Dear ITEM Partner,
Today, Monday, I made my transition to Nigeria. This is going to be a strategic week. It is our second time to be in Lagos. Although Abuja is the capital city, Lagos is very strategic when it comes to the spiritual climate in Nigeria, all of Africa, and increasingly in the world. So, this week can have a significant impact moving forward.
NIGERIA IS KEY
There is little debate about the impact the Nigerian church is having on other countries in Africa and now in other countries around the world. Unfortunately, much of what is being exported is, quite frankly, heretical.
5 OF 10 RICHEST PASTORS: NIGERIAN
One study revealed that 5 of the 10 richest pastors in the world are Nigerian and when wrongly motivated pastors from other places see that, they come here to learn the “secrets” to success.
GOD, JUST A GAME TO SOME
I have a video taken at a church where a young pastor is “building his own kingdom” by performing miraculous signs and healings, and supposedly casting out demons. His church cheers for him as they would cheer or a conquering hero. Then the cameras follow him into a meeting where he is meeting with a room full of proteges and he says to them (and this is a quote from the video), “Men, God is a game. And guess what? The game is easy!” The untaught and naïve church goer sees this man as the one who will protect them from the evil spiritual powers around them (a teaching most grow up with). I hope to have more about this throughout the week.
WE TAKE ANOTHER STEP THIS WEEK
This week we are bringing back pastors who attended our Bible and theology seminar here last July. This week the subject matter focuses on the marks of a mature and healthy church, and the pastor’s role as Bible teacher and Bible expositor. At the end of the week we will be inviting these men to join mentoring groups where they will meet with other pastors, learning how to take what they are learning and using it in their ministry to bring their churches to maturity.
OUR ULTIMATE GOAL
Our ultimate goal is to see the true gospel take root, to see believers mature, churches become strong and healthy, and to see Lagos become a place where Christ is truly honored and the true gospel is being exported, not the false gospel of fame and fortune.
PRAY
So, please pray for us this week. Pray that God will raise up an army of pastors who will pledge themselves to being a part of the solution.
As always, thanks for praying, and to those who are able to help financially, thanks for that also. We, together, are making a difference.
By His grace,
Steve