Dear
Prayer Partners and Friends,
Truly,
God alone can save sinners; yet the task God commands us to is the mission of
spreading this Good News both near and far.
What an awesome privilege to share in God's eternal purpose!
For Jesus said, "As the Father has sent me, so send I you" (John
20:21).
Last
year, in early 2000, Prof. Mohammed Nur Alkali and Cyprian met in a flight from
Lagos to Accra. God opened his
heart to the witness of the Gospel and he yielded his allegiance to our great
Savior. He was then discipled and
in November he completed his first set of Emmaus courses.
This
April 2001, he invited and flew Cyprian to his home, a palatial compound in
Maiduguri, where Cyprian stayed for several days and ministered the Word to the
professor and his family. Maiduguri
is in Borno State and borders the countries of Cameroon, Niger and Chad.
Borno State is one of the six states in Nigeria that are called the
‘Core North’ because of the large Islamic presence, 75-80% being Muslim.
Prof. Alkali, himself a former Muslim, is an eminent historian and the
onetime Director General of the Nigerian Institute of Policy and Strategic
Studies, in Kuru.
Praise
the Lord that twelve of his family had made professions of faith and now study
with him as students. During the
visit, Christ was celebrated and worshipped in the former mosque on his
compound. Gathered with him were those in his household, close friends
and key students from the University of Maiduguri, where he now associates.
Other
doors have been opened to us in other states.
In Rivers State, the Newspaper Corporation Staff Fellowship in Port
Harcourt extended an invitation to Cyprian to speak.
He taught practical steps of personal evangelism and disciple-making.
In Gusau, the Zamfara State capital, Cyprian ministered the Word at the invitation of Christian Corpers Fellowship (the
Nigerian version of the Peace Corps). This
is the state that first introduced Sharia law in Nigeria.
It is also one of the ‘Core North’ states.
After speaking and fellowshipping with the Christian Corpers
Fellowship, Cyprian met Rev. Father Guzumah at his hotel.
Following a discussion of eternal things, the Rev. Father accepted
Christ. He is a Catholic priest serving in Jigawa State that was temporarily
posted to Zamfara at that time. Praise
the Lord for this new believer! Please
keep these mentioned here in prayer for their growth and witness.
We
have learned that people are best helped when they are helped to help
themselves. Agnes Amaadum, a
Catholic from Nkawkaw in Ghana was led to Christ in 1999.
In August 2000 this high school drop-out was assisted to complete her
school and will graduate from vocational school with a job waiting for her.
We do not have to help her further; she can help herself and others also.
Please pray with us as we witness, disciple, and walk with those God puts
on our path.
Ministry
in Biblical terms is not a duty or a job. It is a willing service to God seeking
to profit many that some may be saved. It liberates rather than enslaves, and
fellow workers are enhanced, not reduced. Pray that we do God's Work, God’s
Way.
PRAYER/PRAISE
ITEMS SUMMARIZED
v
Praise the
Lord for Stephen’s complete healing.
v
Pray for both
those mentioned by name in this letter and the many
not mentioned.
v
Pray for the
Lord’s work that His name would be glorified.
v
Praise the
Lord for His faithfulness in sustaining us.
v
Pray for our
health and for continued open doors for ministry and most importantly, humble
servant hearts.
Again, we thank you for your faithful prayers.
Yours Resting On His Everlasting Arms,
Joy and Cyprian