Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria) has successfully conducted her annual General Church Council or Majalisa on May 16-19 at its Headquarters located at Kwarhi, Hong Local Government Area, Adamawa State. In attendance were over 1,750, all pastors (serving and retired), delegates from Local Church Councils, representatives of programs and institutions, and observers.
Six people were killed and a church of Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria), as well as houses and other properties were burnt at Zah community under the district of Garkida, Gombi Local Government area, Adamawa State, in northeast Nigeria.
Pray for the outcomes of the recent General Church Council of Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria). Pray also for the families of those killed in north central Nigeria, where no fewer than 38 residents of the Takalafia and Gwanja communities in the Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State have been killed.
Pastor Yakubu Shuaibu Kwala, who served a congregation of Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria) in the Biu area of Borno State in northeast Nigeria, was killed on April 4 in a night-time attack on his home by the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). The attackers shot and wounded his pregnant wife, who was taken to hospital for treatment. The pastor also is survived by another child.
What a privilege to visit the IDP (internally displaced people) camp at Masaka, Luvu-Brethren Village, while we were in Nigeria for the centenary celebration of Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria).
We give God the glory for the return of Mrs. Hannatu Iliya who was abducted three years ago from Takulashe village in Chibok Local Government Area, Borno State, Nigeria. According to church officials, she returned on April 1 and has reunited with her displaced husband, who found refuge in one of the Chibok communities. Iliya, who was pregnant, lost the baby in captivity.
The Global Food Initiative (GFI) of the Church of the Brethren has given a number of grants in recent weeks, in order to support a Soybean Value Chain project in Nigeria, a church-based community gardening effort in Ecuador, a work-study opportunity in Ecuador for trainees from Venezuela, a vegetable production workshop in Uganda, and a community garden in North Carolina.
Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria) has celebrated its 100th anniversary with many thousands of church members and guests attending more than a dozen centenary events held in 13 zones across the country. The theme for the centenary events was inspired by Deuteronomy 7:9, “Great Is God’s Faithfulness.”
President Joel S. Billi of Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria) has said God in his faithfulness used the insurgency to propagate the gospel. He stated this during an international press conference held on March 15 at EYN Headquarters in Kwarhi, Hong Local Government Area, Adamawa State.
As we walked to the church building for the March 8 “Zonal Centenary Celebration,” we made our way through a crowd of many Boys and Girls Brigade members in their uniforms, waiting to ceremonially present the flags. I thought, “These children and young people are the future of the EYN church. The church is expanding rapidly in Nigeria and in Africa!”
