ECWA/SIM Founders Week

December 4, 1893 was the day that three young men, Walter Gowans, Thomas Kent and Rowland Bingham landed on the coast of Lagos, Nigeria, West Africa. They came not to stay on the coast but to reach into the interior of Nigeria in an area that was then called the Sudan. Their reason was, there were seventy million people in that area but no church because the gospel had not reached them. They knew that God's heart was that through the offspring of Abraham, Jesus Christ, God wanted to bless all people, including the people of the Sudan. Before one year was up two of the young men had died. The third, Rowland Bingham, even though discouraged, did not give up and was able to see others come and join him. At last the Sudan Interior Mission was established in Nigeria and 113 years later the mission called today, SIM (Serving In Mission), is in over 45 countries of the world. Over 1500 missionaries are involved in reaching the unreached and establishing and equipping the Church to fulfill its mandate to "go and make disciples of all nations".

The reason I mention this is here in Nigeria the Evangelical Church of West Africa focuses on this day and reminds its members of the sacrifices that were made by foreigners who have served in Nigeria. They also remember the Nigerians that have served the Lord faithfully and are now retired. At the end of the week churches are encouraged to take an offering which will go to help those retired Nigerian pastors. What a blessing for those who in many cases really need the help. Pray with me that the Lord will bless the giving this year and that retired pastors will be encouraged in the Lord.

I had the privilege of sharing with our local church last night about SIM and how it came into being. It was a good reminder to me that there have been tremendous sacrifices made to reach where we are today. The challenges are still there because there are still many unreached in this part of the world. Like Rowland Bingham I am even more committed to the Lord's mandate in Matthew 28:18-20 than ever before. I challenged all those at the service to be committed and willing to sacrifice in what ever way the Lord leads them to as they follow the Lord and do His will.

We are involved in ministry with the Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA). This is the SIM related Church in Nigeria that has grown from the ministry of SIM and has now become a very large denomination in West Africa. ECWA has over 6000 local congregations and a mission agency of it own that has over 1500 missionaries in Nigeria and other countries.

You might ask "what are we doing here then"? We are involved in establishing a vision and practice of discipleship and making disciples among the pastors and churches of Nigeria . In many respects the Church in Nigeria is thousand of miles wide but only an inch deep. Meaning that it has a long way to go spiritually. That is where the need for discipling and equipping believers comes in, and that is why we are here.

We work with training pastors, church leaders, church members and students in principles of discipleship and disciple making. In the end we want to see the Church in Nigeria with a vision for following the mandate of the Lord when He said, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations ... teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." Matthew 28:18-20