Dear Friends and Family,
Christian missions should never be a cover for fleecing the believers or perfecting the act of taking. Missions is God's continuous act of giving. We need to remind ourselves that it is easier for a giver to learn to take than for a taker to learn to give. Hence, it is written: "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Luke 29:7). It stands to reason that missionaries should be in the forefront of encouraging believers to walk with God through giving rather than teaching them to take.
Between January and May the Nigerian political situation was marked by uncertainty and hatred, overshadowed with the possibility of civil war. Traveling to certain places in the country was life-threatening. The death of two major players and the distancing of the current head of State from the posture of the past have greatly calmed things down. Pray for lasting political peace in Nigeria.
In spite of the unstable political atmosphere, two workshops were held in Surulere on the 6th and 13th of June. As a result, we now have added twenty-five to the steadily growing number of active correctors. At Otukpo, fifteen completed their courses, graduated, and were fully trained as correctors in June as well. Among the new correctors are the Anglican bishop of the Otukpo diocese and his leading priest, a doctoral candidate at Ahmadu Bello University. They are both being discipled by one of their lay members, Dr. George Ukwunam, an eye specialist.
Dr. George Ukwunam is also the Emmaus Bible Center coordinating secretary. Consequently, when the bishop requested that the twelve course module be used in training all his priests, it was granted. George was asked to lead the training program which kicked off August 1, 1998 The bishop said that this will be a continues education requirement for all his priests in good standing. He also said that from what he has gained by studying the courses himself, they will help ground his priests in the faith and steady their feet on the person of Christ and His Word. Free literature was thereafter donated to the bishop for all his priests; each received a Bible, tracts, and a copy of Biblical Eldership. Pray that the messages in all these will be transformed into thoughts and actions in them.
Mrs. Susan Tom Aba, the librarian at the University of Agriculture in Makurdi, who was among the correctors trained at Otukpo, now coordinates the center at the north bank of Makurdi. It is at this school that 15 boxes of Bibles, each containing 24, were donated to the Christian Fellowship on the campus. The Emmaus courses are truly making a difference in the life and spiritual growth of the believers in Nigeria and Ghana. It is not the method of operation that is effecting them; it is the Word of God, which the courses rightly emphasize.
Testimonies from correctors abound, and we include these : "Many are being grounded in the faith than (ever) before" Lankine-Lante, Accra. "Yes, several have been saved. Many have come to realize that salvation is not through works and have put their faith in Christ alone to save them" Elaine Bowron, Kumasi. "My vision is to expand the courses ... so that I might win more souls to Christ" Ofori Agyemen, Kumasi.
The Emmaus road experience placed an emphasis on the Word and understanding of the Scriptures (Luke 24:13-45). The Bible courses are written with the above emphasis; therefore, any other is simply a distraction. Pray that everyone involved in directing the current Emmaus project in Nigeria and Ghana will be faithful and true to the objectives of evangelism and discipleship and allow people to walk with God.
Our love to you all,
Cyprian and Joy
Thursday, October 29, 1998
Monday, June 1, 1998
PrayerLetter-Jun 1998
Dear Prayer Partners,
The Christian mission is not simply about the multiplication of the church; it is about the discipling of the nations. It is about the penetration of cultures and ways of thought by the Word of God. Indeed, it is about translation of Scripture into thought and action, as the Word about Christ is brought to bear on the points of reference within each culture, the thing by which people know themselves and recognize where they belong (Walls 1996:85).
This year in April, the first Emmaus Bible Conference was held in Lagos on the subject of eternal security for the believer. The speakers were the Emmaus coordinator for that area and his assistant from the exclusive brethren, as well as Cyprian and Steve Phillips. Steve Phillips is an assembly missionary who had arrived into Nigeria just eleven days prior to the conference. Jim Gillett was present and helped with counselling. Attendance was over four hundred (400) and was made up of Emmaus students who were either about to complete their first twelve courses or had completed them already. Out of this group thiry-nine received their diplomas of completion.
During this year's emphasis, the Aba Zone of Abia State was visited and a coordinator recognized in the person of John Chukwu, who was one of last year's graduates. It was during this visit that we were arrested and held in prison all day, being allowed to go only after Cyprian had posted a bail bond on self-recognition and, of course, paid some money. The arrest was the result of Jim being caught taking a picture of a site along the highway. The officers suspected that the pictures were being taken to promote bad publicity of Nigeria overseas.
Speaking of incidents, the one that stands out the most was the deliverance the Lord provided from the jaw of armed robbers on the Jos-Kaduna road. We left Kaduna about 6 AM heading south for Jos. At the Kudan junction just a few minutes drive from the city of Jos we were stopped by an anxious crowd, who told us that armed robbers were operating just 1.5 kilometers ahead of us. It turned out to be true, for a victim of such an attack came through with sad stories to tell. When we arrived at the scene, after two hours of waiting, we saw the cars wrecked, belongings of passengers strewn everywhere, and even a lorry bus that had wrecked itself in trying to escape. To all of you who have been praying for our safety, THANK YOU. The Lord has kept us thus far.
In May '91 students in the Lagos Zone submitted for the award of a diploma of completion. A workshop was held to train them in the skills needed as correctors for the Emmaus courses. This exercise was also repeated in Ghana. As a result, Emmaus has now recognized two coordinators who are to work with other correctors in Ghana. These are Lankine Lante of Potuase-Accra and Mrs. Elaine Bowron of Kumasi, a Canadian whose husband is serving with a mining company in the gold fields. Pray for Cyprian as there are many requests for him to travel to open new centers for Emmaus in Nigeria and Ghana.
Last year in 1997 when we were at Kumasi holding seminars, Mike and Elaine Bowron were among the attendants. Elaine completed the first twelve courses with another member of their fellowship, Mr. Offori. At that time we encouraged them to study the courses, encouraging others to do so, and to start a fellowship. They did and today they are remembering the Lord in their home. In fellowship are about 25 who gather with them unto the Lord. It was this young assembly that organized all the seminars and workshops we held this year in Kumasi. May the Lord repeat this experience many more times.
Steve and Patricia Phillips, new assembly missionaries to Nigeria, have left Ibadan for Makurdi, the state capital of Benue State. Pray that the assemblies will be strengthened as they serve assemblies and others in need of their ministry. Cyprian has introduced them to the assemblies and believers in the state.
Modern African Christianity is not only the result of movements among Africans, but it has been principally sustained by Africans and is to a surprising extent the result of African initiatives. Even the factor of the Western missionary work force must be put into perspective. Please continue to pray for Africa.
Yours in His Grace,
Joy and Cyprian
The Christian mission is not simply about the multiplication of the church; it is about the discipling of the nations. It is about the penetration of cultures and ways of thought by the Word of God. Indeed, it is about translation of Scripture into thought and action, as the Word about Christ is brought to bear on the points of reference within each culture, the thing by which people know themselves and recognize where they belong (Walls 1996:85).
This year in April, the first Emmaus Bible Conference was held in Lagos on the subject of eternal security for the believer. The speakers were the Emmaus coordinator for that area and his assistant from the exclusive brethren, as well as Cyprian and Steve Phillips. Steve Phillips is an assembly missionary who had arrived into Nigeria just eleven days prior to the conference. Jim Gillett was present and helped with counselling. Attendance was over four hundred (400) and was made up of Emmaus students who were either about to complete their first twelve courses or had completed them already. Out of this group thiry-nine received their diplomas of completion.
During this year's emphasis, the Aba Zone of Abia State was visited and a coordinator recognized in the person of John Chukwu, who was one of last year's graduates. It was during this visit that we were arrested and held in prison all day, being allowed to go only after Cyprian had posted a bail bond on self-recognition and, of course, paid some money. The arrest was the result of Jim being caught taking a picture of a site along the highway. The officers suspected that the pictures were being taken to promote bad publicity of Nigeria overseas.
Speaking of incidents, the one that stands out the most was the deliverance the Lord provided from the jaw of armed robbers on the Jos-Kaduna road. We left Kaduna about 6 AM heading south for Jos. At the Kudan junction just a few minutes drive from the city of Jos we were stopped by an anxious crowd, who told us that armed robbers were operating just 1.5 kilometers ahead of us. It turned out to be true, for a victim of such an attack came through with sad stories to tell. When we arrived at the scene, after two hours of waiting, we saw the cars wrecked, belongings of passengers strewn everywhere, and even a lorry bus that had wrecked itself in trying to escape. To all of you who have been praying for our safety, THANK YOU. The Lord has kept us thus far.
In May '91 students in the Lagos Zone submitted for the award of a diploma of completion. A workshop was held to train them in the skills needed as correctors for the Emmaus courses. This exercise was also repeated in Ghana. As a result, Emmaus has now recognized two coordinators who are to work with other correctors in Ghana. These are Lankine Lante of Potuase-Accra and Mrs. Elaine Bowron of Kumasi, a Canadian whose husband is serving with a mining company in the gold fields. Pray for Cyprian as there are many requests for him to travel to open new centers for Emmaus in Nigeria and Ghana.
Last year in 1997 when we were at Kumasi holding seminars, Mike and Elaine Bowron were among the attendants. Elaine completed the first twelve courses with another member of their fellowship, Mr. Offori. At that time we encouraged them to study the courses, encouraging others to do so, and to start a fellowship. They did and today they are remembering the Lord in their home. In fellowship are about 25 who gather with them unto the Lord. It was this young assembly that organized all the seminars and workshops we held this year in Kumasi. May the Lord repeat this experience many more times.
Steve and Patricia Phillips, new assembly missionaries to Nigeria, have left Ibadan for Makurdi, the state capital of Benue State. Pray that the assemblies will be strengthened as they serve assemblies and others in need of their ministry. Cyprian has introduced them to the assemblies and believers in the state.
Modern African Christianity is not only the result of movements among Africans, but it has been principally sustained by Africans and is to a surprising extent the result of African initiatives. Even the factor of the Western missionary work force must be put into perspective. Please continue to pray for Africa.
Yours in His Grace,
Joy and Cyprian
Sunday, March 1, 1998
PrayerLetter-Mar 1998
Dear Saints and Prayer Partners,
We thank God regarding the fact that Christianity is not a religion and that missionary service is not a human activity. "We can't get too much of God, can't get too much faith and obedience, can't get too much love and worship. But religion -- the well-intentioned efforts we make to get it all together for God -- can very well get in the way of what God is doing. The main and central action is everywhere and always what God has done, is doing, and will do for us. Jesus is the revelation of that action. Our main and central task is to live in responsive obedience to God's action revealed in Jesus. Our part in the action is the act of faith" (Eugene Peterson, 1995).
We are expecting Jim Gillett to join Cyprian in Nigeria in April for another round of special emphasis on the Emmaus Project in Nigeria. This will be followed by 17 days in Ghana for the same purpose. Two brothers from the German assemblies will accompany Jim and Cyprian as training workshops and seminars are conducted in the Greater Accra and Ashanti regions. Later in the year, Cyprian willseek to expand the project to other regions of Ghana.
Mike and Elaine, both in fellowship at the 16th Avenue Gospel Chapel in Vancouver, are living in Kumasi, Ghana, where Mike is a mining engineer with a firm from British Colombia. They have a Bible study in their home where some of the Emmaus students attend. Mike and Elaine were at last year's seminar that we held in Kumasi, shortly after they arrived in Ghana, after which their Bible study began. Today they have led some to Christ and have baptized four in obedience to the Word. We hope that this year's emphasis will lead to the gathering of local believers unto His name.
Later in the year, Cyprian will be joined by Joseph Frimpong and any others who can come for two weeks of Gospel Outreach and tract distribution. Team members will be taught to use Emmaus courses for evangelism and discipleship for effective follow-up of the Outreach.
The Emmaus Project expanded greatly last year in Nigeria. This year's attention will focus on expanding the Aba Center in Abia State to Uyo in Akwa Ibom, Port Harcourt in Rivers, Calabar in Cross Rivers, Benin in Edo and Warri in Delta. Pray for the safety of the team and the coordinator at Aba, John Chukwu and his family of five. John is an Ibo by tribe who runs his own company.
Along with this thrust will be the expansion of the use of the Emmaus courses among the exclusive Assemblies in Nigeria. Please pray for Abraham Ewetumo, an electrical engineer who coordinates the Emmaus Center, Ikeja. He is a Yoruba by tribe who works as a senior engineer with the Federal government. He is married with four children.
Pray for us all as we go with a sense of His presence. We believe that when we gather for worship and work, God is present and sovereign, really present and absolutely sovereign. God creates and guides. God saves and heals. God corrects and blesses. God calls and judges. With such comprehensive and personal leadership from God, what is the place of human leadership? Quite obviously it has to be second place. It must not elbow it's way to the front. It must not bossily take over. Ego-centered, ego-prominent leadership betrays the Master. The best leadership in spiritual communities formed in the name of Jesus, the Messiah, is inconspicuous, not calling attention to self, but not sacrificing anything in the way of conviction and firmness either.
We remain grateful in Immanuel,
Cyprian and Joy Kia
We thank God regarding the fact that Christianity is not a religion and that missionary service is not a human activity. "We can't get too much of God, can't get too much faith and obedience, can't get too much love and worship. But religion -- the well-intentioned efforts we make to get it all together for God -- can very well get in the way of what God is doing. The main and central action is everywhere and always what God has done, is doing, and will do for us. Jesus is the revelation of that action. Our main and central task is to live in responsive obedience to God's action revealed in Jesus. Our part in the action is the act of faith" (Eugene Peterson, 1995).
We are expecting Jim Gillett to join Cyprian in Nigeria in April for another round of special emphasis on the Emmaus Project in Nigeria. This will be followed by 17 days in Ghana for the same purpose. Two brothers from the German assemblies will accompany Jim and Cyprian as training workshops and seminars are conducted in the Greater Accra and Ashanti regions. Later in the year, Cyprian willseek to expand the project to other regions of Ghana.
Mike and Elaine, both in fellowship at the 16th Avenue Gospel Chapel in Vancouver, are living in Kumasi, Ghana, where Mike is a mining engineer with a firm from British Colombia. They have a Bible study in their home where some of the Emmaus students attend. Mike and Elaine were at last year's seminar that we held in Kumasi, shortly after they arrived in Ghana, after which their Bible study began. Today they have led some to Christ and have baptized four in obedience to the Word. We hope that this year's emphasis will lead to the gathering of local believers unto His name.
Later in the year, Cyprian will be joined by Joseph Frimpong and any others who can come for two weeks of Gospel Outreach and tract distribution. Team members will be taught to use Emmaus courses for evangelism and discipleship for effective follow-up of the Outreach.
The Emmaus Project expanded greatly last year in Nigeria. This year's attention will focus on expanding the Aba Center in Abia State to Uyo in Akwa Ibom, Port Harcourt in Rivers, Calabar in Cross Rivers, Benin in Edo and Warri in Delta. Pray for the safety of the team and the coordinator at Aba, John Chukwu and his family of five. John is an Ibo by tribe who runs his own company.
Along with this thrust will be the expansion of the use of the Emmaus courses among the exclusive Assemblies in Nigeria. Please pray for Abraham Ewetumo, an electrical engineer who coordinates the Emmaus Center, Ikeja. He is a Yoruba by tribe who works as a senior engineer with the Federal government. He is married with four children.
Pray for us all as we go with a sense of His presence. We believe that when we gather for worship and work, God is present and sovereign, really present and absolutely sovereign. God creates and guides. God saves and heals. God corrects and blesses. God calls and judges. With such comprehensive and personal leadership from God, what is the place of human leadership? Quite obviously it has to be second place. It must not elbow it's way to the front. It must not bossily take over. Ego-centered, ego-prominent leadership betrays the Master. The best leadership in spiritual communities formed in the name of Jesus, the Messiah, is inconspicuous, not calling attention to self, but not sacrificing anything in the way of conviction and firmness either.
We remain grateful in Immanuel,
Cyprian and Joy Kia
Saturday, December 20, 1997
PrayerLetter-Nov/Dec 1997
Dear Friends,
"No man is an island unto himself." Everyone of us is dispensable, and, irrespective of our status in life, the other person is as important as we are. Nobody is insignificant and certainly nobody is too important. Our strength is being part of human collectivity not in cocky individualism. We all have a date with the Judge of all humanity (Onanseawo).
The year 1997 has witnessed Emmaus conduct a total of 67 (sixty-seven) workshops and seminars in the West, Middle Belt and Northern States of Nigeria. We regard Emmaus correctors as associates, self-directed team distributors. They have the day-to-day responsibility of managing themselves and the work they do with a minimum of direct supervision. To empower them, these workshops provide them with authority, information, resources, and accountability. Authority without necessary information and resources is simply permission. Besides, by not sharing accountability it is paternalistic and condescending. Only when all four elements are present do people feel responsible and act responsibly. The workshops teach the following skills: record-keeping, use of resources, godliness, techniques of grading, report-writing and financial management. Cyprian has now developed a better way of getting his point across to the attendees by using a step-by-step approach.
A second Lagos depot has now been set up, managed by the leaders of the exclusive Assembly in Surulere. Cyprian serves as their corrector, and several key leaders have emerged. A new corrector and coordinator has now asked Cyprian to accompany him to Abia, Rivers, Imo, and Akwa-Ibom states to open new centers. He is brother Abraham Ewetump, a senior electrical engineer with the Nigerian Electric Power Authority. We want to ensure that the Rivers Niger and Benue, along which the Assembly mission first started in Nigeria, will not be the only rivers available to the people. There is another river, the river of the water of life, flowing there; how gladly believing sinners drink from its stream.
Other events confirm the direction of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Early in September Cyprian was attempting to hire a motorcycle when a man approached him who said he had heard of him and asked Cyprian to help him get saved. This was gladly done, and he was then directed to a corrector whose center is close to the motorpark for a study of the Word.
While at Makurdi Cyprian was visiting the home of a coordinator when a new corrector came in for personal training. This corrector is a female graduate of Ahmadu Bello University and an employee of the Benue State government. Cyprian had the privilege of personally directing the training process since the coordinator was missing some vital information in the training scheme. By the Lord's leading he was at the right place at the right time.
Mission House, an indigenous mission organization, had a four-day conference on evangelization at the Benue State capital, Makurdi, to which Cyprian was invited as a consultant and resource person. While there he was invited to the Idoma-speaking Roman Catholic youth gathering, also in Makurdi metropolis. The gathering was very evangelical in outlook, and it was very refreshing to see many important persons whom one would have written off as unsaved now strongly devoted to the person of Christ. The Catholic Church had asked them not to use their premises if they are not willing to uphold the worship of Mary and many other Catholic traditions. Please pray for them as we have now introduced the Emmaus courses to this 200-member group.
The economic and political conditions in the country have helped, in recent times, to increase the nation's poor. This means that those who preach the gospel can no longer afford to close their eyes to their needs, particularly those of the household of faith. God has enabled us in past months to offer scholarships to a limited number of families, and business capitals to creative ones, to buy seedlings for farmers, and to pay rents of selected families literally about to lose their roofs from over their heads, thus making the gospel more relevant in Nigeria.
Christian mission should not wall itself in with comfortable illusions of past successes without constantly renewing its strategic direction in the light of present reality. This is why the current use of the Emmaus courses, utilizing a multi-level marketing approach aimed at evangelism and disciple-making, is introduced. The Church in Africa now produces more than she can care for, and the Emmaus courses, distributed in this way, are helping the Church to nurture her many converts seen daily.
As we share the news from Nigeria of God's wonderful ways and workings these past months, may we all enter the Christmas season and the new year reminded of our unchanging God and Savior. We thank each of you for sharing in these events and ministry through friendship, fellowship, and earnest prayers.
We look forward to the New Year because of Calvary,
Cyprian and Joy Kia
"No man is an island unto himself." Everyone of us is dispensable, and, irrespective of our status in life, the other person is as important as we are. Nobody is insignificant and certainly nobody is too important. Our strength is being part of human collectivity not in cocky individualism. We all have a date with the Judge of all humanity (Onanseawo).
The year 1997 has witnessed Emmaus conduct a total of 67 (sixty-seven) workshops and seminars in the West, Middle Belt and Northern States of Nigeria. We regard Emmaus correctors as associates, self-directed team distributors. They have the day-to-day responsibility of managing themselves and the work they do with a minimum of direct supervision. To empower them, these workshops provide them with authority, information, resources, and accountability. Authority without necessary information and resources is simply permission. Besides, by not sharing accountability it is paternalistic and condescending. Only when all four elements are present do people feel responsible and act responsibly. The workshops teach the following skills: record-keeping, use of resources, godliness, techniques of grading, report-writing and financial management. Cyprian has now developed a better way of getting his point across to the attendees by using a step-by-step approach.
A second Lagos depot has now been set up, managed by the leaders of the exclusive Assembly in Surulere. Cyprian serves as their corrector, and several key leaders have emerged. A new corrector and coordinator has now asked Cyprian to accompany him to Abia, Rivers, Imo, and Akwa-Ibom states to open new centers. He is brother Abraham Ewetump, a senior electrical engineer with the Nigerian Electric Power Authority. We want to ensure that the Rivers Niger and Benue, along which the Assembly mission first started in Nigeria, will not be the only rivers available to the people. There is another river, the river of the water of life, flowing there; how gladly believing sinners drink from its stream.
Other events confirm the direction of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Early in September Cyprian was attempting to hire a motorcycle when a man approached him who said he had heard of him and asked Cyprian to help him get saved. This was gladly done, and he was then directed to a corrector whose center is close to the motorpark for a study of the Word.
While at Makurdi Cyprian was visiting the home of a coordinator when a new corrector came in for personal training. This corrector is a female graduate of Ahmadu Bello University and an employee of the Benue State government. Cyprian had the privilege of personally directing the training process since the coordinator was missing some vital information in the training scheme. By the Lord's leading he was at the right place at the right time.
Mission House, an indigenous mission organization, had a four-day conference on evangelization at the Benue State capital, Makurdi, to which Cyprian was invited as a consultant and resource person. While there he was invited to the Idoma-speaking Roman Catholic youth gathering, also in Makurdi metropolis. The gathering was very evangelical in outlook, and it was very refreshing to see many important persons whom one would have written off as unsaved now strongly devoted to the person of Christ. The Catholic Church had asked them not to use their premises if they are not willing to uphold the worship of Mary and many other Catholic traditions. Please pray for them as we have now introduced the Emmaus courses to this 200-member group.
The economic and political conditions in the country have helped, in recent times, to increase the nation's poor. This means that those who preach the gospel can no longer afford to close their eyes to their needs, particularly those of the household of faith. God has enabled us in past months to offer scholarships to a limited number of families, and business capitals to creative ones, to buy seedlings for farmers, and to pay rents of selected families literally about to lose their roofs from over their heads, thus making the gospel more relevant in Nigeria.
Christian mission should not wall itself in with comfortable illusions of past successes without constantly renewing its strategic direction in the light of present reality. This is why the current use of the Emmaus courses, utilizing a multi-level marketing approach aimed at evangelism and disciple-making, is introduced. The Church in Africa now produces more than she can care for, and the Emmaus courses, distributed in this way, are helping the Church to nurture her many converts seen daily.
As we share the news from Nigeria of God's wonderful ways and workings these past months, may we all enter the Christmas season and the new year reminded of our unchanging God and Savior. We thank each of you for sharing in these events and ministry through friendship, fellowship, and earnest prayers.
We look forward to the New Year because of Calvary,
Cyprian and Joy Kia
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