Our ambassadors in Borno State are recruiting eager volunteers in spite of the continuing insurgency that is devastating communities.

Plans to start new ministry in Borno State have been on hold throughout 2018, as Yola team members Tony Sudan and Tari Bitrus continue to be unable to travel to Maiduguri because the roads remain closed. They were hoping to deliver new volunteer training and commission volunteers there before Christmas.

Instead, 20 people are traveling to Jos and will stay at Grace & Light’s compound from 30 January to 4 February for the five-day training. They come from three other towns in Borno – Damaturu, Potiskum and Biu - and have been recruited by our ambassadors in these towns – Clement Ajao, Dauda Agwom and Ibrahim Bitrus.

Once they return to Borno and begin ministry in local churches, international coordinator Tassie Ghata and programme officer Pofi Josiah will visit quarterly to support and encourage them. Travel is easier from Jos even though Yola is closer.

“These people are all new volunteers,” said Tassie. “We have not been able to contact any original members of the Biu team. They have been scattered by the insurgency and are not living where they were before.”

Please pray for Clement, Dauda, Ibrahim and the new volunteers, as well as Johnson Ahmad and Ngaruru Yakubu, our ambassadors in Maiduguri.

This training was funded by our 2018 circular walk along the South Downs. Together we raised £2,225 for new ministry in Borno State; thank you to everyone who joined us on the walk and to everyone who supported us financially and in prayer.

Please put Saturday, 1 June in your diary and join us if you are able for our 2019 fundraising walk. We will be going up and down, over but not under, Box Hill in Surrey the first Saturday in June.