February,
2006
I just got
back from a week-long trip to Nigeria. Several
significant transitions are now set in motion. With this visit, the charter
group of Type III Leaders finished the three-year BILD training. These men and
women—about 160 over the three years—have begun vigilantly implementing the
leadership training in each of their groups. I was enormously encouraged by how
these pastors' thinking and reasoning has progressed over the three years, in understanding
the "way of Christ and His Apostles." It was very gratifying to hear them
speak of this transformation in their thinking and the way that they are
shaping their ministries and their plans to progress the gospel around the biblical
model.
Completing
the 3-year training marks a milestone of transition for the partnership. Besides
the group of 160 pastors, the BILD–Nigeria executive leadership team of pastors
is prepared and ready to lead the training from this date on. This executive
team came to the training in Ames last
October and November for intense work on the progress of their expansion. A
great foundation has been laid, and the plan now calls for a significant
expansion of training leaders.
Secondly,
Dr Musa Asake, formerly the General Secretary of
ECWA, is now serving as the executive director of BILD-Nigeria, giving total
attention to the task at hand. To quote Musa: "My time over the last 15 years
of training in the U.S. and the leadership of ECWA has brought me to a place to
now fulfill my dream for the churches of Nigeria." With broad foundations laid,
and solid regional and national leadership in Nigeria identified and ready to assume leadership, the days ahead
seem limitless in potential for the Church and the expansion of the Gospel
there.
The timing
could not be better. Recent news coming from the country, as well as what I
experienced while there, has revealed that very deep tensions exist among Protestant
and Islamic groups, which seem to be seething just under the surface. As they
have experienced in the past, the slightest incidents could ignite a firestorm
of conflict.
Having the
leadership of this partnership transferred to the indigenous leadership team and
under Musa's full-time direction, we have confidence that the expansion will
move forward with intensity, and the spontaneous expansion of church plants
will continue, providing an expansion of the Gospel across the country. Please
pray for peace in Nigeria and for the protection and
expansion of the Church in a volatile environment.
Doug Shiplett
Director of International Partnerships
Executive Vice President, BILD International
