February Update from CFI

National Missions Conference Steering Northward

Yesterday we had a visit from the chaplain of the governor of our Plateau State. They are friends – he discipled the governor before he became a politician. We talked for 2 ½ hours about the last pastors conference CFI had in Jos and the situation now in Jos. He explained how the conference was used by God in different ways in gathering pastors, unifying churches and giving the governor exposure to so many pastors for the first time. He then went on to explain the forces that work against the governor in this part of northern Nigeria and even against himself as the chaplain. We admire this chaplain. He is a simple man and straight forward in preaching and in conversation. We also admire him in the way he stands when the forces of hell are unleashed against him and against those he serves with. He explained that the enemy does not want the governor in seat, nor does he want the chaplain there and he does not want CFI holding conferences. But he asked if we could hold a conference again.

I answered no; that is not in our mind. We have always said that we held the last conference because the Lord led us to. I had it on my heart for about a week when a former graduate travelled a whole day and said the Lord sent him and he gave a few messages. On various occasions in our life we have had this type of experience that we have prayed about and have known has come from the Lord. So we launched out and the Lord helped miraculously. But we have always said that we would not hold another conference unless the Lord tells us to. I said this to the chaplain yesterday and we prayed and asked the Lord to lead us in what He wanted.

Later that day I shared with the students saying we want what God directs us to do and we in no way want to repeat something in our own strength just for the sake of it. I had no thought whatsoever of another conference.  Also, I am also not interested in politics or in any way bolstering up politicians. This is God’s business and we treat the governor as a brother only. He preached very well for over two hours at our last conference. And he is governing well. So I said to the students, God has plans and we wait for those.

Then that night Ruth was talking to me and suggested that next dry season we hold a missions conference on our new land just outside of Jos. I do believe that this is the Lord’s leading and we have started plan towards it. It shall hold March 2011and be a national conference. We hope to have 4,000 missionaries/ministers attend from across Nigeria and other northern nations. The aim of the conference is to encourage missions in the north and other Sahel nations. It will have more of a mission emphasis and especially towards the north.

We understand what it means to take something like this on. But we are doing so praying that the Lord will use it as an impetus towards much evangelism, missions and church planting where it is needed, to encourage and embolden the believers to reach out with the gospel. If God shows His hand strongly in this conference we pray that it will bear a lot of fruit towards transforming regions in the Sahel with the gospel. The original word from the Lord to us was to hold conferences to help follow up those we helped train over the years. There are about 8,500 of them around the nations here, with a majority of them leading churches and some in very outback areas. They need this refreshing that God provides.

Hannatu

You may have heard me speak about Hannatu before. She is from the Kano area and was sovereignty saved over 20 years ago. She has suffered much persecution and established about 30 churches in some of the most hardened places is this nation. She has 10 students in CFI now training to lead some of her churches. We have trained 25 pastors for her now at CFI and those who have already graduated are doing very well and helping to expand the work.

We also try to help Hannatu whenever we can, as support for her is difficult. Last year we helped her buy a block o land for a church. This week we gave her something to start building a school for children of Christians. These children have been targeted at other schools.

Jos

We have had Jim Holdcroft here for two weeks teaching and speaking with students. He has been a blessing indeed. Jim has various qualifications in education, English, history, biblical Greek and theology, with various life experiences to go along. His wife went to the Lord a few years back and Jim has continued serving in the church and in teaching/admin roles as well as starting a gardening business. In his two weeks here his teaching came into its own as he became free and blossomed among the students. It has been a delight to watch. He cares for the people and takes time with them, which is very much appreciated by the college body. He leaves today and we hope and pray that he returns for longer.

We still have armed policemen patrolling our compound each night. We are visiting the local chiefs and king and thanking them for their intervention during the last riot, which helped save our compound. We have a lot of favour with local authorities, for which we thank the Lord.

An outreach has been going on in Bauchi since last Wednesday night. I go to Bauchi on Saturday to take part in it. We have a group of singers there, a film show of Jesus preaching. Our church choir in Jos have written some very lovely praise and worship songs of late. It is pleasure worshipping the Lord with them.

The Land

We have bought one of the five portions at the agreed rate, which is cheap. They are asking us to buy the next portion now. We need $50,000 for this. If you can help or pray towards this please join us.

God bless you and thank you for all your love and support,

Kent & Ruth

This update is also available on our website: http://www.cfaithministries.org/index.php?page=update-feb-2010