Power Failure!!

Nov-Dec 2011

Our brand new Mac laptop failed us when the power cord quit.  It had a slick cord with magnetic plug-in but the thing died.  Nancy kept it going for a while by applying an ever-so-slight bend to the left but it finally quit altogether.  As we write this we are getting along on one computer instead of two.

Then the other day the power went out in our house.  In fact, most of Jos and other large cities went black for one day plus.  We get regular black outs, but this time we were cut because of worker disputes.  Unhappy Nigerian power company workers went on strike.  So here we were running our generator about 6 hours a day.  That would keep our refrigerator up and other necessities.  Including the one laptop we were then sharing.

Our film outreach leader came by to drop off his camera card.  (A sample photo is shown above.)  What a guy!  We request pictures to assist our report writing, and he was the only one to respond in quite a few months.  As we looked over the pictures showing the village scenes and people, we kept seeing faces of ordinary Nigerians.  Many of them recipients of film or medical outreach and many looking disadvantaged.  Like the children pictured: happy but needy.  Not much concern for electrical power failure there!  Many of them hardly even had clothes much less laptops.

It made us stop for a minute and give thanks.  Thanks for conveniences.  Thanks for even part time electricity.  Even more so, a thanks for knowing the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ.  Some pictures showed individuals making first time commitments to Christ.  We are thankful to God for dedicated staff (and portable “power equipment”) that made the outreaches possible.

Power Encounter

But the village scene is misleading.  What looks like “powerlessness” isn’t so.   For ages these people have tapped a traditional power source, unfortunately, a satanic one.

Even in places where churches and pastors successfully planted and watered biblical truth, old beliefs haven’t died out.  Our City Ministries organization recently sent a “power encounter” team to a pastor in Gombe State who needed help.  Sending a team of this sort was a new idea for City Ministries and it was carried out prayerfully with experienced leaders.  They returned telling how our faithful God responded to the need.  There was release from spiritual bondage and new decisions for Christ.  The team also returned with new names of orphans wanting a home in our ministry!

Christmas Encounter

But what was the first Christmas after all?  A sort of “power encounter” when Christ was sent to a dark world overpowered by evil.  An invasion where individuals learned about a loving God and the power of forgiveness.  And it all began with the arrival of a baby in a manger.  The New Testament account is amazing!  We are thankful that we can rejoice again this season over the good news.  And we pray for the many others who still need a personal encounter with this Savior.

Power Solutions

Power failures can be and are being resolved.  We are thankful for Christ’s intervention and ask you to pray along with us:

1.  Give thanks for a traveler who (if all goes well) will bring a new cord from the U.S. for our Mac!

2.  Pray for Nigeria and for dissatisfied workers: those under national power service and others. 

3.  Give thanks for the best-ever Christmas gift available to each of us personally: Jesus Christ.  Pray for those still held captive and without faith in the Savior.  Pray for new decisions even this Christmas.

4.  Pray for our ministry and the many needs.  Pray for our workers as they reach out to those in cities and to those in villages, like the one pictured.  Pray for finances in difficult times.  Contributions would greatly help City Ministries children, especially right now with the purchase of grains. (Please contribute to project 85550 at SIM.)

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, …

Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.”  From Isaiah 9:6,7.

“Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, …

And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father – to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.”  From Revelation 1:4-6.

Merry Christmas!

John and Nancy