Nigeria for Christ!

The Gospel is spreading like wildfire in Nigeria. The Restoration Plea is alive and well in the churches of Nigeria. On every trip to Nigeria congregations are planted in different villages and cities throughout southern Nigeria. Most of the churches are meeting in member's homes or schools. The churches often outgrow the member's homes and the local government often stops the congregation from meeting in the school. This leads to a problem of where to assemble. Since the economy is poor in Nigeria, it is hard for congregations to buy land and erect a church building.

Different churches and individuals have often undertaken the mission of helping native Nigerian congregations to erect their own building. Sometimes, a congregation will be able to buy a partially constructed building. Sometimes, a congregation needs to build a new building. Whatever the situation, we try and help these fledgling Christians.

One of the drawbacks of helping Nigerian Christians is the idea that they will become dependant on American money. In all of our works, we try not to let that happen. That is one of the reasons for annual trips to Nigeria is to check up on our preachers and their works. With Nigerian church buildings, we raise the money to put a concrete floor down, posts, and a tin roof. The Nigerians then go in and finish the walls and furnish the building. This partnership helps the Nigerians to have ownership of their church building.

Since so many Nigerian congregations need church buildings, we have come up with a standard plan. While each congregation is different in size and makeup, each congregation that we will help build a church building will follow a standardized church building plan. This will keep costs down and eliminate a lot of the guess work. A standard church building consists of a concrete floor, concrete posts, and a tin roof. The cost for this material and any labor comes to about $5,000. Concrete must be used due to the termite infestation in the country. The Nigerian brethren then have the task of finishing the walls with mud or other material, furnishing the building with a table, pulpit (stand), and benches. When we agree to helping with a church building, we agree to a certain amount of money. After completion of our part, we take pictures to send to supporting individuals and/or churches.

One of the projects that was started a few years ago is the church building at Garriki. The congregation itself is the only congregation in a city of about a million people. This church building is larger than our standard plan because of when it was started, the size of the congregation, the rate of the congregation's growth, and the potential for growth in the future. The Holladay Church of Christ has helped tremendously with the effort, but the church building has not been finished with a roof and floor for a couple of years. There is a need of $10,000 to get the church building usable by the congregation. If you or your congregation can help out, please let Chad Wagner know.

UPDATE!!

A faithful church in Cookeville, TN has decided to help finish the church building at Garriki.  They have forwarded the money for a roof and a floor.  They will also be helping us raise money for building a wall around the church building for security. 

Ozizza Church of Christ

Located near the school of preaching, the Ozizza church of Christ has been meeting in a local school.  Recently, the government compelled the Christians to stop meeting there on Sundays.  There is a great need for a church building so that they can have a stable, central location to worship. 

We have helped them put a foundation down for the building, but they need help putting a roof and floor on the building so that they can start worshipping there.  They need $5,000.  Recently, a check for $1,500 was sent for this purpose, but we still need $3,500 to put that roof on.  What can you do?  Let us know.