John Farren’s time in Gindrii, Nigeria
Just over 40 years ago I went to spend a year in Nigeria to teach at the Boys Secondary School (BSS) in Gindiri on Plateau State Nigeria. I left in the middle of 1966 just as the tragic civil war was starting. 3 and a half years later after the war finished I returned to Nigeria, now with a lovely wife Rachel and 2 bouncing babies Timothy (18 months old) and Alison (6 weeks old).
We had 6 eventful years of service there with me in the BSS and Rachel working in the local dispensary, as she is a trained paediatric nurse from Great Ormond Street (GOS).
We returned due to my severe sickness (a back lesion), but also for me to do theological training at Manchester University.
A break of 20 years followed with me deeply immersed in ministry in this country (teaching at a bible college and a lengthy period in pastoral ministry in Bath)
On Sabbatical in 1989 the Lord clearly called me to reform my active relationship with Nigeria. It took 5 years for this vision to become a reality. Since 1995 I have returned to Nigeria often on an annual basis and have had the joy of taking three teams.
The supreme joy of this retrieved relationship was to discover that one of my students from decades ago was now the Principal of the College Of Theology, Rev Dr Obed Dashan. Obed and his wife Phena and family have become deep and close friends and we as a church have had the privilege of hosting them during a 3 week visit in 2003.
We are committed to helping the ministry at GCT and have already made major contributions both to several of their building projects and to help with the purchase of a college minibus.
We believe this relationship will continue into the future between the church and the college. I am doing postgraduate work on the subject of Healing to help the COCIN church to reflect on its practice in the crucial area.
Nigeria is a vision shared now not merely by the Pastor but is deeply embraced by the church members.
We had 6 eventful years of service there with me in the BSS and Rachel working in the local dispensary, as she is a trained paediatric nurse from Great Ormond Street (GOS).
We returned due to my severe sickness (a back lesion), but also for me to do theological training at Manchester University.
A break of 20 years followed with me deeply immersed in ministry in this country (teaching at a bible college and a lengthy period in pastoral ministry in Bath)
On Sabbatical in 1989 the Lord clearly called me to reform my active relationship with Nigeria. It took 5 years for this vision to become a reality. Since 1995 I have returned to Nigeria often on an annual basis and have had the joy of taking three teams.
The supreme joy of this retrieved relationship was to discover that one of my students from decades ago was now the Principal of the College Of Theology, Rev Dr Obed Dashan. Obed and his wife Phena and family have become deep and close friends and we as a church have had the privilege of hosting them during a 3 week visit in 2003.
We are committed to helping the ministry at GCT and have already made major contributions both to several of their building projects and to help with the purchase of a college minibus.
We believe this relationship will continue into the future between the church and the college. I am doing postgraduate work on the subject of Healing to help the COCIN church to reflect on its practice in the crucial area.
Nigeria is a vision shared now not merely by the Pastor but is deeply embraced by the church members.
A little about Nigeria . . .
The Federal Republic of Nigeria is a country in Western Africa. The most populated country in Africa, Nigeria re-achieved democracy in 1999 after a sixteen-year interruption by a series of corrupt and brutal military dictators. From 1966 until 1999, Nigeria had been ruled (except the short-lived second republic, 1979-1983) by military dictators who seized (or attempted to seize) power in coups and counter-coups. Nigeria borders the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, Niger in the north and the Gulf of Guinea in the south. Major cities include the capital Abuja, the former capital Lagos, Ibadan, Calabar, Warri, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Kano, Kaduna, Onitsha, Nnewi, Jos, Ilọrin, Maiduguri, Aba, Bauchi, Owerri, Sokoto, and Benin City.
The country's name first appeared in print in The Times in 1897 and was suggested by the paper's colonial editor Flora Shaw who would later marry Frederick Lugard, the first Govenor General of the Amalgamated Nigeria. The name comes from a combination of the words "Niger" (the country's longest river) and "Area". Its adjective form is Nigerian , which should not be confused with Nigerien for Niger.
Nigeria has had a unique history. More than 2,000 years ago, the Nok people were producing sculptures. In Kano and Katsina, recorded history dates back to around AD 1000. Hausa kingdoms and the Kanem-Bornu Empire prospered as trade posts between North and West Africa. The Yoruba kingdoms of Ifẹ and Ọyọ were founded about AD 700-900 and AD 1400 respectively. The Ifẹ produced the terra cotta and bronze heads the Ọyọ extended as far as modern Togo. The Kingdom of Benin developed an efficient army and renowned artisans. The southeast produced the Onitsha, Nri, and Arochukwu kingdoms. The Nri kingdom reigned before slavery with Divine priests and powerful Ezenri. A prominent town they controlled was Igbo Ukwu which was home to Bronze figures and was a burial site for Kings. Niger Delta kingdoms also flourished, like the Calabar, Opobo, Bonny, Brass, Elem kalabari and others which were controlled by the Ijaw, Efik, Igbo, and Ibibio.
Population: About 130 million
Ethnic Groups: More than 250 groups and about 4000 different dialects.
Size: 577,355 sq miles; that is two and a half times the size of California.
Number of States: 36 plus Abuja, the Federal Capital territory
Major Ethnic Groups: Yoruba, Hausa, Fulani, Ibo, Igala, Kanuri, Tiv, Ibiobio, Ijaw, Edo, Efik, Urhobo, Edoma, Itsekiri.
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107847.html
