Jesus came into this world to save sinners. Before Jesus ascended into the heavens, He commissioned His disciples to continue His work here on earth. He told His disciples:
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
(Matthew 28:19-20 NKJV)
Jesus put the gospel message into the hands of his followers and told them to proclaim this plan of salvation starting in the regions of Judea and Samaria then take it through the ENTIRE WORLD!
For the past 2000 years Jesus’ disciples have been proclaiming this gospel message across the globe, diligently trying ensure that every person has the chance to hear about Jesus and His power to save. Today, the gospel of Jesus Christ continues to be preached and the borders of Jesus’ Church expands every day.
Yesterday at Concord Church of Christ, we had the opportunity to have Michael McCorkle give us an update on some of the work that is being done in Nigeria. Church of Christ Nigeria has been an organization devoted to spreading the gospel in Nigeria for over 30 years. There are several people involved with making regular visits, helping establish new congregations, developing existing congregations, preaching the gospel, and making sure needs are being met. In fact, there was news that on the next trip a licensed optometrist is planning to go and perform some eye exams and perform some treatments!
Nigeria has a very large population with approximately 196 million people, it is the most populous country in Africa. The nation is divided religiously with nearly half being Christian, nearly half being Muslim, and the rest normally practice an indigenous religion. With that type of population comes many difficulties such as persecution and poverty.
Much like the Christians in the first century, Christians in Nigeria may suffer persecution. Some Christians have been denied water at the local water well from other religions who own the well, the other option is 6 miles away. The impoverished state of most of the Christians makes it difficult to have needed medical procedures and sometimes the basic necessities of living.
There is great need for our family in Christ in Nigeria. Many of those needs are being met, but there is still a lot of work to do. Prayers are greatly appreciated!
“We praise the Lord as he blesses us physically, mentally, and most importantly spiritually. The brethren of Nigeria are very appreciative of the financial help of the American brethren but most importantly the prayers that are given up on our behalf.”
The gospel of Christ continues to change people lives in Nigeria every day. In Nigeria you will find Christians who praise God for His saving power and yearn for eternity in heaven with the Father and the Son. Praise God for this fact!
My question for you is are you a disciple who is devoted to carrying the gospel message to the entire world? The gospel is just as powerful today as it was 2000 years ago, it can save people from their sins and give a powerful eternal hope. If you are devoted to carrying out this commission, God bless you. If you wish to devote yourself to such a work there are several things you can do. You can start by praying for the work, for the Church across the world, you can pray for your family in Nigeria. If you wish to help financially, you can click the link attached for the Church of Christ Nigeria website. This link can also offer you more information on getting in touch with some of those directly involved and can answer questions.
I am encouraged to know that the gospel continues save people across the world. I am encouraged to know that the borders of the Lord’s Kingdom continue to expand across every nation. I praise God for these things and I pray that this news has encouraged you.
For more information on Church of Christ Nigeria, please visit their website: https://www.cofcnigeria.com/
Concord Church of Christ 