Field Report - Nigeria
When I came across Flame International, nearly three years ago and discovered what they did, I had such an excitement within me. I knew it was the Lord and felt deep down - ‘I want to do that!’
To be honest, I didn’t imagine that it would actually happen. I had never been to a third world country, never been to Africa, never been on mission, but in February this year I found myself sitting in Heathrow airport with a group of eight of us all wearing Flame t-shirts on our way to Nigeria!
It is hard to describe the impact of arriving in a country where everything is completely unknown, where the sounds, the people and even the smells are foreign! When we arrived, it was hot and muggy, I was exhausted from the travel and really overwhelmed. I knew I needed to be patient with myself. At 64 I wondered if it was too late, but the way that God led me in the months leading up to the mission, I knew this was what God was wanting me to do. Not only did I see all the money come in for the trip through donations, but also, He was so gracious to me in preparing me emotionally and mentally so I could stand in Him and not be intimidated by fear.
When we arrived at Jos and one of the baggage handlers said, ‘Oh, Flame, you’re back - please pray for me!’, I realised that this was a very different country from good old UK!
It was strange because, although it was entirely different and unknown, it felt in some ways comfortable and safe. This was very much at odds with the actual situation as we had landed in an area of Nigeria where there are regular and shocking incidents of murder and destruction. I can only put it down to the Lord preparing me and shielding the team through the faithful prayers of our supporters. They were all such an integral part of this mission. We could not have done this without them, and we were so keenly aware of their prayers holding and protecting us from harm.
When I arrived all, I could think was ‘why me?’ What on earth had qualified me to do this? The Lord spoke to me and said, ‘just give me the little you have, your loaf and your fish - that is enough’.
So, I went with a very humble heart knowing that it was nothing to do with what I could bring of myself - I really had so very little, but all I needed to do was to give it to God, be obedient to Him and He would do the rest!
Another key element into making this a completely unforgettable experience was the team’s unity, care, and support. I was so grateful for this team! We came together on the first day in Nigeria to pray and intercede for the mission. We composed a declaration of intention and unity that we recited most days. We prayed and worshipped every morning and evening and I found the commitment to ensure everyone was ok within the team such a blessing and so important.
We had to be escorted everywhere - it was just not safe to ‘wander’ - so in reality all we saw was our hotel and the conference centres. As soon as we passed through the gates of the conference centres or the hotel, the steel doors would be shut and bolted. The hotel had a 24-hour guard stationed at the entrance to the hotel grounds. I thought that would be difficult and feel oppressive, but it just felt safe.
I found the Nigerian people to be so gracious and welcoming. We were in the Jos Plateau and the people we encountered were humble, gracious and full of the joy of the Lord, but they are suffering so much. As I write this, we have just heard of another 50 Christians who were killed by the Boko Haram in Jos city - exactly where we were in February.
The statistics from the mission were quite extraordinary - see the full report - but that doesn’t really explain what really impacted me. I realised the statistics were not important to the Lord. The individual lives were what mattered to him and even if we only ministered to a very few, He would have had us go there. His abundance and extravagant grace saw each individual as precious in His sight.
We saw Jesus transforming lives from the inside out. There was one young man in particular who had seen things no human should see (60 people from his village were murdered and his home and village burnt to the ground). He couldn’t look at us when we arrived. His eyes were empty and glazed. During the four days we were with him and his fellow participants in a drug rehab programme, he was able to forgive the Fulani Herdsmen, and he gave his life to the Lord! The day after he looked so much lighter - like a heavy weight had been lifted off his shoulders; he could look at you and his eyes were clear. By the end of the conference his countenance had completely changed. Only Jesus can do that!
It was worth going just for that one young man, but God was so gracious and allowed us to do so much more.
One of the hardest things I found was to see the level of suffering these beautiful people have endured and here we were asking them to forgive those who had murdered, pillaged, and destroyed their families, homes and livelihoods!
I felt ‘what right do we have to come and say they have to forgive?’ ‘How dare we be so presumptuous?’ But the Lord reminded me that it was Jesus who commands this and not us. We were going in His name, with His message. He was asking them to forgive, not us. We had nothing in ourselves to offer, only Jesus. And when they forgave, and they did in their hundreds, I saw afresh the miraculous power of Jesus - it is only Him that can change lives and we were able to witness this in seeing people transformed before our very eyes. We ministered to 1008 people over two weeks and saw many of them receive inner healing and some physical healing. This side of heaven we will not see the benefit of the ministry.
We had four different conferences and events: an afternoon with Widows, a 3-day trauma training with Pastors and Leaders, a 2-day conference with War Survivors and 4 days training in a Drug Rehabilitation Centre.
To be honest, I didn’t imagine that it would actually happen. I had never been to a third world country, never been to Africa, never been on mission, but in February this year I found myself sitting in Heathrow airport with a group of eight of us all wearing Flame t-shirts on our way to Nigeria!
It is hard to describe the impact of arriving in a country where everything is completely unknown, where the sounds, the people and even the smells are foreign! When we arrived, it was hot and muggy, I was exhausted from the travel and really overwhelmed. I knew I needed to be patient with myself. At 64 I wondered if it was too late, but the way that God led me in the months leading up to the mission, I knew this was what God was wanting me to do. Not only did I see all the money come in for the trip through donations, but also, He was so gracious to me in preparing me emotionally and mentally so I could stand in Him and not be intimidated by fear.
When we arrived at Jos and one of the baggage handlers said, ‘Oh, Flame, you’re back - please pray for me!’, I realised that this was a very different country from good old UK!
It was strange because, although it was entirely different and unknown, it felt in some ways comfortable and safe. This was very much at odds with the actual situation as we had landed in an area of Nigeria where there are regular and shocking incidents of murder and destruction. I can only put it down to the Lord preparing me and shielding the team through the faithful prayers of our supporters. They were all such an integral part of this mission. We could not have done this without them, and we were so keenly aware of their prayers holding and protecting us from harm.
When I arrived all, I could think was ‘why me?’ What on earth had qualified me to do this? The Lord spoke to me and said, ‘just give me the little you have, your loaf and your fish - that is enough’.
So, I went with a very humble heart knowing that it was nothing to do with what I could bring of myself - I really had so very little, but all I needed to do was to give it to God, be obedient to Him and He would do the rest!
Another key element into making this a completely unforgettable experience was the team’s unity, care, and support. I was so grateful for this team! We came together on the first day in Nigeria to pray and intercede for the mission. We composed a declaration of intention and unity that we recited most days. We prayed and worshipped every morning and evening and I found the commitment to ensure everyone was ok within the team such a blessing and so important.
We had to be escorted everywhere - it was just not safe to ‘wander’ - so in reality all we saw was our hotel and the conference centres. As soon as we passed through the gates of the conference centres or the hotel, the steel doors would be shut and bolted. The hotel had a 24-hour guard stationed at the entrance to the hotel grounds. I thought that would be difficult and feel oppressive, but it just felt safe.
I found the Nigerian people to be so gracious and welcoming. We were in the Jos Plateau and the people we encountered were humble, gracious and full of the joy of the Lord, but they are suffering so much. As I write this, we have just heard of another 50 Christians who were killed by the Boko Haram in Jos city - exactly where we were in February.
The statistics from the mission were quite extraordinary - see the full report - but that doesn’t really explain what really impacted me. I realised the statistics were not important to the Lord. The individual lives were what mattered to him and even if we only ministered to a very few, He would have had us go there. His abundance and extravagant grace saw each individual as precious in His sight.
We saw Jesus transforming lives from the inside out. There was one young man in particular who had seen things no human should see (60 people from his village were murdered and his home and village burnt to the ground). He couldn’t look at us when we arrived. His eyes were empty and glazed. During the four days we were with him and his fellow participants in a drug rehab programme, he was able to forgive the Fulani Herdsmen, and he gave his life to the Lord! The day after he looked so much lighter - like a heavy weight had been lifted off his shoulders; he could look at you and his eyes were clear. By the end of the conference his countenance had completely changed. Only Jesus can do that!
It was worth going just for that one young man, but God was so gracious and allowed us to do so much more.
One of the hardest things I found was to see the level of suffering these beautiful people have endured and here we were asking them to forgive those who had murdered, pillaged, and destroyed their families, homes and livelihoods!
I felt ‘what right do we have to come and say they have to forgive?’ ‘How dare we be so presumptuous?’ But the Lord reminded me that it was Jesus who commands this and not us. We were going in His name, with His message. He was asking them to forgive, not us. We had nothing in ourselves to offer, only Jesus. And when they forgave, and they did in their hundreds, I saw afresh the miraculous power of Jesus - it is only Him that can change lives and we were able to witness this in seeing people transformed before our very eyes. We ministered to 1008 people over two weeks and saw many of them receive inner healing and some physical healing. This side of heaven we will not see the benefit of the ministry.
We had four different conferences and events: an afternoon with Widows, a 3-day trauma training with Pastors and Leaders, a 2-day conference with War Survivors and 4 days training in a Drug Rehabilitation Centre.
3-day trauma training with Pastors and Leaders
We ministered to 90 pastors from Central and North Nigeria for 3 days. Their lives are very hard and yet they come and worship the Lord and we saw their joy!
Testimonies from this conference:
Simon: I am one of the victims from an attack where 36 people were killed, and all our houses were burnt down including my house. Since that time whenever I remember all the losses, I feel like falling. But coming here yesterday and hearing your programme I give God the glory – all the feelings and anger I had before having been erased from my mind now. I have forgiven them forever.
Fidelis: His church is full of hurts, wounds and bitterness. He came on the course last year. He took the teaching back and ran a course like this in his church, including nailing forgiveness on the cross. The bitterness and divisions in the church were healed, and it is still in unity.
Emmanuel: He had much pain in his body. Yesterday during the prayer led from the front, he was told to touch the area where the pain was. The pain went.
Harris: Had recently been transferred to a new placement which really challenged his faith. He saw people massacred like animals and his student’s made orphans, they were deeply traumatised because they had seen their parents butchered. He felt angry with God. Right from the first session, God started to deal with him, he had to forgive himself and realise God is still God. He spoke to the bishop and said one of the best things that was ever done for him was to allow him to come here. “It’s as if the conference was made for me”.
We ministered to 90 pastors from Central and North Nigeria for 3 days. Their lives are very hard and yet they come and worship the Lord and we saw their joy!
Testimonies from this conference:
Simon: I am one of the victims from an attack where 36 people were killed, and all our houses were burnt down including my house. Since that time whenever I remember all the losses, I feel like falling. But coming here yesterday and hearing your programme I give God the glory – all the feelings and anger I had before having been erased from my mind now. I have forgiven them forever.
Fidelis: His church is full of hurts, wounds and bitterness. He came on the course last year. He took the teaching back and ran a course like this in his church, including nailing forgiveness on the cross. The bitterness and divisions in the church were healed, and it is still in unity.
Emmanuel: He had much pain in his body. Yesterday during the prayer led from the front, he was told to touch the area where the pain was. The pain went.
Harris: Had recently been transferred to a new placement which really challenged his faith. He saw people massacred like animals and his student’s made orphans, they were deeply traumatised because they had seen their parents butchered. He felt angry with God. Right from the first session, God started to deal with him, he had to forgive himself and realise God is still God. He spoke to the bishop and said one of the best things that was ever done for him was to allow him to come here. “It’s as if the conference was made for me”.
2-day War Survivors Conference
On the first day we started to minister to 100 people, but this rose to 549 on the second day. They Lord just brought them and touched most of them with His healing. We taught on Anger as well as many other subjects. Below are some of the statements they made of things that made them angry. They give you a taste of what they are suffering:
On the first day we started to minister to 100 people, but this rose to 549 on the second day. They Lord just brought them and touched most of them with His healing. We taught on Anger as well as many other subjects. Below are some of the statements they made of things that made them angry. They give you a taste of what they are suffering:
- The Fulani burnt my house, took all my food and they killed my brother
- The Fulani killed my father and took all I have; I am angry with Fulani - they burnt 8 of our villages and we cannot return
- The Fulani killed my son, my husband and my younger sister. I don’t have anywhere to sleep I want the Fulani to disappear
- Fulani killed my husband - they burnt the house and took all I have. I have nothing
Testimonies from this conference:
Lilret: After the teachings yesterday, I went back home and slept. I have not slept well for a long time. I read my Bible and then slept. I woke up at 5am and prayed.
Pastor: I went home and laid down and slept - thank you for this teaching.
Raudta: Her father was killed and since then she couldn’t sleep. Last night she was able to sleep.
Pastor Joshua: I felt as though I was going to die but with these prayers I feel I have peace of mind.
Peter: He said he was happier than everyone because, ‘this teaching has impacted me and touched my heart. When the Fulani people chased us out - I vowed I must kill them. But when I heard the teaching and I have left everything in the hands of God.’
Lilret: After the teachings yesterday, I went back home and slept. I have not slept well for a long time. I read my Bible and then slept. I woke up at 5am and prayed.
Pastor: I went home and laid down and slept - thank you for this teaching.
Raudta: Her father was killed and since then she couldn’t sleep. Last night she was able to sleep.
Pastor Joshua: I felt as though I was going to die but with these prayers I feel I have peace of mind.
Peter: He said he was happier than everyone because, ‘this teaching has impacted me and touched my heart. When the Fulani people chased us out - I vowed I must kill them. But when I heard the teaching and I have left everything in the hands of God.’
4-day conference at the Drug Rehab centre
We had the privilege of being with these precious young people and praying for them individually. On the second day 37 of them gave their lives to Jesus.
Testimonies from this conference:
Daniel: I want to appreciate God and all he had done for me. I was carrying things inside me and when I received prayer they all left me. I have been carrying this weight since 2014. I have been struggling to know how to get rid of this pain until yesterday. Being here has given us hope and freedom thanks be to God.
Mary: I thank you because I couldn’t forgive or forget - I was always angry, but I have forgiven my mother, and God has changed my life.
Chake: I want to thank God - to share from the blessing I have received. Before I got here, I was really grieving- the Fulani took all our food and destroyed our community. I hated the Fulani. But I have begun to see the light of God and have been liberated from the darkness. I have been able to forgive the Fulani. I also feel that I have received forgiveness as well. Please Pray for us - please do not forget to pray us.
Patience: I don’t know where to start - I used to be a very angry person -
I used to snap. I have been carrying so many people in my heart - so heavy.
I just felt a weight drop from me. I felt to call people and tell them how I feel. To bless them and to love them. We don’t want the Flame team to go. I have taken a lot of alcohol, but after the prayers I have stopped now.
Eric: I came here a very grieving and heavy person - a very heavy load for me. I have had the most amazing 4 days of my life. For so many years I have carried such a load and now I have managed to get rid of this load.
We had the privilege of being with these precious young people and praying for them individually. On the second day 37 of them gave their lives to Jesus.
Testimonies from this conference:
Daniel: I want to appreciate God and all he had done for me. I was carrying things inside me and when I received prayer they all left me. I have been carrying this weight since 2014. I have been struggling to know how to get rid of this pain until yesterday. Being here has given us hope and freedom thanks be to God.
Mary: I thank you because I couldn’t forgive or forget - I was always angry, but I have forgiven my mother, and God has changed my life.
Chake: I want to thank God - to share from the blessing I have received. Before I got here, I was really grieving- the Fulani took all our food and destroyed our community. I hated the Fulani. But I have begun to see the light of God and have been liberated from the darkness. I have been able to forgive the Fulani. I also feel that I have received forgiveness as well. Please Pray for us - please do not forget to pray us.
Patience: I don’t know where to start - I used to be a very angry person -
I used to snap. I have been carrying so many people in my heart - so heavy.
I just felt a weight drop from me. I felt to call people and tell them how I feel. To bless them and to love them. We don’t want the Flame team to go. I have taken a lot of alcohol, but after the prayers I have stopped now.
Eric: I came here a very grieving and heavy person - a very heavy load for me. I have had the most amazing 4 days of my life. For so many years I have carried such a load and now I have managed to get rid of this load.
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