Nigeria: ministry works to set up libraries for church leaders
Over the last four years the Open Bible Trust has helped establish Christian libraries in Kenya and Ghana, as well as supplying resources to already established libraries in other developing countries, and in prisons and young offenders institutions in the United Kingdom.
In 2009, the ministry's main goal has been to raise funds for a resource centre for The Handmaidens of God, a group of Filipino women on the outskirts of Manila working with women prisoners, drug-users and their children.
However, the Trust has planning two libraries in Nigeria, working with Ntoro Nkanta (above, far left), an elder at the Frontline Apostolic Church, which has a school associated with it, Frontline Academy. This Primary School has 180 children aged 4 to 12, in five classes.
Ntoro has written to say that the leaders from different churches in his area would love to use a library, as there is no such facility in his area. He describes the school as:
“... a Christian school where we want to inculcate the word of God in the lives of the pupils along with the normal academic work. We are also trying to help pupils of very poor background who cannot afford to go to the public schools. Many of them cannot buy exercise books and pens, study and work books, but as the Lord provides we try our best to assist those we can, but we are yet to provide seats for all of them, so some have to sit on the floor.”
In the course of correspondence with Ntoro it became clear that the school had few resources and no library. However, the Trust was unsure whether to appeal for funds for a ‘school’ library, in case it detracted from fundraising for Christian libraries in churches. Their dilemma was answered in a wonderful way ...
Michael Penny, administrator of the Open Bible Trust, still teaches A Level Maths to 17 and 18-year-olds for five hours a week at Prospect School, an inner city high school in Reading. The principal of the school read about the Open Bible Trust’s Missionary Fund in Inspire magazine and asked Michael if there was some way in which the school could help.
In the end the School Council decided to share this year’s Red Nose Day fund raising between Comic Relief and the Open Bible Trust. This provided sufficient money for the school library and the books and resources have been sent.
The Frontline Apostolic Church has agreed to house the Christian library and make the books available to the community.
If you would like to help set up this Christian library in Nigeria, please send your gifts (financial or Bibles, Christian reference books or children’s Christian books) to The Open Bible Trust, Fordland Mount, Upper Basildon, Reading, RG8 8LU.
Donations can also be made on line at www.obt.org.uk
