Niemeier & Smith to Return in Spring 2011

Steve Niemeier and I have a return trip planned, Lord willing, for March 20 - April 4, 2011. We soliciate your prayers for safe travel and successful work.

We will not be conducting large group community teaching as was done in November of 2009 and 2010. Instead, we will focus our time and teaching in various congregations around Freetown. We will have day classes at the Priscilla Street building and then conduct evening "gospel meetings" around the area at several different congregations.

As long as the internet holds up, we will maintain daily reports on this blog to keep you updated on the progress of our work.

More pictures

More pictures

Niemeier & Lee in London

After spending nearly 3 weeks in a tropical paradise living on the seashore, for some reason Steve & Jimmy think they need more vacation & are lounging in London. They are scheduled to return to reality on Saturday.

Daniel Byers has supplied a goodly supply of pictures that I will attach to this entry. Thanks Daniel!

Day 18

GOD IS GOOD! ALL THE TIME! Today was not an exception!

Today is a holiday for Muslims - Freetown is somewhat at a standstill - very little traffic - today is the day the celebrate the offering of Isaac by Abraham (confusing as that is). However, we had a good number of about 20 at our study today. Real good discussion - these classes have really been good and the ones participating are learing and Christian and Theopolis are doing a good job of assisting us.

We will not have another blog until early next week after we get home. That will be a blog that will wrap up this trip with some comments from all four us that participated. I would just like to say "THANK YOU" on behalf of the four of us who came over and taught in the Freetown area this year. We could not have done this without God's grace and your prayers and support. Giant steps were taken this year and many BIG obstacles were overcome - again God has blessed the work on this trip and we have seen increase both in the new ones baptized but also in the breakthrough of those of the institutional persuasion - yet I must remind you that the war is not over and the battle will go on - everytime someone comes over from the states new obstacles will arise (that is just how Satan works). Yet, if we do not continue to assist in the work here - the strong will grow weary - our focus has to be to uphold those that are fighting in the trenches for the Lord in the Freetown area and to do that they will need our assistance.

We will be out of touch now for about two days as we go to teach tomorrow and then the long - hot and very tiring trip to the airport and then on to London. Jimmy and I are so looking forward to the visit to the British Musuem. Our hearts will be full of mixed emotions - sorry to leave with so much work to be done here and yet the joy of coming home to our families and our dear brethren in the states - we have learned many things on this trip and we pray that as we leave we have left the folks here with valuable teaching from God's word and that they will now study further the riches of His word.

GOD IS GOOD! ALL THE TIME! Today is not an exception!

Day 17

GOD IS GOOD! ALL THE TIME! Today is not an exception!

Jimmy went with John Kabul to the port authority today to take care of some business. I went to Priscilla Street to teach – I taught for about 2 hours and 45 minutes non-stop – there were many questions and the class was wonderful – we had 18 – a mixture of newborn babes and some preachers as well as a couple of non-members. One of these non-members was a blind man who had come to our studies and the services at Garrison Street. This man expressed his desire to be baptized and be among those who are the body of Christ at the end of our class. Bro. Christian asked him “can you see me” the man answered “through the eyes of spirituality I see you” it took the breath right out of all of us – the good confession was made and off to be baptized. Henry was his name and he was about the age of 65.

The studies today went real well – we are going to pick back up tomorrow on the same subject of “What Does Conversion To Christ Do For One”? This is such an important study for all that have just been baptized and it is good for the older ones to hear and to gain information so they can assist the new ones. Jimmy arrived back in time to sit in the last 30 minutes of the class. He had a different type day than mine as he had to travel across town to the port and then come back. He was just worn out from this traveling so is a physical tired. Mine right now is a mental tiredness from teaching and the throat is a bit raspy not to say that Jimmy isn’t mentally tired either but just explaining the fatigue we are experiencing.
I will try to give one more blog tomorrow – the internet is terrible – my computer has been hacked and only lets me on to certain things before it quits – just more work of Satan to discourage us!

Jimmy and I will finish teaching on Wednesday and then off to the airport. We will fly to London through the night and then through our own personal funds we have arranged to stay in London and go to the British Museum to view the artifacts from Biblical times – we are really looking forward to that.

If you are keeping count – we have had 54 baptisms so far – GOD IS GOOD! ALL THE TIME! Today was not an exception!

Day 16 -What a glorious Day!

GOD IS GOOD! ALL THE TIME! Today was not an exception! Today we worshipped in the morning at Priscilla Street. Since I had spoken at both services there last week Jimmy spoke today (and I was glad for I taught for about 6 hours straight yesterday while Jimmy worked with John Kabul). Jimmy did an excellent job in both the Bible Study and the worship period. At the invitation we had two young ladies to come forward wanting to be baptized. One was a visitor who knew some folks there and was a very serious minded young lady of about 20 years of age. The other one – ARE YOU READY FOR THIS? It was Igenia – John Kabul’s girlfriend who has had several discussions with about all four of us before Dan and Dan left and then she had more discussions with Jimmy. Off they went to be baptized. They had to go to the national stadium pool and pay to baptize – Priscilla Street has a baptistery but it needs repairs (whose doesn’t?). We went ahead with services (we have been stressing the importance of baptizing immediately and Christian practices this wonderfully) and when they got back we finished up – It was a wonderful morning.

We are both just worn out from the last two days without Dan and Dan and all that we had to do so we came back after the morning services (about 1:15 P.M.) and rested – Jimmy was having a little trouble with his sugar count and I was just pooped! We did not eat (now I know that most of you just fainted thinking that I did not eat) and our crew picked us up at 3:30 P.M. to go and teach at Garrison Street.

THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT MESSAGE ABOUT THE MAJOR CONCERN OF OUR TRIP AND WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO READ IT SLOWLY TO SEE HOW GOOD GOD REALLY IS! Our main issue on this trip has been that after some time with Joseph we found that he had not been baptized properly and that he was refusing to accept the teachings of the scriptures on this. Unfortunately one thing after another piled on top of this issue to add up to many issues we had to face on this trip. We found him not to have the heart he had last year and yet in our studies with him he would open up and talk about the issues including his baptism and was willing to share that he really thought he was okay because he had been immersed – unfortunately it was into the Wesleyan church while he was living with Dan Gentry during the civil war here in Sierra Leone. When asked previously about his baptism he would say yes he was baptized correctly. We knew last year that he was just learning and he had been studying on line and we were led to believe that he had been baptized for the right reason and we saw a heart that wanted to know more – yes, we had to overcome many issues of denominationalism when we arrived last year but through patience and consistent teaching many hearts were touched and changed. You might remember that we just said we had to tolerate to teach.

This year when we arrived and started talking more with some of the brethren that are here we learned many things that needed to be addressed. As a result of learning about Joseph’s false baptism and other issues surrounding this (that I will not go into until we get home) we needed to change our plans (you have already read some of the reasons we did not go to Makeni). The four of us had several studies with Joseph before Dan and Dan left and Jimmy and I had another opportunity this evening at Garrison Street because Joseph was there. I took the Bible Study and Jimmy took the worship – we both were focused on one thing – addressing the issues that we had been plagued with and teaching the newborn babes in Christ (there were five newborn babes in Christ in attendance) to stand on their own two spiritual feet and be good workers according to the scriptures. While we were both tired and we had to overcome all of the noise outside of the building we were focused on the door that the Lord had opened for us and we both did not leave anything on the table.

We arrived back at our room and we were famished – we finally went over and got something to eat and had just arrived back at the room to prepare for tomorrow’s classes (boy we wish we had the two Dan’s back with us). A knock at our door and I went to answer it – Joseph was standing there. I asked him to come on in – he did (Jimmy was just getting ready to shower). Joseph sat down and looked at me with the eyes of the man I knew from last year – the eyes of humility – he told me he was driving home from Garrison Street with his friend Kammanda (who was baptized earlier on this trip) and Kammanda was telling him that what he had learned from our teaching and read in the Bible was correct and that Joseph was wrong! He wanted to know how Joseph could go on teaching the un-perverted gospel without obeying it. According to Joseph what Kammanda was saying was the same thing he had heard from our lessons and that his heart became pricked and he needed the right baptism! I called for Jimmy to come and listen to what Joseph was saying –

Jimmy immediately came and listened. WITHOUT DELAY – EVEN THOUGH IT WAS PITCH BLACK AT NIGHT – WE LOADED UP JOSEPH’S CAR AND WENT TO THE NEAREST BEACH AND WE TALKED WITH KAMMANDA ABOUT HOW TO BAPTIZE AND HE SAID HE KNEW HOW BUT HE LISTENED AND KNODDED HIS HEAD THAT HE KNEW – OFF THEY WENT INTO THE OCEAN IN THE DARK BUT JIMMY AND I STOOD AT EDGE AND WITNESSED KAMMANDA AS HE BAPTIZED JOSEPH INTO CHRIST!

If we had gone to Makeni – we would not have made the giant leap through the open door the Lord provided us with those of the institutional persuasion – also we would not have had the 17 baptisms we have had – also we would not have been able to work through the issues with Joseph - ---

Need I say more on this blog? GOD IS GOOD! ALL THE TIME! TODAY WAS NOT AN EXCEPTION!!!!!

Day 15

THE SHARP AXE OF TRUTH CHOPS DOWN A BIG TREE OF ERROR! These are the words of one of the men who we taught for about six hours today. He is referencing the fact that they are now learning the truth about the proper way for the work of the church to be done. The class was made up of about 22 men from several different congregations. We started teaching at 9:00 A.M. this morning and continued until 3:00 P.M. this afternoon. The subject was an overview of the general epistles of the New Testament. For the first five hours we stayed on the subject then a question was asked about what we had been teaching at Priscilla Street on the work of the church verses having an organization doing the work of the church such as Bible Colleges or schools. Away we went for a solid hour of discussion.

We have drawn an illustration on the chalkboard at both Priscilla Street and now at Tengbeh Town and this illustration drives home the point concerning authority and the correct teaching to establish this authority. When we start drawing this illustration they stop everything because they have come to learn that this is a teachable moment and they are going to gain something from it. Today was no different – at the end of yesterday’s session at Priscilla Street you might remember that Theophilus made a statement “the things we used to do – we do them no more”. These folks are hearing things for the first time and we are repeating them at every session – thus at the end of the session today a brother who is a member of a congregation practicing things taught by the institutional belief states loudly “THE SHARP AXE OF TRUTH CHOPS DOWN A BIG TREE OF ERROR! The amazing thing about this is that an older gentlemen of 72 years of age and one of the first to obey the gospel taught by those of the institutional persuasion in 1966 has been in our classes – he is somewhat the father figure all look to – TODAY HE STATES THAT HE IS CONFUSED AND WHY DID THESE MEN TEACH THINGS THEY COULD NOT PROVE BY THE APOSTLES TEACHING? Folks you have read from this blog several times where I have written GOD IS GOOD! ALL THE TIME! Today was not an exception. The sharp axe of truth is at work over here in Sierra Leone and YOU FOLKS ARE TO BE COMMENDED FOR YOUR GENEROSITY IN SENDING US!!! To God be the Glory!

One other interesting point about today: as we were giving the overview of Philippians we mentioned how Paul was in bonds but said Rejoice and before we could finish the thought they broke out in song singing at the top of their lungs “Rejoice in the Lord always” WOW!!! What a wonderful experience!

We are tired! Voices are strained! Thankfully we will be able to rest tonight as it is now just about 5:00 P.M. Tomorrow it will be Jimmy’s turn to speak at Priscilla Street (I spoke last week) we have invited John Kabul and his girlfriend (who has been studied with) and Augustine (one who was baptized earlier on this trip) to come to Priscilla Street to observe how the worship service is done. This will help them understand better about doing things decent and in order. Then we will go to Garrison Street tomorrow evening.

Monday through Wednesday of next week is set – classes at Priscilla Street for newborn babes and for preachers of the institutional persuasion – it will be a difficult but enriching three days – GOD IS GOOD! ALL THE TIME! Today was not an exception!

Day 14

GOD IS GOOD! ALL THE TIME! Today was not an exception! After a very short night of rest the four of us had our final breakfast together and then off to teach. Upon our arrival a young man was introduced to us by the name of Moses – Moses had been at our studies the whole week – it is very difficult for us to remember all the names but we know the faces and Moses’ face was very familiar. We had some discussion with Moses and then we had Theophilis talk with him. After a few minutes and right before Dan Barker’s lesson Moses was off to be baptized. Also, there was an older man who has been studying with us and I apologize but I have forgotten his name – he talked with Theopolis and he too went to be baptized. GOD IS GOOD! ALL THE TIME! Today was not an exception!

Dan and Dan gave the first two lessons of the day and their last on this trip and then they were off to the airport. Both did a remarkable job presenting their lessons and controlling their emotions. They were hugged by everyone and right before they left the four of us huddled up and I must admit some tears were shed – why? The four of us have been through some things that have bonded us in ways that will remain with us for the rest of our lives. In the 14 days we were together there was never any issue between the four of us – we were focused on what we were here to do and the obstacles Satan was putting in front of us and we worked together to overcome those obstacles. Jimmy and I certainly miss them and they only left us 9 hours ago.

What a 9 hours it has been though. Jimmy taught next about Mixed Religion and drove home point after point of many things that Satan has confused these people with. He used scripture after scripture to address these issues – he spoke about 50 minutes and had some questions he had to deal with also. I then spoke and addressed the issues of institutionalism and the lack of authority for these things. We are using a blackboard and chalk to illustrate our points - I for one long to use a whiteboard and marker when I get back to Greenwood to draw some of our illustrations because they have really been effective.

At the end of my lesson the questions started and they kept coming and we kept answering – I would take the ones on institutionalism – Jimmy would take the ones on proper giving and fund raising – question after question – answer after answer – more questions – more answers – the audience was even asking each other questions in an orderly manner and we found some of the audience giving answers to the ones who had asked them the questions. How long you ask! Jimmy and I held session for three hours!

Theopolis took the microphone at the end of the session – had the people to sit down – now remember we have about 7 or 8 congregations represented from those started by the institutional folks years ago and many of them have some of those teachings imbedded in them – now Theopolis has the microphone and he starts by putting Para-church on the board and starts in using our diagram to show how the “things they used to do – they need not do them anymore”. Now folks this is HUGE! They are learning about the proper way to do the work of the Lord’s church and they are having the hearts to change!!!! Oh that more of us in the USA could have these hearts. Stay tuned for more exciting news along this line.

Tonight after a short rest of about an hour (in which we had to prepare for tomorrow’s teaching that will be about 8 hours total) we headed to the largest congregation still in existence from the institutional persuasion. Tengbeh Town is the name of the congregation – the national director of the World Bible School is a member there – in today’s study we used WBS as an example of an unscriptural work of the church. We had to walk down a very steep hill to get to their building. Jimmy and I both spoke and then answered questions. It was a good experience and quite an opportunity to be able to speak there. They are practicing some things they need to stop and at least we got started on addressing these. Tomorrow our 8 hours of teaching will be at Tengbeh Town.

Here is another reason we decided not to go to Makeni – this will be number three on our list of reasons for not going. The Lord has opened such a door for us into the congregations that have been practicing some things they have no authority for (set up by institutional persuasion) that we could not justify leaving them without spending more time with them. Jimmy and I are already booked until our plane leaves with studies with newborn babes and with those of the institutional persuasion. If we had taken off to Makeni without addressing the issues with these two groups we would have nothing but chaos upon the return of the next ones to teach.

In closing of today’s blog I want to say that one of the major issues that we have faced on this trip has been the disappointment of individuals we have trusted in the past. It is amazing how hard Satan works at tearing up things sometimes. Yet, when Satan tears down – God opens other doors and He has certainly provided open doors on this trip. When we get home you might want to pull up a chair – grab an iced tea or coffee and sit and listen – it will take awhile (somewhat like my blogs) to explain but it will make you appreciate Paul’s statement in II Timothy 4:10 more than ever.
GOD IS GOOD! ALL THE TIME! Today was not an exception!

Day Thirteen

GOD IS GOOD! ALL THE TIME! Today is not an exception! Upon our arrival (after a very short night of rest) we were talking with a young lady by the name of Michaela who is 21 and was attending an Evangelical church. It did not take long to see that the four of us were just too intimidating to her – so as we have done this whole trip three of us backed off and let just one talk with her. Dan Barker talked with her for some time and she expressed the desire to be baptized. While this discussion is going on Jerry (who is sharp and who is the one that was baptized last evening and the one who was baptized earlier in his life by those of the Boston movement) was having a discussion with a young man of about 25 years old. Jerry has stated that he really wants to just go and teach one on one in his life and he is good at this and knowledgeable to do such – yes he is a babe in Christ (like Victor) but oh the knowledge they have and now that they have been pointed in the right direction who knows how much seed will be sown. Back to the discussion between Jerry and Samsura the young man – after a period of time this young man made the decision to be baptized – well Christian, Theopolis and Victor had already left with Michaela to baptize her – we got our crew to take the young man and Jerry and away they went to meet up with the others – YES – TWO MORE SOULS YIELDING TO THE CALL OF THE GOSPEL – GOD IS GOOD! ALL THE TIME! Today is not an exception!

Dan Barker got us started in our teaching today with a great lesson on personal evangelism. He has followed the plan of equipping those in the audience with the basic knowledge of what to teach others and how to teach others. One of the BIG issues we have found in Freetown is that many that were taught by the institutional believing folks are not grounded in the basic first principles of the gospel. As a result we have really dealt with this and Dan has been the point man every day to get us started.

We switched and had Jimmy Lee go next with the subject of “Now That I Am A Christian” – of all things he asked me to be his scribe and write on the blackboard – folks I cannot even read my own writing! Anyway he really drove home his points and hit several issues we have found to be lacking in Freetown – again among those who have been baptized recently and in the past by those of the institutional belief. In case you are wondering – he did a really good job!

We then took a short break and answered some questions and then went back to teaching. Unfortunately a lady had an epileptic seizure and this delayed us for a few minutes – she was okay after a while.

Dan Byers then followed the plan he has been following and taught on what a congregation is to do as far as the work is concerned. He drew on the board and he took his time and walked them through every point – they were writing his points down and were so attentive. For many of them this is teaching they had never heard before – remember our audience – mostly those taught by the institutional belief and few of those who were baptized when we were last year scattered in and even some from the community who are hearing the lessons from the windows and just come and listen. Daniel did an excellent job and really set up my lesson well.

My lesson was on “Authority and Issues of Division”. I taught the first part on authority by using examples we had been using about all week – drawing those out on the board. Then I asked them if they would like to see some modern day examples of division in the Lord’s church because of a lack of respect of authority they wanted to hear some. First I gave the example of missionary societies and the board of directors over them – they were somewhat astonished and said there is no scripture for a board of directors which means the institution (company as they call it) cannot be supported by the church treasury – next was orphans and the board of directors appointed to oversee orphan homes – they came up with the same results – next came schools – they came up with the same results – then came sponsoring churches and I used the example of our congregations the four of us attend and the one church of the institutional belief that came over and started all of the congregations here before we came last year – they were very silent and you could hear some moans – I asked them if there was authority for this – no was the answer – I closed by telling them I will let them chew on that overnight and we will discuss more tomorrow.

Then more questions and answers and Jimmy “The Riotous One” got the ladies stirred up by answering a question on the covering and then on a woman wearing tight pants and away we went – the highlight was Jimmy parading down the aisle acting like a lady that was just looking for a man and that was a riot in itself –then in only a way that Jimmy could do it he switched gender and started acting like a man who was looking for a women that was not dressed properly – the audience got the picture and it was a perfect illustration (a sight for sore eyes but a perfect illustration) - that just escalated when the question of whether a man should marry a woman that is not a member of the church – that really got going when a fellow from Nigeria stated that a man should follow the same rule as a woman and they should look in the church for their spouse as this is the place to look it. Well this was followed by my suggestion that all the unmarried woman that were members of the Lord’s body stand – they did and then we did the same for all the unmarried men – then we said maybe you should look closer as here are some great candidates.

Tonight we to Wellington where Dan and Dan spoke – they had not spoken there as of yet and since they leave tomorrow night this was their night to teach there. Of course they did a great job teaching about how special a child of God is – Jimmy and I just gave a brief statement to encourage the congregation. Just a word about the two Dan’s - these two wonderful men and teachers of God’s word: Jimmy and I have both just been overwhelmed by their quick adaption to these conditions – their willingness to do whatever was needed to be done to enhance the work of the Lord in the Freetown area – their knowledge of God’s word – their wisdom in assisting the four of us in some of the most stressful issues we faced and these issues were more stressful (and still are) than any trip I have been on has just been tremendous. They are such good men – sound in the faith – dedicated to the cause of the Lord – we pray for their safe return home and look forward to serving with them again on this foreign soil.
GOD IS GOOD! ALL THE TIME! Today was not an exception!

Day Twelve

GOD IS GOOD! ALL THE TIME! Today was no exception! When the crew came to get us Samuel the military man who was with us last year and is with us again this year stated he wanted to be baptized. Now you might remember that he was the one who ran into the water last year when John Kabul was baptized and said “me too me too”. We all knew that he was probably full of emotion and did this out of that emotional feeling. We have told you about many issues and this was one of them. Samuel has been talked to for a whole year by John Kabul about this. He has been talked with several times by different ones of us this year about this. Last night we had a very serious talk with the whole crew and you could see Samuel’s face beginning to change into that look of seriousness that one has when they are thinking deeply about issues. He stated that if he needed to give up the military (he has been in for 12 years) for Christ he would. GOD IS GOOD! Another soul met Jesus in baptism!

GOD IS GOOD! ALL THE TIME! Today was no exception! When we arrived at Priscilla Street to start our teaching and to take Samuel’s confession and for Christian Asgill to baptize him a young lady named Marian who had been at our studies the last two days stated she needed to be baptized. She was identified with the largest Pentecostal group in Freetown. We talked with her – she knew what she needed to do – she made the great confession that Christ was the Son of God – then she went to be baptized along with Samuel. GOD IS GOOD! Another soul met Jesus in baptism!

GOD IS GOOD! ALL THE TIME! Today was no exception! A young man by the name of Jerry – a real sharp Bible student who had been baptized in the USA by those of the Boston Movement (International church of Christ) continued to talk with us about his baptism. He was having some doubts after listening to our teaching. He had several conversations with us and had one final conversation with Dan Barker after another lesson had begun. We received a call when we arrived back at the hotel tonight – Jerry met Jesus in the watery grave of baptism. It seems after our studies that he contacted Christian Asgill and stated he needed to be baptized and he was! GOD IS GOOD! Another soul met Jesus in baptism! Jerry is one who wants to go one on one to people to teach – he said I want to teach but not in the pulpit – I want to teach one on one. WOW! The Lord’s church need more like Jerry!

GOD IS GOOD! ALL THE TIME! The plan to take the gospel to Makeni is really coming together. One of the reasons (again there are many) that we have decided not to go (now you will know two of the reasons because I told you one in the last blog – newborn babes who need to be grounded further) is that we discovered that it was positioned wrongly. The emphasis is to be on the seed that is sown - the Word of God -and not on the one sowing (I Cor. 3). For us to go under the conditions of the emphasis being put on the white man coming to teach is a wrong reason to go. The plan now is that native Sierra Leoneans who have been taught and grounded in the Word of God will go and teach. This will be done very soon after we leave – we will be studying with the ones going until we leave to assist in further grounding.

Oh yes, before I forget – our teaching went extremely well today. Dan Barker started with “Do you know my Jesus” and the assignment that he had given for everyone to write a page stating their thoughts of who their Jesus was. The ones that did this had their comments read – it was really touching as some of them even went to the library to look up Greek words and to have the quiet to study just who Jesus was. Another great opening lesson by Dan Barker.

Dan Byers then gave a lesson on the organization of the local congregation and the fellowship each one of the members is to have even though they have different talents. It was a very good study, that as we have found on this trip, needed to be addressed. Dan again delivered his lesson in such a way all could understand. I know it is getting old but again a great job.

The four of us made a decision because of all the confusion that we had found here about baptism and that many (even in the congregations started by those of those of the institutional belief) believed that as long as you were immersed – even if it was by a different teaching than that of the New Testament (denominational teaching) that you were okay that I would change my lesson for today. My lesson I gave was “Can One Be Taught Wrong but Baptized Right?” After the lesson there were questions and I felt so bad because we are all on a time limit and I went over – not all because of me but because of the questions and one older gentlemen telling me that you can’t sit down we still have questions. I have told you over and over what a great threesome Dan, Dan and Jimmy are – well they said stay up there and so I did.

Jimmy then finished with the work a woman can do in the church – boy did he do a great job! He addressed issues and misconceptions about the work a woman can do in the church and he again had the audience on the edge of their seats – both men and women. He did such a good job and did it in such a great time limit that we were able to spend 40 minutes in question and answer session. This was our second one today!

Well we thought our studying was done – we were wrung out! Tonight we had about a 3 hour study with Joseph on some issues. He just left about 20 minutes ago– the time here is 11:39 P.M. and we have lessons to work on for tomorrow. Oh yes, about tomorrow – we will be teaching at Priscilla Street like we have been doing – then we will go to Wellington and teach tomorrow night. Friday you ask? We will teach at Priscilla Street – Dan and Dan then go to the airport to come home – Jimmy and I will go to Tengbeh Town to teach on Friday night. Saturday you ask! Jimmy and I will be at Priscilla Street all morning and afternoon teaching the book of Galatians to local preachers. Sunday you ask! Right now there are four congregations wanting us to speak. Next week we are booked at Priscilla Street in the daytime with the new converts and some of the preachers in studies. At night we will be at some of the congregations.

Thanks again for your support and prayers –GOD IS GOOD – WE ARE SAFE – ISSUES ARE BEING HANDLED THAT HAVE PLAGUED US – GOD IS GOOD! ALL THE TIME!

Day Eleven

Another somewhat sleepless night last night – but the day has brought some good things.

We went to Priscilla Street to start the teaching and what a joy it was again! We ended up having a packed house again and ANOTHER ONE HAS OBEYED THE GOSPEL! A man by the name of Samuel who had been attending at Garrison Street came to realize that he had not been baptized properly (folks this is one of the major issues we have been facing – many were immersed into some denomination and not into Christ!) He told us when we arrived that he was troubled by this and wanted to correct this – we had him stand and he made his confession before all and immediately Theophilus took him to be baptized. This really set the tone for the day as it uplifted everyone and let me tell why we needed uplifting.
When the crew came to get us today John Kabul came in very troubled. We sat down with him in private (him and the four of us) and listened to what had happened. The last two Sunday’s at Wellington one of the higher authorities (a very devout Pentecostal) at the Port Authority where John Kabul works had tried to take over the Bible Study period – I dealt with him the first week and Jimmy dealt with him last week. This man called Eddie then called John Kabul last night and talked for one hour about how we were teaching a doctrine belonging to a cult. How John was not going to be his friend again – how terrible it was that this was happening. Eddie tried to persuade the people at Wellington that faith only will save them and they should not believe anything else. Also, John then got calls from three others who have threatened bodily harm to him when they see him on the streets because he is not following the teaching they want him to follow. The landowner (the structure is owned by members of Wellington but the land is owned by someone else) has told John to stop teaching this un-perverted gospel. John just broke down in tears – he is a good man and would not harm a flea and yet he has now been threatened for serving the Lord. This is troubling but he will stand for the truth – we sure do have it easy being Christians in the states don’t we? Please pray for John Kabul!

We started today’s teaching with the thought that we could commit spiritual adultery – the audience picked up on this thought – then Dan Barker started his lesson on Biblical Illiteracy – he went through that lesson and the points he made were just outstanding! The packed house was with him all the way and he taught them that even though they may read the Bible they may not know what is in it – he also explained that all the questions we get from the Old Testament about instrumental music and things like that could be answered if we all studied the Bible to know it. He related that the Old Testament was something we should know so we can understand the New Testament better – he gave the example of Hebrews as a book that was written along that line. A GREAT JOB OF TEACHING BY DAN BARKER TODAY!

Dan Byers then picks up on fellowship – he starts with the special relationship with God that Adam and then Eve had and how it was severed through sin. He explained this in full detail by drawing out on the chalkboard (yep that is what they use over here – a chalkboard). He then started detailing out how everyone who obeys the teachings of the un-perverted gospel of Jesus Christ is reconciled with God through Christ giving them a special relationship with God. Then he drew a line connecting all of the individuals who had put on Christ in baptism in order to have the special relationship with God through Christ to one another to show they had a special relationship to one another. The he circled three or four of the individuals to state they may be members in the same location working together to do the Lord’s work in what is called a congregation. Tomorrow he goes further on fellowship. TWO LESSONS BY THE TWO DAN’S – AGAIN DAN BYERS DID A GREAT JOB OF TEACHING – THESE TWO ARE JUST AMAZING IN THEIR APPROACH TO TEACHING IN THESE CONDITIONS.

We then had questions and answers and then a short break.

After the break – here comes Jimmy “The Riotous One” – Jimmy had the task of teaching about the woman’s role in the church and folks a riot about started because we had about one-fourth of the packed house was women that are members at Priscilla Street. They were on every word and so were the men – several had questions they wanted answered RIGHT NOW! Oh did Jimmy ever do such a great job – he walked among them and let them ask their questions and yet maintained control to teach them about that women were equal but they were to be in submission and he brought out scripture after scripture teaching this. The audience (just like with Dan and Dan) were hanging on every word and writing down the information. Then Jimmy switched at the end of his lesson to bring out I Corinthians 13 to show that things like prophecy are not needed anymore and therefore a prophet or prophetess is no longer because we have the complete word of God. YEP! OH “RIOTOUS ONE” DID IT AGAIN – ANOTHER LESSON ANOTHER GREAT JOB OF PRESENTING IT – folks it is a joy being among these three talented teachers.

My lesson I must admit was not too bad – it was on “Proper Music in Worship”. I taught that there are at least four ways one can worship – in truth – in vain – ignorantly – self-imposed or self-willed. I walked through the passages where singing is mentioned in the New Testament – used Hebrews 8 (again as we have used it several times) to show that if the old law had been faultless there would not have been a need for a better covenant. As a result the worship of the Old Testament gave way to the worship of the New Covenant – then I walked them through some historical findings and statements and also some statements from denominationalists who state that instrumental music is not acceptable in true worship.

This was a great day – one baptized – many questions dealt with – good audience participation – well-presented lessons.

Now on to more news on Makeni. I cannot cover all the issues but here is news that you do need to know. The gospel is going to Makeni – not the way originally planned. We have the names and addresses of 21 individuals who have completed a correspondence course given by World Bible School (an institutional church sponsored missionary society). They WBS representatives refused to baptize the ones who wanted to be baptized because there was not local congregation there. Theophilus and Christian have these names and addresses– their plan is to go knock on the doors of the folks and set up Bible Studies with them, teach them and establish a non-institutional congregation there. Our part of that plan is to spend time with them and Victor (yes the Pentecostal who was just baptized but who is extremely knowledgeable in the Scriptures who has now given up his $20.00 (yep $20) a month salary from the Pentecostals because there is no turning back for him in studies) to strengthen them. Folks John Smith mentioned in a special addendum to this blog about Victor’s influence – guess what – he speaks the language of those in Makeni – he has a great influence among many in Makeni – he is on fire for the Lord – so our plan – to study and study with him and several of these new Christians next week here in Freetown – then they will go do the teaching – now you can see some of what is behind our decision. The rest of what is behind our decision will be told when we are home.

Tomorrow is another day with more opportunities – special thanks again for your support and prayers.

Day Ten

I am not sure where to start with this blog. There has been so much happen on this trip that I have tried to at least give you an overview each day. Today has been a day that for the Lord’s church in the Freetown area that simply will go down in history as a day of shall we say “reckoning”.

First of all, Victor who John Smith wrote earlier, wanted to be baptized and was. He is very knowledgeable in many parts of the Scriptures but obviously was not willing to obey the gospel of Jesus until today. The cost of his obedience – leaving his position as “pastor” of a Pentecostal church where he received funds.

Secondly, the building at Priscilla Street where we were to teach today filled up rather rapidly with about 80 people (this is close to capacity of the building) – 8 different congregations calling themselves “church of Christ” were represented as well as about 6 different denominational folks. Of the 8 different congregations calling themselves “church of Christ” three were started as a result of the teaching last year when we were here – these were made up of newborn babes (the ones we were very concerned about). The other five congregations were started by those of the institutional persuasion several years ago.

We knew we would have a mixed group of people – I am not sure we knew just how many would actually show up to study with us – we saw very quickly that many were coming prepared to study and ready to ask questions. I started the session with “A Good Bible Student.” I explained ten things a good Bible student must do, and then I closed that one cannot teach properly if they are not a good Bible student. Dan Barker followed with a great lesson on teachers. He really challenged all of us about the discipline we need to have to teach among other things. He introduced some things that he will continue to address in our future studies. Dan Byers taught about prophecy and the proper way to use the Old Testament. He walked us through different prophecies and how that God spoke to man once by prophets but now by Christ – and we have the written word where we no longer need prophets. Jimmy then spoke about the history of worship. He started in the Garden of Eden and worked his way through the Old Testament and then in the New Testament and how there was perverted and vain worship in both Testaments given to us an example so we would not worship that way (such as instrumental music, etc).

After the lessons came Q & A time. We had a couple of questions that we answered before in a short break between Dan Byers and Jimmy’s lessons. Now we were going to dedicate the rest of the time to questions they had for us about what had been taught. Please remember that on this trip we were going to evangelize at Ebenezer Hall and we did. Secondly, we wanted to be able to teach about the perverted teaching of institutionalism and sponsoring churches. One of the first questions that came was about sponsoring churches and human institutions – these thoughts had been picked up from our teaching at Ebenezer Hall – the lessons at Priscilla Street on Sunday and some planting of the seed in our lessons before the Q & A today.

I took the question and used the chalk board to start teaching on what these doctrines taught and the fallacy of them – Jimmy picked up and then drove home some points on this subject as did both Dan’s. The Lord provided us a great opportunity. I made sure after each point that I ask them the same question that Paul asked “Do you count me your enemy because I tell you the truth?” Each time they said “No”! We have just started – this was our first day – sitting in the audience was the National Director of the World Bible School (an institution that is just a missionary society). He no doubt heard things he had never heard before. Also, I mentioned the name of the sponsoring church that was responsible in starting many of these congregations – yes called them out by name – held the Bible up and said where is there authority to do this? Many other things were said by all four of us.

We finished around 3 P.M. after five hard hours of teaching and answering questions BUT our audience was the right audience – members of congregations who had been started by those of the institutional belief – newborn babes needing milk –what more could we ask for?

Tonight has been a very busy and trying night – we have discussed today’s events and have all changed our lessons for tomorrow – we have met with Joseph on some major issues of concern. We have discussed the best use of Jimmy’s and my time after Dan and Dan go home. All four of us in our experience are seeing something that needs attention NOW! We are seeing open hearts that are eager to know if what they have been doing is wrong (those of the institutional belief) – newborn babes begging for milk (remember some of these men who have been baptized this past week were allowed to teach in two congregations even though they were not Christians ). Some were saying they had been baptized-- that in essence they had been “immersed” but into some denomination and are now being confronted with the teaching that they are not in the body of Christ. The four of us believe it would be tragic to abandon the Freetown area to teach at Makeni now. We think it is better to strengthen the work here in Freetown so that some of these brethren will be equipped to go to the Makeni area and teach. We know that we were really looking forward to teaching in Makeni and that funds were given to assist in that. However, we believe it is so important to re-direct those funds so Jimmy and I can stay in Freetown and teach the ones here so they can teach other including those in Makeni. We have talked about this among the four of us the last couple of days and tonight we have made that decision because of what we have experienced on this trip and the events of today. Just one example – Victor – needs to be grounded more deeply as he is a real key to turning many souls away from the Pentecostal belief. Another example – Christian and Theopolis are such good men who know their Bible well – yet are hearing for the second time (John and Mike taught back in the spring on issues of institutionalism also) the teaching about Bible schools – missionary societies, etc. Mohammed and Augustine who were two of the teachers in congregations but they were not Christians are sponges wanting to know more so they will not be swayed by a man or men away from the truth. Need I neglect the good heart of a one year old Christian by the name of John Kabul who today said “I have learned so much but I have so much more to learn”? I could go on and on about examples such as these that have led us to the decision of re-directing our focus to the work here in Freetown.

We ask that you pray for us and please know that we pray that you understand our decision. There is only so much that can be said in a blog and most of the blogs have been long – it will take many times in person to explain this trip and what God has allowed us to learn and the doors that He has opened. More doors are opening each day.

It has been a day unlike any other in the pages of history of the Lord’s work in the Freetown, Sierra Leone. We have no idea of what the page that is written tomorrow will look like – could it even be a better day that today? Only God knows!

Victor Puts on Christ!

Victor was baptized today after a study with Steve & gang which took place at Priscilla Street. Victor, you may recall, was one of the most receptive and knowledgeable students last November. We were all impressed by his good heart and depth of Bible knowledge. He also attended every class that Mike Willis and I taught in April of this year. Finally, today Victor approached the team and asked to be baptized.

Victor was a war refuge during the Sierra Leonean Civil War. During that time he had some horrific experiences. Those experiences helped him to take the study of God's Word more seriously and he joined a denomination working faithfully with them. He was resistant to the notion that there could have been anything wrong with his initial baptism, but that wall of resistance has been broken down.

Victor is a dear sweet man. He is diligent in his study, out spoken about his faith and lives his faith everyday. He will be a great addition to the Kingdom of God. He will help open new and exciting doors for the Gospel.

When Steve writes his blog entry for today he will have more to say about Victor and the events of their first day at Priscilla Street. I do not want to steal his thunder, but I must mention that the building was packed and Christians had come from ALL over Sierra Leone.

Day Nine

It is Sunday night here in Freetown, Sierra Leone – it is 9:07 P.M. – we split up to day and taught at four congregations. Dan and Dan at Calaba Town – Jimmy at Wellington – results 6 baptized at Calaba Town – 14 at Wellington. They met up after services at each place at a creek not far from each the congregations for the baptisms. We pray to God that these babes can be taught the milk to grow. Dan and Dan and Jimmy used our normal two vehicles to go do their teaching – I was picked up by brother Christian Asgil to go speak at Priscilla Street. I spoke at the Bible Study and the worship period – the house was packed – every seat taken it seemed and they listened great! What a group we have as we had discussed what needed to be done at each congregation and we followed that plan – you can see the results of the plan for Dan, Dan and Jimmy – God gave a harvest. My plan? Start teaching about how Christians should be clothed spiritually and where do we sees Jesus. It is very unfortunate but the institutional folks have taught some perverted things. However, these folks have good hearts and told me today that we teach differently – we are not afraid to stand up and confront the issues of perversion.

This afternoon we all met back at the hotel for just a quick period of recollecting ourselves to go to Garrison Street (Youth Center) - what a service! About 9 men – then the crew with us and us – all men. When we arrived we found out that they did not have any items for the Lord’s Supper. Mohammed (yes Mohammed) who was just baptized Friday (but had been teaching at Garrison Street – a sad story that we are having to deal with that all of us feel better explaining when we are home) came to us and stated that it was out of his control about the Lord’s Supper as the items were to come with another individual and that individual was not here. Immediately John Kabul and Augusine (yes – he was just baptized last Tuesday) sprung into action and left to go find some bread and fruit of the vine.

Mohammed, a humble man, was a former Muslim who converted to Pentecostalism a few years back and works as an interviewer at the radio station where we met him when we first arrived. As I mentioned he had been teaching at Garrison Street but through the teaching last week and two on one sessions with Dan and Dan he obeyed the gospel. Well folks we walk in there tonight and after finding out about the Lord’s Supper issues and getting those in a position to be solved – Mohammed shows us his outline for service and says to us “Would you teach us tonight how to worship so we will know how in the future?” What a heart?

Dan Byers taught the Bible Class – he sat down and every one of those men leaned forward the whole time he was teaching – he had them to read scriptures – to answer questions and the other three of us assisted with comments – his subject? Proper worship! Jimmy led us in songs – it was such an emotional outpouring of their hearts into the songs – could they all sing good – not really but they sang from their hearts and the auditorium rang out with this beautiful offering of song. Jimmy and I then served the Lord’s Supper and made comments about the meaning of the supper and what we should do during the supper. John Kabul wanted to take the plate and serve but I said we will serve. I have served the Lord’s Supper many times in my life – it is an honor to do such – but to see these men and the looks on their faces concerning the reason that they were taking the supper was so emotional. Dan Barker then had the sermon on being saved from our sins. The men hung on every word. It was getting dark – we had been there about two and a half hours into the Bible Study and worship – we taught them about an invitation song and we sang Blessed Assurance and the hall rang out with just these few voices. Then we took up the offering after some comments concerning our responsibility to give. It was getting darker and darker. Outside was noisy and we had to overcome this to sing and to teach and try to concentrate on the Lord’s Supper. Jimmy chose to sing Amazing Grace as our closing song – it is now really about total darkness – no electricity – you could barely see the song book – made no difference – the four of us have never sung Amazing Grace that way – it was chilling to the bone to hear these African men blend their voices with four Americans – the outside noise was drowned in the sea of voices singing praises to God about His Grace. About the time the song was over – John Kabul got a candle – lit it and heated the bottom of it and put it on the table – I was to lead the closing prayer – tearfully I commented on I wondered how many times our Lord taught in the darkness with only one candle if any or if when Paul taught until midnight at Troas was there a candle? I do not mind telling you that God has humbled me again and again and tonight was another lesson – noise from the outside – hot as hot could be – nine African men at worship –darkness comes and they stay seated – to do what? Worship in Spirit and Truth.
Tomorrow starts our teaching at Priscilla Street – we are not totally sure what to expect because that congregation has invited EVERYBODY to come and study – we are tired but phase one is now behind us – we planted and we have watered – God has given increase – 42 new babes in Christ. Now tomorrow we start edifying – we have all come to appreciate our New Testament examples of teachers who taught and some were baptized – the teachers left to go teach more – yet they came back and found Satan busy trying to take away the babies they had taught previously – we see this here – in the states we lose patience with new born babes at times – here we need patience – just as our New Testament examples taught us in the scriptures.

We pray that all had a good day of worshipping the Lord back in the USA. We did here in Sierra Leone – you can see the fatigue on the faces of all of us – we have battled through some tough issues (I haven’t even told you about us dressing down the Col. over all the chaplains) and I have not mentioned much about some issues with our stomach’s – but not a complaint from any of us – just a word of thankfulness to you for the opportunity and most of all to God Almighty for letting us be His messengers.

Day 8

The group is tired!!!! We went to the Crown Bakery for breakfast and then to the African Market – it was so HOT as all the merchants just surrounded us and smothered us – yet after about an hour we were able to leave after getting things for our families back home. We came back to the hotel for some rest this afternoon – we have a very busy schedule tomorrow (Sunday) and then next week.

It has been a good week – one of the purposes of this trip was to position our future teaching to be one on one and in the congregations that are here. Day classes in the congregations and gospel meetings in the evenings. This has been accepted and now longed for by our brethren here in the Freetown area. We knew when we first came over last year that we would did not want to be long in teaching like we had to at first. We knew that we would have to tolerate to teach to get to the point of where we needed to be – the point of where we could come and edify the saints here to go and teach – we are there it seems – about a year or two earlier than we thought – to God be the glory of this!

There are many new Christians who need to be fed and we see some of that happening. We are so impressed with some men of the congregations started by those of the institutional belief years ago. They are so open to the discussion of human institutions and eager to know more about this. We will be addressing these things next week in our classes. I will tell you there are good hearts here among the brethren and yet they are all at different stages in their growth just like back in the USA.

This will be short blog (I didn'y know Steve knew how to be brief- JAS) – we pray all is well and that all have good worship services Sunday – I know at least four individuals who will be very busy moving from place to place to teach and yet their thoughts will be back home with their home congregations.

Thank all again for the prayers and support – please continue remembering us in your prayers for this next phase of our trip – the teaching at Priscilla Street.

Day Seven - The Family Keeps on Growing!

Today was our last day of teaching at Ebenezer Hall. We had another short night as we were up at 6:00 A.M. to be ready to go at 7:30 A.M. We went directly to the Hall and when we arrived there were just a few there as we arrived at 8:30 A.M. Now folks by now you should understand that there are three time zones in Sierra Leone – the one that is recognized all over the world G.M.T. Time – there is the W.M.T. which is what is called white man time and it agrees with GMT – then there is B.M.T. and that is black man time – which simply means – a starting time of 9:00 A.M. on BMT can mean it is 10:00 A.M. according to GMT or WMT – in other words a starting time means nothing to the Sierra Leonans.

What happened next was just outstanding – because only a few were there the four of us were able to actually sit with different ones and ask them about their story of when they were baptized – into what were they baptized – what church they attended, etc. There was Dan Byers in a discussion with a fellow from a local Bible School who had two Masters Degrees – there was Dan Barker with two and sometimes more military chaplains who were part of a denominational group – there was Jimmy Lee moving from one person to the next sometimes running into me doing the same. As the crowd grew Dan and Dan were in intense teaching and Jimmy and I made it to as many as we could and sat down with them to reason with them. This is called personal evangelism – was it working?

Yesterday, Jimmy and I had the assignment to talk further with John Kabul and Dan and Dan had the assignment to talk with Mohammad – a Pentecostal who had been doing some teaching – he was a former Muslim and works part time at the Radio Station as an interviewer. He called himself Rev. Mohammad. I had talked with him about the title Reverend and Jimmy hit this in one of his lessons – as a result he dropped the name Reverend. We knew he had a good heart to that so we agreed that Dan and Dan would spend time with him while we worked with John Kabul on some edification issues – he is such a great learner and he is doing such a good job of teaching. Again, personal evangelism and personal edification – would it work?

For one hour and forty-five minutes we taught one on one or one on two or one on three or sometimes two of us one or two of us on two and so on – we were really doing teaching – it was one of those experiences that you never forget. However, we needed to get started because we had to be out of the hall by 2:00 P.M. We agreed that each of us would only speak 30 minutes so we could be done on time. Dan Barker started and he picked right up where he left off yesterday – knowing Jesus through faith which is developed by hearing and then believing and then repenting and the confessing and then being baptized – not only did he say it he stopped and had them write down the steps and the verses to back up the steps – then he closed and stated “Now you cannot say on the Day of Judgment that no one ever told you the plan of salvation given by the grace of God.” You can say that you heard the plan of salvation and even wrote it down BUT decided not to follow it. The room was quiet.

Dan Byers follows with his last lesson on the family – Dan has had to have great patience this whole week – he had to humble himself to stay focused on the issues of the family when all around him was the teaching of first principles and the constant teaching about one baptism, one body, etc. I know of no one who could have stayed as focused as he did in his subject matter. He did a great job of bringing out points about how to raise children as God would have them to be raised – just as newborn babes in Christ are to be raised. He brought his series to a close with great points – and several scriptures to back these points up – again the folks in the room sat somewhat quietly.

We did not take a break and Jimmy then started his lesson on “How to Change a Church”. Jimmy did what Jimmy does – preached his heart out – he kept driving home the points he had been making all week that there is but one body – and this body is where the saved are and that body is body of Christ – if you are in a “church” that is teaching another doctrine – worshipping improperly – etc. then you are not in the body of Christ. Jimmy relates so well to these folks over here – they were again “glued” to his every word – they were quiet just as with the other two lessons – were some getting this?

I NEED TO SAY SOMETHING BEFORE I GO ANY FURTHER ABOUT MY LESSON – DID THE PERSONAL EVANGELISM WORK – YES! WE HAVE FOUR WHO WERE BAPTIZED TODAY – WE ACTUALLY STOPPED THE LESSON BECAUSE THREE HAD STATED THEY WANTED TO BE BAPTIZED AND ONE OF THEM WAS MOHAMMAD WHOM I MENTIONED EARLEIR – CHRISTIAN ASGILL CAME TO THE FRONT AND TOOK THEIR CONFESSION – ONE A TIME AND OFF THEY WENT TO BE BAPTIZED!

It was decided that I should adjust my lesson to actually summarize our lessons and then bring out the points that I had prepared about apostasy for today. This I did and closed us out with who makes what we are – what makes us what we are – who are we – all a review of the week’s studies.

After my lesson more personal evangelism started – the result one more soul baptized – at least three more seriously considering their conditions. We will continue to monitor them because we are to see some of them Sunday in the different congregations where we are to speak.

We got back to the hotel after a lunch at a restaurant called Delightful – which it wasn’t! Anyway we were all so tired that a shower felt good and a nap. Later then a snack and our prayer together and now it is 11:02 P.M. and we are truly winding down.

One week of teaching publicly in an open hall – several hours of personal evangelism – several hours of edification – what does God do – gives an increase of 22 souls. Three of those baptized were teaching at Calaba Town or Garrison Street. Why were they teaching there if they needed to be baptized? All of them had been “immersed” but not “baptized correctly” – that is something that we found out on this trip – the babes that we left here last year were just that – babes – they did not think through that an immersed person could actually not be a scripturally baptized person. As a result they met men who had been baptized and did not study baptism but studied about proper worship. Now I must tell you John Kabul knew this as no one at Wellington was teaching who was not scripturally baptized. Do you remember the concern we had last year that those who had obeyed the gospel were being left to be devoured by Satan? Well Satan has tried but thanks be to God folks like you helped send men like us over here to be messengers to edify and teach further. As a result spiritual growth and more knowledge have occurred.

Tomorrow (Saturday) is a preparation day for all the places we will be going on Sunday – Jimmy will be at Wellington – Dan and Dan at Calaba Town – I will be at Priscilla Street and then we are hoping to meet up at Garrison Street. It will be a long day – and then off to start phase two of our trip – the teaching at Priscilla Street.

Thank you again for your support and your prayers which we need very much.

Note from Jimmy "Abu" Lee

Steve "toots" our horn [Proverbs 27:2] but does not mention what an outstanding job he is doing.

I just want the folks reading the blog to hear how important he is to us.

Let me tell the readers of this blog about how valuable Steve Niemeier is. We all know how terrific Steve is in encouraging folks either in words or in action. We all know his love and devotion to his Lord and it shines forth. But here also is a man who is selfless and loving to his brethren. He is an outstanding leader (now he doesn't like to be called that), but he is so structured and organized in his role that it makes our day a success. One has to look long and far to find a man of God so full of stamina. What courage he displays in his stand for the truth. This man does not back down! WOW, I have seen him in action over here. He is determined to please God and "let the chips fall where they may", and that is as it should be. I will tell you, his good Momma and Daddy trained this boy right. So much more could be said about Steve and how he has influenced my life but I just wanted to "toot" his horn because he is always praising the good work of others...see Proverbs 27:2

Day Six

Please read Day Five before reading the post for Day Six.

I pray that we will have internet service to get this through to you. As of now we have been without the service for two days so we have not been able to bring you up to date on the events here. Please read Day Five Blog before reading day six blog.

Another very short night of sleep – we needed to leave this morning at 7:00 A.M. to get to the military base to speak and pray with the military unit where Samuel is based as the chaplain. This we did! We then came back to the hotel to pick up something that we needed but had forgotten. Then off to the Crown Bakery for breakfast and then we had just a few minutes and we went to the African Market – always an experience – if you ever feel no one likes you just come to the African Market where all are you friend – friends you did not even know that you had.

One of the “shop” owners who last year was drunk when we went to the Market and was told last year that nothing was going to be bought from him because he was drunk recognized me. He stated he was not drunk this year (what a memory and I thought he was way too drunk to remember me) and that he had changed because “he was wasting his life” which is exactly what he was told last year! Of course we took the time to talk with him about really changing his life.

From the African Market we went on to the studies. We were there by 10:45 A.M. and some were waiting for us even though the starting time was noon. We started with questions and answers and the Colonel in charge of all the military chaplains (he has been in most of the studies) interrupted both the question and answer sessions several times with questions that he thought would trick us (how was the thief on the cross saved because he was not baptized – why are there no apostles and prophets today since Paul said there were in Eph. 4:11 –these type of questions.) Of course we answered them and he just went to the back of the room and sat and listened – either he is struggling with the fact that what he has been taught is wrong and he is now hearing the truth or he is just trying to disturb us.

Dan Barker started – another great job – today he took the approach “Do You Know My Jesus” – it was powerful as many did not know some basic facts about Jesus. Dan Byers followed – another great job – he spoke on the subject of wives today and again both male and female were listening well –then Jimmy Lee followed—another great job—he spoke on Is “One Church as Good as Another” and really drove home the point about the name – baptism – doctrine, etc . I then followed with the second of a three part lesson on church history – today I taught how the apostasy started and gave information about where different groups started from. At the end of the day several stated “We have heard things today that we have never known.” This is good!

We had many questions today and that was good. OH YES – FRANCIS A YOUNG MAN OF THE PENTECOSTAL CHURCH WHO RECENTLY JOINED THE AFRICAN METHODIST CHURCH SENT US A STATEMENT STATING HE WAS WRONG AND WHAT MUST HE DO TO CHANGE. JIMMY AND I TALKED WITH HIM AND THEN WE TALKED WITH CHRISTIAN ASGILL ABOUT IT AND IT WAS SOMETHING TO SEE CHRISTIAN TALK WITH FRANCIS AND THEN ASK FRANCIS TO STAND IN FRONT OF THE WHOLE ASSEMBY AND MAKE THE CONFESSION THAT JESUS CHRIST WAS THE SON OF GOD – WITHIN MINUTES CHRISTIAN HAD HIM AT THE NATIONAL STADIUM POOL AND BAPTIZED HIM – BROUGHT HIM BACK TO THE STUDIES AND WE WENT RIGHT ON – ANOTHER NEWBORN BABE TO FEED! Christian is working out with Francis where to assemble so he can grow – it is a true blessing to see good and honest hearts that are so tender because they have been misled by a perverted gospel.

The four of us divided up into two teams to fulfill some assignments that we knew we needed to take care of. Dan and Dan talked with a fellow by the name of Mohammed tonight who is preaching at Garrison Street – we have been concerned about whether his baptism was correct – they found out that he was baptized into the Pentecostal church – so they encouraged him to think about what we had been teaching and he said he would. Jimmy and I needed to have some conversation with Joseph about some things of concern. He seems to have a good heart but is still learning – we considered it to be a positive conversation.

Tomorrow (Friday) is our last day at Ebenezer Hall – on Monday we start teaching at the Priscilla Street congregation and will have many members of the church there to strengthen – we are looking forward to it.

By the way Dan and Dan have new African names – I cannot spell them and can barely say them but they have them! Jimmy and I maintain the names from last year – Abu for Jimmy and Shaku for me.

If I could again say thank you on behalf of all four of us to those who have helped to send us over here – we are beginning to see that we are getting to the point where in the near future the ones coming over here will be holding day classes at the congregations and gospel meeting lessons at night – this is how it should be – assisting the brethren here so they can go teach their fellow countrymen. Thanks again!

Day Five

I want to start by just saying – WOW WHAT A DAY!

Last night the four of us met and discussed what we have observed and made some adjustments to our lessons. We have been observing that some that we have much work to do but we have found a base to that work with. John Kabul has a heart that is made of compassion for truth. He is but a babe who has been put into a teaching position. Yet, in private conversation with him today that Jimmy and I had we found him to be further along than we expected in his knowledge and his wisdom of what is happening here in Sierra Leone among those who have been baptized is just great. Christian Asgill and Theopolis have proven to be very knowledgeable (they were taught the gospel by those who uphold institutionalism several years ago) and eager to learn more about the way to do the proper work of the church and to assist us with information about different congregations set up by the same folks who taught them years ago.
We had hoped and prayed that we would be able to study with these good brethren one on one and in the last three nights we have had two in-depth conversations with Christian and Theopolis. We have now had several discussions privately with John Kabul and they have been very profitable.

Tonight I was extended an invitation to speak Sunday at Priscilla Street (a congregation started by those of the institutional teaching years ago). Also, today Dan Barker received an invitation for us to go to a congregation started by the same ones years ago that is just over the mountain a congregation of about 50 people in Wilberton. The Lord is opening doors all around us and we are trying to adjust our schedules to get through everyone of them. Of course Satan is working hard against and we have to deal with that also.

Dan Barker started us off with his best lesson yet and he has now had three good ones – but today he was so intense with his teaching that you would have just had to be here to feel the intensity. He really got into what makes one a New Testament Christian – it was powerful and yet he just taught and taught and taught – he did not let up at all and the audience was with him all the way – Dan is a former basketball player and coach – folks he had the full-court press on today and he was trapping the unbelievers at every corner. What a lesson it was. WOW was the only word I could come up with as I was just speechless (and you know that does not happen often).

Jimmy and I were just slobbering all over ourselves about what a great lesson Dan Barker gave when Dan Byers got up to teach. Well, folks the slobbering had just started!

Dan Byers gave the best lesson I have ever heard on Husbands as God would have them to be. While Dan’s two previous lessons on the family had been just fantastic – today’s lesson had the whole room in awe – both men and women. He walked us through the idea that God made woman from the rib and then gave the rib back to the man in the form or woman to make him complete – it was beyond words the points he made and how he made – also it was such a powerful lesson that Dan Barker who worships at Fayette said “This is the most excited I have ever seen him get.” As we were looking at Dan Byers during this lesson sweat was pouring from him – he was working folks and he drove home his points – WOW is about all I can say.

Well since I was still in the state of slobbering Jimmy decided I guess that I needed to stay there. Here he came after a short break after Dan Byers lesson starting with Jesus’ prayer for unity in John 17. He then went into a brief study of how apostasy came about to set up his main thoughts of what the church of Christ is and how can we fulfill the prayer of unity that Jesus prayed for. He walked the aisles – he had the audience to answer questions – he drove home points from the scriptures that he knew were points of contention for many in the studies –he never let up – now folks I am sitting there in the state of slobber thinking Dan Barker hit a home run – Dan Byers hit a home run – Jimmy Lee has hit a home run and I am on deck – it was an overwhelming pressure – they had taught their hearts out and while everyone of them had been teaching great they raised the bar today – WOW is all I can say.

I followed these three great lessons with a lesson on church history (part one). I gave a history of how the world had changed from when the Old Testament was completed and we pick back up with the New Testament. My goal was to bring them along that Jesus came into the world that was full of religious confusion and that it was a world of different religious sects. Then I walked them through how Jesus was the Messiah that had been prophesied and that He Himself spoke “prophecy” we stated I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. Also how he spoke about ones who would use His name to do things but that He would tell them He never knew them because of the iniquity they worked – in other words they were not doing the will of God. The audience stayed with me even though we were approaching the 5 and ½ hour mark of our studying and teaching.

We had started the study an hour earlier than normal today because of so many questions – we answered questions for an hour and a half before we started teaching. At the end of my lesson (our last lesson of the day) we went back and answered more questions – total studying time at Ebenezer Hall today without stopping – about 6 hours and 45 minutes! It then took us about an hour and 20 minutes to get through traffic to get back to the hotel – we were sweaty – stinky and hungry!

We decided to eat first and then shower. While we were eating Christian and Theopolis came to the restaurant to talk with us – we were so thankful for their visit – then we came back and had our nightly prayer and discussion – the other three have had their showers – it is 11:28 P.M. and I am really “cruddy” from all the slobbering during their lessons – the sweat from the heat and the work – not to mention the normal layer of dirt from just the traveling the streets of Sierra Leone.

All I can say is today was a WOW day – who knows what God has in store for us tomorrow?

Pictures from Tuesday, Nov. 2nd

Folks who were baptized today.

Dan Barker

Please look closely at Jimmy! That is too funny!

Day Four -- 18 baptized!!

KEEP ON READING TO READ OF 18 SOULS BAPTIZED!

We had a very short night of rest (not sure any of us really slept well). The long day of Monday and all the events were just almost overwhelming to us – yet we were ready to go this morning at our given time.

We were able to have a very good breakfast at Crown Bakery before we went over to Ebenezer Hall for teaching. We had good conversation with our “crew” and really enjoy our “down time” of about an hour with them before we taught. They take good care of us and watch over us extremely well. However, we understand the society here and are very cautious with what we have and do.
We started our session today with a question and answer period. This lasted about an hour and ten minutes and we still had a number of questions to deal with. However, we came to teach and to answer questions – so we started our lessons at 1:15 P.M.

Dan Barker (What is a New Testament Christian) went first as was our plan. Words cannot describe the great job he did. They were attentive – they were looking into the Bible (the ones that have one) – they were taking notes and they were really into the lesson. He gave some great illustrations and he really challenged them on whether they were a Christian according to the New Testament.

Dan Byers followed on his assigned subject – the family as God would have it – yesterday he went into detail concerning marriage – today he went into detail on divorce. Let me just say that Dan did a great job of almost creating a riot!!!! We give them 3 x 5 cards to write their questions on and I can attest to the fact that there were 3 x 5 cards flying everywhere with questions. One of the saddest was on the subject of incest that seemed to come from one who may have either been a victim of this or very close to one whom was. Dan did another wonderful job of presenting his lesson. Dan and Dan have really adapted well are just great Bible teachers – the congregation at Fayette is fortunate to have both of them in the same congregation.

Jimmy Lee spoke again on The New Testament church – and of course again he was just great! He really got into some issues today and he did not back down from challenging the audience on the name of the Lord’s church – who built the Lord’s church and whose body does a New Testament Christian belong to. The material that Jimmy has put together really compliments what Dan Barker is doing and what Dan Barker has put together really compliments what Jimmy is doin. In between of course Dan Byers is leading them right into the fact that the having a family as God wants physically relates to having the “family of God” spiritually as He wants. These three fellows are teaching their hearts out over here.

Jimmy Lee writes - I can’t speak for the other guys, but I’m not getting much sleep. It seems that Steve is coming over earlier each morning to wake us up. I wish he would oversleep in the morning. Anyway the day began with breakfast at the delicious Crown Bakery. It is owned and operated by a couple of Brits and the food is simply terrific. I had my favorite…a good size cinnamon roll, as did Dan & Dan. But Steve had to be different and ordered Eggs Benedict… after all he is the Big Boss this year.

There was another large crowd today to listen to our topics. Index cards have been passed out to write their questions on. We were just swarmed with questions mostly due to Dan Byers’ topic on divorce. These folks are suffering in their home life in so many ways. We could not answer all the questions, so our plan is to begin earlier tomorrow in hopes to answering their questions. In closing, I really miss my wife! I love you Sandi.)

I followed up my lesson of yesterday on the Bible and how we got it and who wrote and facts about it with a lesson on the importance of the prophecies found in the Bible. Many here do not understand the importance and the great comfort of knowing the prophecies found in books of the Old Testament like Isaiah and that these prophecies were fulfilled.

Oh yes, I need to tell you one important thing – THERE WERE 18 SOULS BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST TODAY! As you know it seems that when one wants to be baptized in Freetown there is always an issue about transportation or something that is so frustrating – not today – we knew that some wanted to be baptized so we mentioned this to a good man Christian Asgil. When it was known that we had these folks wanting to be baptized he took it upon himself to take them with the assistance of Theophilus and another gentlemen to the national stadium pool right then and baptized them – to God be the glory of this great event!

We again have to tolerate to teach – but we are thankful that God is granting us the courage to be bold and address these issues right up front. Our prayers are that as we continue to teach on this trip and on trips to come that many of these issues will disappear. Part of it comes from ignorance and some from stubbornness of not wanting to change their old denominational habits. However, many issues are being addressed and we are seeing great progress.

One individual who continues to impress us is John Kabul. The spiritual growth is being seen on a daily basis and oh how he has grown in the last year and how he is such a sponge to learn again this year. You might remember that his wife died in January of 2009 of a heart issue. He mourns for her and yet he knows he is young and needs to move on in his life. He has met a young lady by the name of Ieginia (pronounced Egenea). She has never been married but like many young ladies over here has had a child out of wedlock. Her little boy’s name is Jessie. She is a very pleasant young lady who was raised a Methodist. She has been absorbing the material that we have been presenting and after our studies today told John Kabul that she was thinking that she needed to be baptized into Jesus so she could be added to His church. Folks when we heard this need I tell you that there were wet cheeks? All of her thoughts are not based entirely upon our teaching – we are just re-enforcing the great teaching that John has been doing with her. We pray that she continues to study and comes to the conclusion to obey the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Tomorrow morning will come soon enough – it is close to 10:30 P.M. here now and there is much studying to do before our teaching tomorrow. Thank you for your prayers and we pray that all is well with each of you – WE COULD NOT BE HERE WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT!!!!

Jimmy "Abu the African" Lee