Church leaders in Niger equipped to meet needs in food crisis

Niger (MNN) ― In Niger, half the country's population is going hungry following droughts which have led to crop failures and food shortages. United Nations numbers estimate that 400,000 of the country's children are at risk of dying of starvation. 

The United Nations pumped $6 million into relief to alleviate the suffering of millions. To complicate matters, most of the population hasn't recovered from last year's food crisis caused by drought, which means the next "lean season" is expected to begin earlier and last longer next year.

That means demand will be higher for existing food, and increased demand will drive up prices. By the end of December, food experts think about six million people will be affected.

It's against this backdrop that church leaders find themselves trying to be the hands and feet of Christ. Jonathon Shibley with Global Advance says their team recently went to Niger for a Frontline Shepherd's Conference to provide pastors with the tools they would need for ministry. Shibley's team "got a sense of some of the desperation from a national sense, but also [we witnessed that] the faith of our brothers and sisters in that country is so high."

While actual reports of churches being involved feeding the hungry are still in the field, it's generally accepted that churches respond first. Shibley agrees. "There's always been a connection to the advance of the Gospel with humanitarian help in that nation, when things are done in the name of Jesus. We need to pray that more of happens, as they're faced with this crisis." 

At the Conference, it was clear that leaders needed encouragement, too. "There are only an estimated 400 churches in the entire country. We were able to bring together about 250 pastors and their wives and leaders....which represented almost a quarter of the churches there."

The team ministered on a variety of topics from vision, faith, church leadership, spiritual gifts, prayer, training Biblical elders, the Great Commission, church planting, and much more.

Shibley reflects, "This was a really mission-drenched conference, where there was a recommitment [by leaders] and a re-fire that came from the Holy Spirit to reach their nation for Christ." In addition, church leaders and pastors got the encouragement and respite they needed "to continue in the good work even though it's a struggle; they've been called to a very tough land."

Toward the end of the conference, "Over 50 felt that God was calling them to try and plant another church in the near future," Shibley says. "Thirty of them committed to go themselves as missionaries to the tough, unreached areas."

In the past few years, there have been indicators that the body of Christ is strategically positioned for a season of multiplication. Shibley says, "Pray that they're renewed in their faith, that they're encouraged daily in the Lord, and that there will be more workers sent to the harvest field in Niger. We believe it's a ripe place for the Gospel even though it's well over  95% Muslim."

Pastoral training brings hope and healing to Niger

Niger (MNN) ― As October wound down, a Global Advance team ushered in a new season of growth in Niger, West Africa.

Islam is the dominant religion, and groups with strict and aggressive interpretations of it are on the rise. According to "Operation World," the spiritual effects of folk Islam and demonic oppression are major hindrances to people coming to Christ.

However, there is encouraging spiritual openness among its peoples. Within the past few years, the church has seen signs of growth. Global Advance also noted that the body of Christ is strategically positioned to cultivate that even more.

There are less than 10,000 Christians in the entire nation and, according to Global Advance, about 400 churches represent these believers. Outnumbered and under-resourced, church leaders can get discouraged about the demands of discipleship and the need for new leaders and training.

   

Jason and Anna Holland led the Frontline Shepherds Conference, attended by some 250 pastors and church leaders from across the country. Some leaders travelled to Niamey from Diffa, easily an 18-hour bus ride. They were willing to travel the distance because the team was teaching on vision, faith, church leadership, spiritual gifts, prayer, raising Biblical elders, the Great Commission, church planting and much more.

Global Advance's Anna Holland led special workshop sessions for pastors' wives. Along with the wives of some of the most influential churches in Niamey, the women's team taught over 10 hours specifically to encourage women to operate in their gifting and callings.

In the end, more than 50 leaders committed to plant a new church in the next 12 months, and nearly 30 committed to go as a missionary to an unreached people or another nation.

In addition to the conference, the team spent two days ministering in villages in southwestern Niger. The team reported some miraculous healing where sight and hearing were restored to some, among other ailments. The healings served as a testimony to the non-believing villagers of the power of Jesus. Keep praying for hearts to respond to the Gospel.

A ministry in Niger overcomes challenge during its inaugural year

Niger (CURE/MNN) ― A "first" often marks a rite of passage.
A first tooth, first step, and first night the baby sleeps all night. People mark the first haircut, the first day of school, first car, and nearly any other memorable moment in life involving a "first."

Each marks independence, growth, accomplishment and excitement. CURE International is getting ready for a whole series of "firsts" in Niger.

The CURE hospital is getting ready to mark the one-year anniversary of its grand opening, October 2010. At the time the facility was nearing completion, Niger faced devastating flooding that displaced 200,000. It didn't stop the launch, but the crisis hit the general health of the population and further destabilized the infrastructure.

Overcoming that challenge, the CURE Niger team continues to experience many firsts. During the inaugural year of operation, the hospital was thrilled to receive a visit from a cleft lip and palate team.

This team was led by Dr. Byron Henry through a partnership with the organization Free to Smile. During their time at the hospital, the team of eight medical professionals was able to treat and heal 30 children with cleft lip and cleft palate.
Cleft lip and cleft palate are birth defects in which the upper lip and roof of the mouth do not fuse, leaving a gap. Children with these defects often have difficulty eating, speaking, and even smiling, making the need for surgery essential.

Dr. Roark, CURE Niger's medical director said, "Dr. Byron Henry proved to be a gifted leader, organizer, and surgeon. The Free To Smile team was also very dedicated to building longer-term relations, both with our Nigerien hospital staff and workers, as well as with the local surgeons with whom they were working, training, teaching, and exchanging ideas."

CURE's focus is transformation. And healing a child changes a family. At CURE, parents of children with disabilities, who are burdened with feelings of guilt and shame, find healing and hope through God's love.

While the hospital staff was encouraged by the visit from Free to Smile, it was really the children who marked the "first." They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and the children were finally able to experience a major one of their own: their first smile.