Showing posts with label benin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label benin. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 14, 2023

West Africa CLC Pastoral Conference Recap...




Tuesday February 28 - The West Africa CLC Pastoral Conference is off to a blessed start. With twenty pastors arriving safely yesterday (Monday, 2/27) afternoon and evening from Togo, Liberia, Ghana, and Nigeria, we started early with morning prayers, Psalms, and breakfast.

Following an opening devotion, review of the schedule, greeting, and encouragement from CLC President Wilke and Board of Missions Chairman Krafft, and the appointment of a conference chairman and secretary, we heard the first of six essays under the theme "Seek First the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness." The first essay was titled "What God Reveals About His Kingdom."
Following a lunch-break we gathered again for our second essay titled "What God Reveals About His Righteousness," delivered by Missionary Peter Evensen.



Missionary Peter Evensen 

Wednesday, March 1 - Day two of the West Africa CLC Pastoral Conference has begun as we expect another fruitful day in our Savior's word.
Pastor Sunday Akpan Udo led us in the singing of "Rock of Ages" and encouraged us with our Savior's words recorded in Matthew 18:1-4.
Today we will hear and be encouraged by God's saving Word through two essays delivered by Pastor Godwin Akpan (Seminary Dean from the Nigeria-CLC) and Pastor Kossi Blewu (MELC-Togo).
This evening we will gather for worship and the Lord's supper.






Pastor Mike Essien (Nigeria)

Pastor Joseph Kwiwalazu (Liberia)

Pastor Godwin Akpan Ukoh (Nigeria)

Pastor Sunday Akpan (Nigeria)

Pastor Kossi Blewu (Togo)

Pastor Samuel Cheneken (Liberia)

Thursday, March 2 - The third and final day of the West Africa CLC Pastoral Conference is about to begin. We're looking forward to essays delivered by Pastors Mike Essien (President of the Nigeria-CLC) and Joseph Kwiwalazu (Liberia-CLC). Pastor Samuel Cheneken (Liberia-CLC), our morning Chaplain, encouraged us in our work with the Word of God from Matthew 4:18-19 & 1 Peter 2:20-21.
Before we began today, we took a few group pictures.
Join us in thanking our Savior for the many blessings He has given to this conference and ask for His continued blessings on our travels home over the next few days.


Deborah and the ladies who took such good care of us.

Liberia Delegation

Nigeria Delegation

Togo Delegation

Group Picture of all delegates

Pastor Essien Michael (Nigeria)


Saturday, February 18, 2023

Sent to West Africa...

 

I'm gearing up for my first visit to Togo since before the pandemic. I'm leaving Sunday (2/19) morning, so I'll be able to arrive in time to travel with Missionary Evensen to the seminary to spend a couple of days teaching and observing classes. I'm excited to spend some time with my good friends and colleagues Missionary Peter Evensen and Pastor Kossi Blewu. I am also looking forward to seeing firsthand how the land and building have progressed. The last time I was there was when Peter first took up residence in Togo. At that time nothing had yet been built. Missionary Evensen has sent several pictures, but it will be great to see things with my own eyes. 

The following week, pastors from Togo, Liberia, Ghana, Benin, and Nigeria will gather in Lomé, Togo for the three-day West Africa CLC Pastoral Conference that is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, Feb. 28th. This conference was initially scheduled for 2020 but was postponed due to the pandemic. We are expecting twenty pastors and seminary students to attend. Missionary Evensen, Pastor Blewu, and I will be hosting this semi-annual conference. Six essays will be delivered by some of the pastors in attendance from each nation in attendance. An evening worship service with the Lord's Supper will be a highlight as we gather to be encouraged by a sermon from one of the Nigerian pastors. 

Your prayers are requested and much appreciated, asking the Lord to bless all those traveling to Lomé on February 27th with safe and uneventful travel. Thank the Lord for this opportunity for these pastors to gather, study, encourage, and grow together in the saving truths of God's saving word. Ask the Lord to bless the preaching, teaching, and hearing of His word that His name will be honored. And please pray for my wife Beth and family while I am gone.