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In the early
1960’s, Bro. Lawrence Pruitt began communicating with Bro. B. U. Etuk,
a native minister in Nigeria, who was open and receptive to the
gospel. Bro. Etuk was very desirous of a missionary to come and
teach them.
 In response to
the call, Bro. David Madden flew to Nigeria on March 22, 1964. He
went for the purpose of acquainting himself with the Nigerian Church
of God. He found the people, although ignorant of much truth,
receptive to the doctrines of the Church of God. He writes:
"They question me much about our services and the doctrines we
teach. I always refer them to texts of the Bible. Where they are not
teaching the same as we, they immediately say, we will teach the
truth." He returned home on
April 12 reporting of the ‘bright prospects for future expansion.’
Shortly following his homecoming, Bro. David passed away with
malaria on April 28.
  Bro. Ostis and
Sis Opal Wilson resigned the pastorship at Pacoima, CA with a burden
to carry on with the work in Nigeria. They left on July 15, 1964 by
boat and arrived at Port Harcourt, Nigeria on August 12. The
Wilsons labored primarily in the village of Asana, Akwa Ibom State.
Bro. Etuk wrote of the Wilson's: "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."
After a short illness, Sis. Opal passed away with pneumonia on
September 24. Bro. Ostis returned home on August 2. He began sending
Bible lessons to Nigeria on a monthly basis. A high price had been
paid in the year of 1964 with the passing of two missionaries. Bro.
Ostis wrote after the passing of Sis. Opal: “…let us all dig a
little deeper and consecrate a little more and sacrifice a little
greater for Jesus’ sake and for the work of God.”
  Bro. and Sis.
Cecil Carver flew to Nigeria and arrived on September 19, 1965. They
stayed in Nigeria working with the Church until their 28-day visa
expired. As with other
missionaries, they had many experiences while
laboring in that far off land. At this time, there were a number of
native ministers that were being supported by the Church of God in
the United States. Bro. and Sis. Carver reported that they found
many honest and sincere souls. At the same time, they acknowledged
that the people were young in the faith and the Carvers were
interested in seeing some changes made in the operation of the
congregations in Nigeria as time progressed.
In 1970, a
Nigerian minister, Bro. J.U. Etuk, wrote: “The Church in America
really has a moral and spiritual duty to give an untiring “mighty
push” to young congregations in Nigeria. There should be no holding
back whatever…. We may be right in principle but wrong in practice,
if we have nobody to direct.” The reality of this statement has
proven itself many times over in various missionary efforts.
 Bro. Tom Melot
left home on January 3, 1975 and flew to Nigeria to labor with the
native ministers for approximately six weeks. He visited 24
congregations in three states. Bro. Tom taught more about the
operation of the New Testament Church. He wrote “...not everyone is
hungry for the truth.” Bro. Tom met some wonderful saints in Midwest
State where Bro. Titus Enu was pastoring. He also found fellowship
with saints in Tombia and Port Harcourt.
Bro. Melot’s
trip marked a change in the direction of support that was going to
Nigeria. Bro. Wayne Murphey wrote concerning this event: “In 1975,
due to discord on the question of polygamy and other spiritual
matters, the main focus and support of the saints shifted from Asana
and more to Kwale, the congregation over which the late Bro. Titus
Enu had the oversight.”
Bro. Titus Enu
traveled to the United States in 1976. He spent a number of weeks
during the summer attending various campmeetings throughout the U.S.
and becoming more acquainted with the saints in America.
On December 18,
1979, Bro. Jefferson Pierro, along with his wife and daughter of
California, arrived in Lagos, Nigeria. They were responding to an
open invitation for saints to come and visit. The Pierros spent time
with Bro. Titus Enu traveling around to various meetings and
congregations.
Bro. Robert
Eckenwiler of Kansas, flew to Nigeria and was with the saints from
Novermber 6, 1980 until around January 16, 1981. Due to a lack of
information, not much can be written about this trip. Bro. Robert
did spend time with Bro. Enu and witnessed much good being
accomplished.
Bros. Jefferson,
David, Jonathan, and Joseph Pierro went to Nigeria on November 22,
1983 and returned home on December 28, 1983. Once again, they spent
time with Bro. Enu and made several trips to meet and worship with
various congregations. They proved to be an encouragement to the
native saints.
Bro. Anieite
Essien contacted Bro. Wayne Murphey in 1999 requesting the saints to
resume their efforts in Asana. Bro. Essien had been a young boy
during the early missionary efforts in Nigeria. Although a member of
the Assembly of God church, Bro. Essien was desirous of the saints
to come and help restore the truth in his native village of Asana.
 In response to
this call, Bro. Michael Smith flew to Nigeria on December 8, 2000
after a six-week missionary trip to Ghana with his family. He
traveled with Bro. Essien and visited the Church of God
congregations in Lagos, Kwale, Port Harcourt, and Tombia. He found
fellowship in some of these places and then continued on with Bro.
Essien to attend a four-day convention in Asana. Many congregations
from the surrounding area were in attendance. There were hundreds of
people that attended the meeting and Bro. Michael found many honest
souls. He had the opportunity to visit 13 of the congregations in
the local area. He arrived home on December 23.
Bro. Michael was
thankful to have made the acquaintance of Bro. F. Naths-Igbanibo who
is the pastor of the Port Harcourt congregation. Bro. Naths-Igbanibo,
as well as some other ministers he met, seem to be rooted and
grounded in truth. Unfortunately, Bro. Michael found that an exalted
spirit had overtaken some of the ministry that had previously been
supported by the saints. With the exalted spirit, came a
compromising attitude on some doctrinal points. Thankfully, there
are still ministers and congregations in Nigeria that are living the
truth and worthy of support.
Bro. Michael
flew to Ghana on November 29, 2001 and following a stay there, he
proceeded to go on to Nigeria. He spent most of his time laboring in
the Asana area. Bro. Michael conducted a three-day ministers’
meeting with the gospel workers. There was a large group in
attendance and much doctrinal truth was taught. Following, there was
a four-day convention. Over a hundred people sought the Lord for
salvation in this meeting. Bro. Michael returned home on December
25.
Annually there
is a meeting that is being held by the established Church of God
congregations in late December. Unfortunately at this time, that
meeting is being held at the same time as the Asana convention. It
seems that it would be optimal if the brethren could work together
from these different areas since the door is opened in Asana. I
don’t know how long that door will remain open, and the saints need
to pray that the truth would go forth in power carried by humble
ministers. It has been the pattern throughout church history, and
nothing has changed, that many times it is the leadership that
hinders the working of the Spirit. How imperative it is that
ministers are humble servants of the Lord--living blameless lives
before God and man.
In the latter
part of 2004, enough funds were saved to purchase a vehicle for the
use of the evangelistic work in Nigeria. Bro. Michael placed the
vehicle in the charge of Bro. Naths-Igbanibo of the Port Harcourt
congregation.
The fields are
white and ready to harvest in Nigeria. As in the United States,
there is a ‘spirit of religion’ that permeates the Nigerian society.
May God work and bring about true unity of spirit and faith among
all honest seeking souls. |
