Wilson Missionary Report

Wilson Missionary Report

(Faith & Victory : Oct. 1964)


The letter dated Aug. 25 was the first received from Bro. B. U. Etuk, native minister in Nigeria, since Bro. and Sister Ostis Wilson arrived there on Aug. 13, and he enclosed the above picture. He writes:
"Bro. and Sister Wilson arrived here on the 13th. . . and we all have been very happy indeed. You will never realize our joy… That they will be a blessing to us and to the Lord's vineyard here has been demonstrated by their keen interest in us and our work and their willingness to unfold us the true light in the Gospel of our Lord. I have no doubt that their continued stay, guidance, advice and leadership will save many more souls which would otherwise be lost. Praise His name! They feel happy and seem to love their lodgings. They are looking after themselves and love it that way. I wish they could stay longer than their visas can allow them, but the Lord knows more than we do."

Under date of Sept. 2 Bro. Etuk wrote us another letter and enclosed the August report of the mission activities written by Bro. Friday Ekpo, the mission secretary. In this letter Bro. Etuk is again rejoicing in the arrival of Bro. and Sister Wilson, which, as he says "is adding more blessings to us than ever before." He continues: "Bro. and Sister Wilson have already won the confidence of all the congregations and their presence is helping a lot to spread the Gospel--the purpose for which they came."

The secretary's report covers the activities for August, mainly the complete typewritten minutes of the welcoming service accorded the Wilsons on their first Sunday in Nigeria on Aug. 16 at the new headquarters chapel, at which place all the outlying stations were represented, numbering perhaps 300 to 400. In the welcoming address on behalf of the Nigerian Church of God a petition listing eight projects or ways to advance the cause of Christ was handed to the Wilsons. They in turn were expected to certify these financial needs to the Church in the U. S. A. Through an interpreter, Bro. Wilson responded to the welcoming address, his entire response being recorded.

On Sunday, Aug. 23, the regular monthly combined service was held at Ikot Ebak, a congregation about 8 miles from where the Wilsons live. Bro. Wilson preached through an interpreter to this large gathering, the full text of his sermon being typewritten in the reports. A new convert, the village chief of Ikot Ebak, came up to be introduced, and he thanked Bro. and Sister Wilson for coming and assured them of his and his subjects' coperation.

On Aug. 27, the regular monthly sisters' meeting was held and Sister Opal Wilson was asked to address the meeting, which she did. The full text of her sermon is also typewritten in the reports.

We have also been receiving encouraging reports of the work direct from Bro. Wilson. Two of these letters were dated Sept. 1 and the two most recent were dated Sept. 6, just received today (Sept. 16). He writes: “We are both quite well, for which we are thankful to God and to the saints for their prayers. Your prayers on this behalf are working fine, so just keep the good work up. We also need prayer for divine wisdom and guidance in our entering in unto these people, and we are sure we have that, too."

"They requested an adult school, and also a domestic science center. Now that adult school seems to be a common request among all of them, and Bro. Etuk and Bro. Friday Ekpo are just real urgent about that and do not want to delay longer. They are anxious for their people to be able to read the Scriptures in Efik. They realize that will give them additional inspiration when they can read the Scriptures for themselves and not have to depend on just what others tell them. We know that is true, and Opal and I are real interested in getting that going also."

He pointed out that these classes for adult members would be held to teach them to read and write, using the Efik Bibles as textbooks. That would involve the purchase of a number of Efik Bibles at $1.00 each, and which are available there. An Efik teacher can be secured at $22.40 per month. Bro. Wilson had proposed that classes be started at various stations in the area so that no one would have to go too far to attend classes. The first class was held at the Mission's headquarters' chapel on Friday evening, Sept. 4, with all of the native preachers and workers present. It was a short session, perhaps only an introduction to their class work. All of the preachers and workers can read Efik, so they will be able to help the teachers in the classes. About seven of the workers can read English. The natives tell Bro. Wilson that there are no Efik Bibles with references, so these seven workers would like to have English Bibles with references. The Wilsons were planning to go to their post office city, some twelve miles away, where there is a gospel literature book store and see if they have English Bibles with references.

Bro. Wilson writes: "The domestic science center would be valuable, also. It would involve the purchase of some sewing machines, yardage materials, scissors, needles, thread, buttons, and other accessories to sewing. We were in Uyo [20 miles away] this morning and priced some machines. A treadle machine in a stand costs $84.00. They have a portable hand-turned machine for $61.20. Opal plans to start a sewing class with the women at one of the stations tomorrow morning (Sept. 7). We do not have any sewing machine yet but they did not want to wait longer, so Opal told them they could start with hand-sewing and work at that until some machines were available. So we . . . bought some needles, thread, and other sewing accessories and they plan to have the first class tomorrow. They want two classes each week. But, of course, when it starts, it will soon spread to other stations around here."

"It is our idea that the most effective way to reach these people is through the native workers. Having to do everything through an interpreter makes us more or less ineffective in that capacity. Also we do not know the people and their background, and customs and manner of thinking like the natives do. We feel that our principal work is to teach the natives the doctrines of the truth and get them established in those things, and then let them go to their brethren with the message of salvation."

Let us all continue to pray the Lord to bless Bro. and Sister Wilson, along with all the native workers, and give them special Divine wisdom and courage to meet and solve the many problems which confront them in the process of establishing a permanent mission work for God that will spread throughout Nigeria.

Let us also remember the financial needs involved in purchasing Bibles for the adult classes, salaries for Efik teachers, sewing machines and sewing accessories for the sewing classes, and to increase the monthly allowances for the 14 native workers, some of whom are only receiving a very few dollars per month. At least one preacher at an outlying station has no transportation at all. On the Friday of the first Bible study at the headquarters' chapel he walked the 14 miles, and arrived too late. The Wilsons met him just leaving their house as they were willing back from the Bible class. They were favorably impressed with his spirit and attitude, and feel burdened to get him a bicycle.

Your free-will offerings for the Nigerian missionary work may be sent to that special fund here at the office, and it will be used for the purpose designated. This service we are glad to render to our readers for the advancement of the missionary cause.

"While a soul remains in darkness,
And in idleness we dwell,
Selfishly the truth enjoying,
Brethren dear, we do not well."

-Lawrence D. Pruitt


Index │ Next Article