Tuesday 21 June 2016

First Anniversary, Grace IBC, Omoku - 183 in Attendance, 63 Saved

7th Nigerian Christian Ladies Spectacular 

     The Maskeys in Nigeria

June 2016
 
Dear Fellow Laborers,    

What’s been happening...
On April 24th, the Grace Independent Baptist Church in Omoku, our fourth church plant, celebrated their First Anniversary with a record of 183 in attendance.   We made the two hour journey to be with them that morning, and I preached in both the Sunday School and morning services.  God blessed again in a great way as 57 souls responded to the invitation to receive Christ as their Savior.  The church has been meeting in the living room of Pastor Osueke’s house and also in tents outside.  However, that morning the crowd was so much and because there was not enough chairs, many were just standing or sitting wherever they could find a spot.  Thankfully, they have already begun building the foundation for a larger building for the church.  They are really going to need it now!  Continue to pray for their provision, spiritual strength and growth.
 
For over a year now, the financial situation in Nigeria has been deteriorating due to the falling price of oil, which is the mainstay of their economy.  Jobs are few, and many are being laid off or not getting paid.  It has affected many of our people as well, and some of them who were already living in poverty are really suffering now.  We are doing our best to help them, but our offerings have also been affected and that is limiting what we can do.  There has also been some unrest in some of the communities around Port Harcourt, and even some clashes between militant groups and Nigerian forces.  Please remember to pray for our safety, provision for our people, and peace and stability in Nigeria.
 
In spite of all this, we are also praying for an open door to start a new church this year.  We have located some properties in the nearby city of Yenagoa where we’d like to start one, but still need to raise about $5,000 more to purchase any of them.
 
In May we had our 7th Nigerian Christian Ladies Spectacular with 265 ladies attending from eleven Independent Baptist churches across the country.  Rose and our church ladies worked very hard to make it a good success once again.  This year they had the Holmes family from Abuja and Miss Shari House from Thailand as the special speakers, and they did a great job.  From what we heard, the ladies had a wonderful time and received some very helpful instruction on the home, marriage, and Christian womenhood.  We pray that God will continue to use these conferences to strengthen our Christian homes throughout Nigeria.
 
We really appreciate your faithfulness in supporting and praying for our ministry here through the years.  May God supply all of your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Amen!


                                        Yours for His Service,
 
                                        David, Rose, Cayla & Justin
     The Maskeys in Nigeria

April 2016
 

Dear Fellow Laborers,    
 
Church Growth and Multiplication
We thank God not only for the growth we have experienced over the years in our first church plant (now over 660 in attendance), but also for church multiplication.  From that church in Port Harcourt, God has helped us to start three more churches, and it has been a blessing to see them experience church growth and multiplication as well.  In 2005, our first Bible institute graduate, John Abili, started the Eagle Island Independent Baptist Church and they have grown to around 150.  They also have their own Bible institute, and one of their first graduates, Augustine Okoye, is now going out soon to start a new church in his home town of Onitsha.  This area is literally the center of Catholicism here in Nigeria and it will not be an easy place to start a church, so he will certainly need our prayers.  What a blessing it is to see one of our church plants now planting churches!  Another one of our graduates, Royal Idakari, is also planning to start a new church, with the help of Independent Baptist Church of Calabar, in the town of Ogoja in July.  Please be much in prayer for him as well.  On March 20th, the Igwuruta Independent Baptist Church (our third church plant) celebrated their 4th Anniversary with a record of 398 in attendance, 83 souls saved, and 14 baptized.  I was invited to preach in that service and God blessed in a great way.  Continue to pray for Pastor Elvis Ohwojero and this church.  Also pray for Pastor Dennis Osueke and our fourth church plant, Grace Independent Baptist Church in Omoku, as they celebrate their First Anniversary this month. They have been doing very well and have grown to over 60 in attendance. 
 
Other News & Prayer Requests...
1.  We have raised about $10,000 towards property for our 5th church plant, but unfortunately, the places we have found are all demanding at least $15,000 now.  Please help us in prayer for either a less expensive place to be found or for the remaining $5,000 to come in.
2.  In March, it was a blessing for us  to meet with Pastor John Wilkerson from our sending church, First Baptist Church of Hammond, IN, for his first time to Nigeria.  Our family and about ten of our church members attended the Soul Winning & Leadership Conference in Abuja, hosted by Missionary Mark Holmes, where Bro. Wilkerson was one of the guest speakers.  We had a wonderful time with them, and the preaching was a great help and encouragement to all of us.
3.  Please be praying for our 6th Nigerian Ladies Spectacular Conference, 19-20th May.  Rose and our church ladies will be hosting this as other Independent Baptist churches from all over Nigeria will be coming, along with special guest speakers.
 
THANK YOU again for your prayers and for having a part in our ministry.  God bless you all for your faithfulness!

                                                                 Yours for His Service,
                                                                 David, Rose, Cayla & Justin


Fourth Anniversary, Igwuruta IBC - 398 in attendance
Pastor Abili and Bro. Okoye