News from Mr.Porter in Africa

MISSION NIGER 2008 REPORT

Dear Co-laborer in the vine yard,

Greetings in the precious name of Jesus Christ.

This is to thank you for your unflinching support and prayers during our trip to the French speaking country of Niger Republic. The mission trip was a huge success and worthy of experience. We spent 16 hours on the bus from Benin to Niger, what a long journey by road. We preached briefly in the bus which was later stopped by the bus conductor who told me that I am not permitted to do so or he will call on the police. I only managed to speak with the man next to me and took his contact and promised to reach him, which I did.

We had a wonderful outing in Niger Republic where we ministered with other 22 brethren from Enid, Oklahoma. Niger (pronounced /ni¢°ˈʒɛər/ or /ˈnaɪdʒɚ/); in French pronounced [niʒɛʁ]), officially the Republic of Niger, is a landlocked country in Western Africa, named after the Niger River. It borders Nigeria and Benin to the south, Burkina Faso and Mali to the west, Algeria and Libya to the north and Chad to the east. The capital city is Niamey. The population of Niger is 14.2 million.

The leader of the team was Pastor John Stam headmaster of Emmanuel

Christian School and pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church, Enid Oklahoma. The team is made up of members from different denominations, such as Sabbatharians, Baptists, Episcopalians and Pentecostals, etc. The Lord used Pastor John Stam and the rest of the team to drill wells for drinking water to three villages in Niger Republic. We had medical outreaches (treatments) in prisons, hospitals, military barracks, and villages and in a town closer to the border post of Burkina Faso. I was accompanied from Cotonou with one of my church pastor, Emmanuel who served as a translator. I took along with me 4 dozens of Reading glasses, tracts and booklets in French languages and 20 Christian Education Ministry teaching cds for free distribution.

12 former Muslims from Fulani nomads were baptized by me and Pastor John stam. It was a wonderful moment to see these once feared people changed by Jesus Christ. Though they are not Sabbath keepers, but it is a good beginning as if funds will be available I intent to return to Niamey and introduced them to the truth. But I missed the Sabbath Rest with Pastor Brian and his wife Mary Beth because we were in the wilderness, I was saddened. We had our fellowship at the church of Pastor Yacouba the host whom himself was a former Muslim and met Christ while he was in the USA. He is such a kind man and one that love the Lord. He married a German lady she met in the USA. I had outreaches in the villages and was able to make several contacts for which I have sent some reading materials on Sabbath issue and on salvation. One of them has responded and told me that he found it very interesting and requested for a copy of the Holy Bible which was sent too. Pray for the salvation of all the people that I came in contact while there. One thing I noticed was that once a person becomes a Christian in Niger he or she will be ostracized and will be drawn to a Muslim tribunal or court. You recall that Niger is 99 percent Islam. It is extremely difficult to practice Christianity in Niger once you were a former Muslim. They will do all in their power to frustrate ones new found faith in order to draw him back to Islam. You will have nothing to do with the community you will just stand alone. This very poor country needs our prayers and God¡¯s salvation through Jesus Christ. In every corner of Niamey the capital and in the towns mosques are scattered every where. Their women has no freedom and only the men are in charge and their girls marry as early as 12 years old or is been betrothed to man older than her father. Most young people in the villages are not doing any work but those who do will be nomads.  There are so many beggars in the market places, motor ways and on the streets; you just can find them in every corner.

The mode of dress of these people is much different than that in my country.  The women are dressed differently with the long colorful dresses, and the men with the turbans give it a strange look (strange as unusual) almost like what you might expect to see Muslims dressed in.  It is not that women in my country do not wear long dresses, but still there is something different. The country shots are rural.  The river is no doubt dangerous, but not unlike the local river in my country where you can find some dangerous snakes, etc.

When I returned back to Benin Republic my country I wept and prayed asking God to send such a team to my country. Our people need good drinking water, good housing, hospitals or medical centers, medical treatments against malaria, water borne diseases, epilepsy, hypertension, etc. Benin is 50 percent idol worshipers (voodoo or snake worship) and they need to be shown or demonstrate the love of Jesus Christ through the provision of some of these. Through this means they will open their hearts to Christ. We need also Bibles, tracts, audio/cds/dvds, literatures for growth and on spiritual warfare in French and English languages, used shoes and clothes.   But I know we can reach the people for Christ easily through the demonstration of God¡¯s love.

Another thing that will be of a great help is a provision of used computers to enable people and some of our members become self employed. We need Women centers where poor women and young girls will learn some trade like sewing in other to become self reliant and useful. Carpentry will also be a source of blessing to many young men and boys here. We need help to assist the disadvantaged children and orphans. A vocational institution will be of a great benefit to our people. Provisions of a micro finance will bring succor to the church and the poor people in general

I will be expecting your reply and questions and pray that the Lord will use you to bless the poor in our land and to draw the lost to the saving grace of Jesus Christ the only hope.

Shalom

Pastor Michael Porter

For more information about our activities, contact: Pastor Brian Davis, (Sabbath Keeper) bdavis7557@sbcglobal.net Tel. 580.234-7557 or Larry Watkins, of Christian Educational Ministry:   lsw@cemnetwork.com

if you wish to assist, you are welcome to. easiest way is to just drop a desposit.

Bank of America
                    Account Number: 00310-11841
                       Napa California Branch