May 20, 2016
Moses Born Again in Malawi
Those who have been reading our reports about Aniefiok Akpan and Rhema Christian Academy are aware that RCA’s new multipurpose building is nearing completion. In order to pass inspection and renew its accreditation, however, they must install security bars over all the windows and doors at a cost of $5,000. They are so close, yet so far. If they can install the safety bars prior to the inspection next month, they prob- ably will be able to start teaching the WEI Bible and English courses to their students again—and baptizing young people week after week again.
Rhema Christian Academy and the Campus Church of Christ are crucial to the growth and strength of the church in southeastern Nigeria. Yet, Aniefiok has developed plans for WEI that could eclipse Rhema Christian Academy in significance. He has recruited a team of twenty Nigerian preachers and their wives to help spearhead a nationwide ministry that could result in the salvation of thousands of souls. These preachers will teach people how to use WEI as an evangelistic tool at their local congregations.
In an effort to make this WEI ministry self-supporting, a visionary couple in California has provided a RICO printing machine so that WEI materials can be printed on site.
The mission committee in another California church has provided a computer, an inkjet printer, and a surge-protector. That means we can send WEI books to Aniefiok electronically, and he can print them and make them available at cost. Local congregations will be asked to cover the cost of printing the materials used in their outreach ministries.
This new outreach ministry is being called “World English Institute and School of Preaching.” Their objective is to mobilize dedicated, well-educated, self-supporting Nigerian Christians for evangelism.
Aniefiok says, “We will run this program as a correspondence school with regular regional seminars, workshops, and fieldwork. This program will be self- supporting since the students will be Christians who can sponsor their own training. Our intention is to produce self-supporting gospel preachers, Bible teachers, song leaders, and other Christian workers. Our graduates will be incorporated into a team of voluntary, self-supporting missionaries.
“We have gospel preachers and Bible teachers who have agreed to serve as voluntary teachers. They will grade examinations and help us plan, organize, and conduct seminars and workshops in different areas where we have students.
“The graduates of our school of preaching will serve as WEI teachers within and outside Nigeria.”
We may think that Aniefiok is a young visionary who dreams impossible dreams. Then again, all things are possible with God. Without a dream, nothing stirs our blood and opens our minds to new possibilities
