There has always been a divide among fundamental churches in their view of the value of the national pastor versus the American missionary. This has been brought on by what I believe is the elevation of egos in the work of God, rather than realizing that only "God gives the increase". Ephesians 4:16 speaks of a "whole body fitly joined together" and that the needs of the body are supplied by "every joint". God's knowledge of what the gospel needs is far greater than what we might assume it to be.
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| Daniel Dawson preaching on Remba |
On a recent trip to Africa in March of 2020, we saw the workings of God and the necessity of both missionary and national in that work. Missionary Tim Pledger met up with fellow church members from Floirda, Daniel Dawson and Jim LeClare in Nairobi, Kenya. There had been plans in the making for many weeks to travel to the Lake Victoria region and minister on islands where churches were established by local church-planter and HELP missionary, Pastor Joseph Njega. We were met in Kisumu upon arrival by Pastor George Situma of Heritage Baptist in Nairobi, and by Pastor Alfred Lukwa of New Testament Baptist Church just on the outskirts of Eldoret. This mission team of six along with Pastor Richard Osiro of Awendo Township, went to the Island of Remba to win souls for Jesus.
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| Jim LeClare ministering to kids on Remba |
The Island of Remba is several miles out into the deep of Lake Victoria. It is inhabited by nearly 15,000 people mostly of the Luo and Suba tribes. Those dwelling on Remba are fishermen. The lake provides food not only for those living on the islands, but also many who purchase their fish on the mainland of Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. Remba is poor with little hope for those who live here of ever being more than anything but lowly fishers. There is one school that is on the island and it goes only through the lower elementary grades. One would have to eventually get off the island to further their education. During our days on Remba, we saw hundreds of souls saved. The people here were trapped not only by poverty, but by drugs, alcohol, and lewdness as well.
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| Baptizing in Lake Victoria |
Pastor Lukwa of Eldoret was a tremdous soulwinner on the island. In one afternoon, while with Jim LeClare, he would lead 105 souls to Jesus. He earned the affectionate title, "Pastor 105" from this labor. The hearts of the people were ready to listen. As is so often, a hopeless people desire salvation from more than hell and sin, but also long for peace and calm in their turbulent lives. Our team of four Kenyans and three Americans were bringing the hope of the gospel to these island dwellers.
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| Daniel Dawson preaching with Pastor Joseph Njega |
The evidence of the need of nationals and Americans working together for the common good could be seen in various ways during the Kenyan leg of our trip. Pastor Joseph Njega, our host pastor, was won to Jesus years before while in Nairobi by now retired American missionary Lonnie Brooks. Njega has not seen nor spoken to Brooks in many years. However, Pastor Njega had planted 64 churches in this region of Kenya. The money for the buildings and lands have in part come from the HELP ministries founded by Scotty Drake 22 years ago. No American missionary could have done what Njega has been used of God to do in the Lake region. However, Njega would have never accomplished the scope of this without the aid of American churches and a missionary who first brought him the Good News. After one week, Brother Tim Pledger left Kenya and headed to meet others in Nigeria. Daniel Dawson and Jim LeClare returned to the US. The Lord had saved more than 2000 on these islands.
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| Tim Pledger preaching to street boys in Homa Bay |
Upon arrival into Nigeria, Brother Tim was met by Prince Weah Weah and Pastor Adewale Adesina in the town of Owerri. Brother Prince is a member of Calvary Baptist in Middleburg, Florida as well, and a recent graduate of Hyles Anderson College. Brother Prince is also a refugee of war in his motherland of Liberia. He came to the US seeking asylum with his family as a boy and miraculously saved at a Baptist Church in Boston before being called to preach. Brother Adewale was likewise saved as boy in the city of Ibadan, Nigeria and trained under the ministry of American missionary, Robert Smith. Pastor Adewale is on the staff at the Providence Baptist College in Abuja and serves with Missionary Mark Holmes. Brother Adewale is one of the premier young IFB preachers in Nigeria, and is being used of God to stir the hearts of young men throughout Africa for missions.
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Adewale Adesina preaching in Ogoja
while Prince Weah Weah sits with students |
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| IBC, Ogoja planted by Royal Idakari |
These three went by road six hours to the town of Ogoja. They came here primarily to preach to Cameroonian refugees that are being reached for Jesus in UN camps. These refugees had fled war in their own nation and now about 30,000 were living in three separate camps near the town of Ogoja. An Independent Baptist pastor, Royal Idakari came here about 3 1/2 years ago to plant a church within the town. Brother Royal is a fine young pastor who accepted Christ as a teenager by in the ministry of Missionary Dave Maskey in Port Harcourt. He was trained as well in the Bible College in Abuja. We were met by two other young preacher boys and recent graduates of Mark Holmes Bible College, Pastor Michael Solomon and Pastor Gaius Itodo. These three men served along side a Cameroonian pastor, Felix Monju. Pastor Felix was saved many years earlier while living in Cameroon though the ministry of American Missionary, Tom Needham. He had now been in Nigeria due to the violence in his home, and is responsible for seeing thousands of Cameroonians come to Jesus despite the hardships of war. While in Ogoja we were able to see hundreds of souls saved through schools and the Jesus Film shown at one of the Refugee Camps.
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| Missionaries and National Pastors in Ogoja |
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Pastor Sikiru in the front of the church
he pastors in Uyo |
Brother Tim Pledger traveled from Ogoja several hours to the town of Uyo where he, Prince and Adewale were met by Pastor Sikiru Okunola. Pastor Sikiru was saved out of a devout muslim family in this same town years earlier after finding a gospel tract discarded on the ground. Pastor Sikiru planted this church about 8 years ago and is also a graduate of Providence Baptist College in Abuja. The land he had purchased five years ago for the church came from a love offering given by the Independent Baptist Church of Calabar. This church was planted years earlier by Missionary David Long and now pastored by a national, Nicholas Wayih. Much of the building that Pastor Sikiru has erected on the property has been funded by offerings from churches like ours in Florida. Just last year the members of the Friendship Bible Class gave generously to help in this cause. There is still much work to do in this region. Our team of two Americans and two Nigerian pastors went to a school and preached along with Evangelist Moses Nyiku. Brother Moses, a graduate of Providence, is planning to return to his home state of Benue, Nigeria and serve the Lord helping local churches there. During this singular day of preaching and a gospel film show that evening more than 1000 souls were saved.
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| Prince Weah Weah giving the gospel to refugee children |
The ground for the gospel is fertile in Nigeria. in less than 6 days more than 5000 received Christ. This soil has been watered with tears and sweat of both American missionaries and national pastors. The funds to send missionaries and buy properties have come from both foreign and domestic churches. There is no part of Christ body which lacks in eternal value. The national is as needed as the American. The rope of the message is held by the strength of both. We must get past the concept that we can evangelize the world alone. We must see the supply contributed by "EVERY JOINT".
