The Christian Mission, Vol, 7, No, 9 September 1963

(This material arrived too late to be numbered in it's proper place)

WEST AFRICA CHRISTIAN MISSION, CHURCHES OF CHRIST
Don Baughman
In November 1956 Donald and Marianne
Baughman arrived in Nigeria to join the Roy
Goldsberrys in spreading the Gospel. Land
was secured at Sango Otta and a dormitory-
class room building was constructed to prepare
native leadership for local congregations. This
is located on the lagos-Abeokuta Road, exactly
22 1/2 miles northwest of Lagos, the capitol.
Since 1956 five congregations have been
started in the Western Region and four in the
Eastern Region. Each congregation has it's
own native evangelist.
In August 1962 the Goldsberrys moved to
Enugu to help these men in the Eastern Region.
There are over 500 members in the chur
ches.
There are four phases to our work: the
establishing of churches, the training of native
minister, the "Search the Scriptures" radio
program, and the medical program.
In December 1961 we began the "Search the
Scriptures" radio broadcast (sponsored by the
Gospel Broadcasting Mission, Garrett, Ind.)
over V/NBS, Ibadan. At the present time we
have 30 students enrolled in the correspondence
course (including some of our own members)
and 50 are regular receivers of the messages.
Nigeria has a population of over 38 million.
It is about the sixe of Texas and Arizona toge
ther. It is divided into three regions: the
Northern Region which is Mohammedan; the
Eastern Region which is pagan and Christian;
and the Western Region where the people are
also pagan and Christian. There are over 250
different languages, but English is the trade
language of the country, Nigeria received her
independence from Great Britain on Oct. 1,
1960. The government is receptive to mis
sionaries.
Our work is among the Yoruba speaking
people in the 'Western Region. We have four
daughters: Ruth Carol aged 9, Judith Ann aged
8, Lisa Annette aged 6, and Jane Suzanne al
most four.
GOALS
At Ekuri, in the Eastern Region, the village
has collected rubble to build a dispensary.
Funds are needed to continue the project. The
people are also ready to help build an orphan
age. Plans have been delayed because of lack
of funds.
We live in the bush and have no electricity.
We are in need of a battery operated tran
sistor tape recorder. $98
$6000 is needed to purchase land in Ebute
Metta and $6000 is needed to purchase land
in Bariga.
At the present time our operating expen
ses pay for seven evangelists and the "Search
the Scriptures" expenditures. To prepare
more ministers for future churches and to
provide buildings for the people of Nigeria,
we are in need of more operating expenses.
MOST IMPORTANT: We need more mis
sionaries to help us evangelize Africa's most
heavily populated country. Our second tour
of four years ends in January 1966. At the
present time there is no one to replace us.
There is housing available for two families
and there must be someone to maintain the
mission property and provide supervision to
the evangelists.
NEEDS
"City" evangelists need $42 a month,
"Country" evangelists need $28 a month.
The city preachers depend on a monetary in
come alone and their prices are higher. The
country preachers receive the benefit of food
offerings from their congregation. Out of our
present operating ej^enses we have three city
and four country evangelists.
Bicycle for each evangelist - $58,80, At
present we need two bicycles.
Church buildings are made of mud by the
congregations. We supply the roofing sheets
at $56 for four bundles of zinc roofing sheets,
Sunday school literature - children's pa
pers with pictures, DVBS handwork materials,
G. J, Sharp booklets, Halley's Handbooks,
Bibles and New Testements are used by the
ministers, Bible school teachers, and those
in the congregations that read English,
Donald D. Baughman
Box 46
Otta, Nigeria, West Africa
Forwarding Agent:
Mrs, Carol Durfey
3546 S, Ewing
Dallas, Texas