John and Abi
are members of, and supported by, LCBC. John has been in Nigeria since 1995. He
met Abi in 2001. They were married in 2004. In 2009 they left Jos to help start
a Diploma programme in a theological college in the predominantly Muslim far
North of Nigeria. The college has 120 students, most of whom will become pastors
and missionaries in the far North. The first set of Diploma students graduated
in 2009.
John teaches
New Testament and Spiritual Life. He is passionate about teaching. It is a
great joy to him to see people grow spiritually through a deeper understanding of
God’s Word. In his teaching he seeks to apply the Word of God to student’s
lives and ministries, protect the church from false teaching, and ensure that
the Gospel is passed on to the next generation (2 Tim. 2:2). We were
particularly encouraged when one of our students, Ibrahim, used what he learned
in Spiritual Life Classes for series of sermons in his church.
Abi teaches
English. She emphasises how they both use the relationships they develop in class to disciple students outside of class. It
is a real encouragement to see students grow in their relationship with the
Lord and deal with issues in their spiritual lives. “Ayuba” is a young man in
his 20s. He came under conviction in one of his classes to put right some
things he had done in the past. He started to pay back some money he took, even
though nobody knew that he took it. It has been a privilege also to see how the
Lord answers prayer for students’ material and spiritual needs and marriage
problems.
John and Abi
are also involved in various other activities within and outside the college,
including translating Christian books into Hausa, the main language of Northern
Nigeria.
John and Abi ask for prayer
for:
- Safety
- Good teaching
- Good relationships with staff and students
- Good administration at the College
- Wisdom to prioritise various ministry opportunities
