Tanzania and Nigeria

Tanzania

 

Eighteen months ago Hugh and Trevor were invited to join Dr Kumuyi of Deeper Life Bible Church as he ministered in Nairobi, Kenya. Following the success of this trip several ministers from Tanzania who were at the meetings asked Hugh to come to Dar es-Salaam, the capital of Tanzania to encourage leaders and believers there in God’s Word.

 

The invitation was repeated in January when Hugh made his annual visit to Uganda to be with Dr Joseph Serwadda of Victory Christian Centre, Kampala.

In March this year Hugh and Trevor set aside time to visit senior church leaders in Dar es-Salaam to discern the Lord’s heart on such a visit. The welcome was overwhelmingly warm and there was a clear vision among the city’s leaders we met for such a series of meetings.

By the end of our five-day trip we had a provisional date for mid-September this year for a 3-day leaders and believers’ convention to encourage and equip 2000 key people a day. A city-centre venue with good parking and bus-route access was found, and a budget set at £5 per delegate per day (including light refreshments, a conference pack and resources for each delegate, as well as the necessary publicity, airfares and hotel costs).

 

 
 

Dr Hugh and Mrs Fernandez of Agape TV                    Dr Hugh preaching a message on local radio



This is an incredible opportunity to be a blessing to a major capital city in Africa. We will need to raise much of the needed £30,000 in advance. However, offerings will be taken at the event, so as to train more leaders and believers in the future.

When Hugh held a similar event in Kampala in 1994, major politicians were very excited about the whole project, and support from senior church leaders in the city was unprecedented.  Since then Ugandan churches have experienced phenomenal growth, the politicians now consult regularly with church leaders on matters of national importance. 

 

Hugh continues to be seen as one who brings major prophetic insight and apostolic wisdom into Uganda as he is invited annually to speak at the National Passover Prayer Night on New Year’s Eve. We are sure God has similarly exciting things in store for Tanzania too.

Pray for us as we take the project forward and also consider what you might be able to donate to support the convention and its costs.

Nigeria

 

In April we were informed by Dr Kumuyi of his wife’s passing. This was a great surprise and it was with sadness that we travelled to celebrate her life at a three-day funeral event at IBTC, in Ipaja, Lagos.  

 

Many wanted to pay respects and there was a demonstration of unity across the body of Christ in Nigeria. As co-chair of the UK Charismatic and Pentecostal Leaders’ Conference, President of CiC International and a board member of the UK African and Caribbean Evangelical Alliance, Hugh was able to pass on the condolences of many who had been impacted by Mrs Kumuyi’s life and service.

After taking personal leave of Dr Kumuyi and the various Deeper Life national leaders with whom we’d spend time, we crossed Lagos to Victoria Island.

We spent Sunday with our great friends at This Present House ministering to both congregations at The Dome in Lekki, and attending the outreach meeting of ‘God Bless Nigeria Church’ in the National Indoor Stadium in Surulere. 

 

This outreach ministry is life-changing, seeing many gang members, drug addicts and prostitutes finding the love of Christ and being shown a new and better way to live their lives through re-training, re-housing and discipleship in the Gospel.
Hugh with some original Deeper Life members
who met at Dr Kumuyis flat and their friends

       

By a wonderful coincidence the youth team of one of the CiC Nigeria churches was also at the National Stadium playing a friendly football match. We had a great time praying for them and they won 4-1! We were then able to meet with their pastors, Peter & Becky, and spoke at their Monday evening Bible study before catching the plane home.

 

Throughout our time in Nigeria we were supported by Gideon Mba, the national co-ordinator of CiC Nigeria.

 

It is expected that Dr Hugh and Trevor will be in Jos, Plateau State at somepoint in August this year with Rev Dr Wilson Ezeofor of Bible Faith Mission for a week-long conference. We are also hoping to go back to honour invitations from Warri and Ibadan as well as continuing to build the network of CiC Nigeria churches as they minister to some of the less-reached communities in the country.

 

Please continue to pray for all that is on the Lord’s heart for us to do in Nigeria; there are many opportunities and we must be discerning.
Gideon and Bethel Mba,
Gideon is CiC Nigeria's national co-cordinator

 

Dr Hugh’s capacity-building Bible teaching ministry is valued highly in Nigeria and we appreciate the way that your prayers and donations continue to open doors for us.