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The letter dated Aug. 25 was the first received from Bro. B. U. Etuk,
native minister in Nigeria, since Bro. and Sister Ostis Wilson
arrived there on Aug. 13, and he enclosed
the above picture. He
writes: "Bro. and Sister Wilson arrived here on the 13th. .
. and we all have been very happy indeed. You will never realize our
joy… That they will be a blessing to us and to the Lord's vineyard
here has been demonstrated by their keen interest in us and our work
and their willingness to unfold us the true light in the Gospel of
our Lord. I have no doubt that their continued stay, guidance,
advice and leadership will save many more souls which would
otherwise be lost. Praise His name! They feel happy and seem to love
their lodgings. They are looking after themselves and love it that
way. I wish they could stay longer than their visas can allow them,
but the Lord knows more than we do."
Under date of Sept. 2 Bro. Etuk wrote us another letter and enclosed
the August report of the mission activities written by Bro. Friday
Ekpo, the mission secretary. In this letter Bro. Etuk is again
rejoicing in the arrival of Bro. and Sister Wilson, which, as he
says "is adding more blessings to us than ever before." He
continues: "Bro. and Sister Wilson have already won the confidence
of all the congregations and their presence is helping a lot to
spread the Gospel--the purpose for which they came."
The secretary's report covers the activities for August, mainly the
complete typewritten minutes of the welcoming service accorded the
Wilsons on their first Sunday in Nigeria on Aug. 16 at the new
headquarters chapel, at which place all the outlying stations were
represented, numbering perhaps 300 to 400. In the welcoming address
on behalf of the Nigerian Church of God a petition listing eight
projects or ways to advance the cause of Christ was handed to the
Wilsons. They in turn were expected to certify these financial needs
to the Church in the U. S. A. Through an interpreter, Bro. Wilson
responded to the welcoming address, his entire response being
recorded.
On Sunday, Aug. 23, the regular monthly combined service was held at
Ikot Ebak, a congregation about 8 miles from where the Wilsons live.
Bro. Wilson preached through an interpreter to this large gathering,
the full text of his sermon being typewritten in the reports. A new
convert, the village chief of Ikot Ebak, came up to be introduced,
and he thanked Bro. and Sister Wilson for coming and assured them of
his and his subjects' coperation.
On Aug. 27, the regular monthly sisters' meeting was held and Sister
Opal Wilson was asked to address the meeting, which she did. The
full text of her sermon is also typewritten in the reports.
We have also been receiving encouraging reports of the work direct
from Bro. Wilson. Two of these letters were dated Sept. 1 and the
two most recent were dated Sept. 6, just received today (Sept. 16).
He writes: “We are both quite well, for which we are thankful to God
and to the saints for their prayers. Your prayers on this behalf are
working fine, so just keep the good work up. We also need prayer for
divine wisdom and guidance in our entering in unto these people, and
we are sure we have that, too."
"They requested an adult school, and also a domestic science center.
Now that adult school seems to be a common request among all of
them, and Bro. Etuk and Bro. Friday Ekpo are just real urgent about
that and do not want to delay longer. They are anxious for their
people to be able to read the Scriptures in Efik. They realize that
will give them additional inspiration when they can read the
Scriptures for themselves and not have to depend on just what others
tell them. We know that is true, and Opal and I are real interested
in getting that going also."
He pointed out that these classes for adult members would be held to
teach them to read and write, using the Efik Bibles as textbooks.
That would involve the purchase of a number of Efik Bibles at $1.00
each, and which are available there. An Efik teacher can be secured
at $22.40 per month. Bro. Wilson had proposed that classes be
started at various stations in the area so that no one would have to
go too far to attend classes. The first class was held at the
Mission's headquarters' chapel on Friday evening, Sept. 4, with all
of the native preachers and workers present. It was a short session,
perhaps only an introduction to their class work. All of the
preachers and workers can read Efik, so they will be able to help
the teachers in the classes. About seven of the workers can read
English. The natives tell Bro. Wilson that there are no Efik Bibles
with references, so these seven workers would like to have English
Bibles with references. The Wilsons were planning to go to their
post office city, some twelve miles away, where there is a gospel
literature book store and see if they have English Bibles with
references.
Bro. Wilson writes: "The domestic science center would be valuable,
also. It would involve the purchase of some sewing machines, yardage
materials, scissors, needles, thread, buttons, and other accessories
to sewing. We were in Uyo [20 miles away] this morning and priced
some machines. A treadle machine in a stand costs $84.00. They have
a portable hand-turned machine for $61.20. Opal plans to start a
sewing class with the women at one of the stations tomorrow morning
(Sept. 7). We do not have any sewing machine yet but they did not
want to wait longer, so Opal told them they could start with
hand-sewing and work at that until some machines were available. So
we . . . bought some needles, thread, and other sewing accessories
and they plan to have the first class tomorrow. They want two
classes each week. But, of course, when it starts, it will soon
spread to other stations around here."
"It is our idea that the most effective way to reach these people is
through the native workers. Having to do everything through an
interpreter makes us more or less ineffective in that capacity. Also
we do not know the people and their background, and customs and
manner of thinking like the natives do. We feel that our principal
work is to teach the natives the doctrines of the truth and get them
established in those things, and then let them go to their brethren
with the message of salvation."
Let us all continue to pray the Lord to bless Bro. and Sister
Wilson, along with all the native workers, and give them special
Divine wisdom and courage to meet and solve the many problems which
confront them in the process of establishing a permanent mission
work for God that will spread throughout Nigeria.
Let us also remember the financial needs involved in purchasing
Bibles for the adult classes, salaries for Efik teachers, sewing
machines and sewing accessories for the sewing classes, and to
increase the monthly allowances for the 14 native workers, some of
whom are only receiving a very few dollars per month. At least one
preacher at an outlying station has no transportation at all. On the
Friday of the first Bible study at the headquarters' chapel he
walked the 14 miles, and arrived too late. The Wilsons met him just
leaving their house as they were willing back from the Bible class.
They were favorably impressed with his spirit and attitude, and feel
burdened to get him a bicycle.
Your free-will offerings for the Nigerian missionary work may be
sent to that special fund here at the office, and it will be used
for the purpose designated. This service we are glad to render to
our readers for the advancement of the missionary cause.
"While a soul remains in darkness,
And in idleness we
dwell,
Selfishly the truth enjoying,
Brethren dear, we
do not well."
-Lawrence D. Pruitt |
