling 2 1/2-hour on bumpy roads where sections were often little more than a dirt path, we got to the service late. Hundreds of students were fully engaged in enthusiastic worship when we arrived. The ministry time proved to be strategic. Supt Pam shared that a number of students from the graduating class called to say they have a special call to work in the ministry of Teen Challenge.

Mother Lucy took us to visit a brothel in the city. Mariah and Krystel testified powerfully. I sang and ministered the Word. Tears of despair gave way to laughter and rejoicing as they opened their hearts to God's love.

The Brooklyn Teen challenge team got a special blessing visiting some local missionaries as visiting scholars had brought several parchments of the Dead Sea Scrolls for studies that were taking place at the University. It was not only fascinating, but a special blessing to have the opportunity to view the Torah in one of the Dead Sea scrolls. It was incredible to see the excitement in the face of the students as they embrace the historic reality of God's word preserved through the ages.